The Myth of the Mountain and the Tears of the Brothers¶
In the myth, the mountains were once giant brothers who greeted each other with enthusiasm every morning. However, they grew lazy, and over time, their greetings became less meaningful. As a result, the gods punished them by turning them into mountains. Their belts became green valleys, and their tears turned into springs. This fascinating legend inspired me to create an illustration of a single mountain with an old face crying, symbolizing the sadness and transformation that the brothers underwent.
Steps in Creating the Illustration:¶
Conceptualizing the Idea: - For my interpretation of the myth, I focused on the solitary transformation of one of the brothers into a mountain. I imagined the old face of the brother carved into the mountain’s surface, crying as a result of the gods’ punishment. - The tears from the old face became the springs, flowing down the sides of the mountain, and the green valleys around it would represent the once-tight belts of the brothers.
Creating the Illustration with Photoshop: - I began by sketching the concept in Photoshop, focusing on an old face that would be integrated into the side of the mountain. The face was designed to look weathered and aged, conveying the passage of time and the sadness of the character. - The tears were illustrated flowing down the mountain, symbolizing the transformation into springs, and I added subtle textures to the valleys to bring the illustration to life. - I worked on blending these elements together in a way that felt natural, with shadows and highlights to add depth to the mountain and face.
Enhancing the Design with AI Generator: - After finalizing the initial sketch, I used an AI generator to enhance the textures and add more complexity to the mountain and face. The AI helped in creating more detailed, lifelike textures for the surface of the mountain and the tears, adding a mystical quality to the image.
Bringing the Design to Life with 3D Printing on Tule:
- Once I had the digital design, I decided to take it a step further by printing the pattern onto tule fabric.
Integrating Sound: Testing the DFPlayer Mini for the Legend Month 🎶💧¶
Before diving into electronics, I bought an exciting children’s book that had built-in sound. I was curious how it worked, so I opened up the back panel and explored the electronic components inside. It didn’t help me much technically, but it was a necessary first step to understand how sound modules are embedded in products.
Here's a photo of the opened battery compartment. It uses two LR1130 button cell batteries to power the sound mechanism. Although simple, this gave me an idea of how small sound modules are powered and connected—especially helpful as I started working with the DFPlayer Mini.
🎶 Integrating Sound: DFPlayer Mini Pinout¶
To play the waterfall sound, I used the DFPlayer Mini — a small and affordable MP3 module that can be controlled with Arduino or even standalone with simple wiring. Before connecting it to other components, I explored its pinout to understand how it works.
📌 DFPlayer Mini Pinout Overview¶
Below you can see the DFPlayer Mini pinout diagram alongside my actual setup on a breadboard:
🧩 Important Pins Explained:¶
| Pin Name | Description |
|---|---|
VCC |
Power input (3.2V–5V) |
GND |
Ground |
TX |
Serial transmit (connects to Arduino RX) |
RX |
Serial receive (connects to Arduino TX) |
SPK_1, SPK_2 |
Speaker output (connect directly to a speaker) |
IO_1, IO_2 |
Can be used to trigger audio files without Arduino |
ADKEY_1, ADKEY_2 |
Supports button control |
DAC_R, DAC_L |
Audio out for amplifier (stereo) |
USB+, USB- |
For USB flash drive input |
BUSY |
Goes LOW when audio is playing |
| --- |
🧪 My Setup and Testing¶
I used a breadboard to test the connections. The DFPlayer Mini is wired up with different jumper cables, and I’m experimenting with a small speaker module to play the sound.
I also connected a push button — this helps me test how the interaction might work before I bring in the actual touch sensor.
💡 This standalone setup allows me to trigger sound playback without needing an Arduino or complex coding. It's a great way to quickly test interactions and explore possibilities for sound-based storytelling.
🔌 Key Pins I Used¶
| Pin | Function |
|---|---|
VCC |
Connected to power (around 5V) |
GND |
Ground |
SPK_1/SPK_2 |
Connected to the speaker |
IO_1 |
Connected to the push button for playback |
So far, I’m getting familiar with how the DFPlayer Mini communicates and how to send commands to play sounds. Next, I’ll try connecting the touch sensor and see how it all works together! 🎶💧
Planning the Electronic Integration
Since the mountain page will be the final page of the book, I decided to integrate the electronics beneath it. This required designing an additional layer under the page where the electronic components could be placed without disrupting the aesthetics of the book.
Solution: A concealed electronic layer designed in SolidWorks, ensuring proper fit and function.
Printing Stage
With the design finalized, I moved to the printing stage. The 3D-printed structure will serve as the hidden compartment, ensuring the electronics remain secure while allowing easy access for assembly.
Current Step: 3D printing the hidden layer for integration.
Once the printing is complete, the next phase will involve assembling the electronics, testing the sound functionality, and ensuring smooth interaction with the book's structure.
✨ Everything worked perfectly! The sound plays clearly through the speaker, and the interaction is exactly how I imagined it.
🔌 Electronics Process¶
⚠️ I forgot to take a photo of the final version, but here is a draft stage during the making process.
This image shows a work-in-progress look at how the electronic components were arranged. The final version was later upgraded and connected more precisely.
Below you can see the video showing how it works in real-time 🎥👇