Light Painting with a Phone Flashlight: Coloured Trails with Flashy Filters
Short answer: Light painting with a phone works like this: stick a Flashy colour filter centred on your phone flashlight, set a second camera (or a friend’s phone) to long exposure / night mode / pro mode, darken the room or outdoor spot – and “paint” with the coloured light in the air. Best suited: the Collectors Edition (21 Flashys in 7 colours) and Mystery Light (7 different Flashys, chance of rare Aurora), because you get many colours to switch between.
What is light painting – and why phone + Flashy?
Light painting is photography with a long shutter time: the camera stays still, you move a light source – and the image shows light trails. Classically you use a torch. You already have one: your smartphone LED. A Flashy turns that light into colour in seconds – no app, no pairing.
Here is the difference:
| White phone light | Phone light + Flashy | |
|---|---|---|
| Trail in the photo | bright, neutral | coloured trail in your hue |
| Setup | flashlight on | stick a Flashy on, flashlight on |
| Variety | one light colour | swap colours (pick a pack) |
Honestly: for finding keys, white light stays more practical. For visible coloured trails in the photo, colour is the point.
How to do light painting with a phone flashlight and Flashy
You need two roles: a light source (phone with Flashy) and a camera (second phone, or someone holding the camera). One phone cannot long-expose and paint the trail at the same time – unless the camera is fixed and you move a second light.
- Pick the place. Indoors: ceiling light off. Outdoors: as little street light as you can. The darker it is, the clearer the trail.
- Set up the camera. Tripod or a stable surface. In the camera app: long exposure, night mode, or pro/manual mode with a longer shutter. Start shorter, then go longer depending on your phone and how dark it is.
- Stick on a Flashy. Wipe the LED, peel a Flashy off the carrier card, stick it centred on the flashlight LED, turn the flashlight on.
- Find your move. Camera fires – you slowly move the glowing phone through the frame: circles, waves, letter shapes, lines. Calm motion often reads clearer than frantic swings.
- Swap colour. Peel the Flashy off, stick the next colour, shoot again. Build series in Flame Red, Mystic Violet, Emerald Green and more.
- Check the result. Too bright? Shorter exposure or stand farther from the camera. Too faint? Longer exposure or move closer to the lens – without shining at anyone.
How to stick a Flashy on: 1. Wipe the LED. 2. Peel the Flashy off the carrier card. 3. Stick it centred on the LED. 4. Turn the flashlight on. A Flashy is 7 mm small, no app, no pairing. It fits all smartphones, iPhone and Android; with a large LED ring, stick on several Flashys – every pack includes several filters. A Flashy is reusable a few times if you peel it off carefully and stick it on a dust-free surface.
Quick safety notes: Never shine into eyes – not yours, not anyone else’s. Adults stick the Flashys on and keep them out of reach of small children (small parts, 7 mm). Move carefully in the dark so nobody trips. Keep the phone open and uncovered; do not put it in a container. Coloured phone light only. Turn the flashlight off when you are done.
Which pack fits light painting?
| Situation | Pack | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum colour range, many trail swaps | Collectors Edition | 21 Flashys – three of each of 7 colours |
| Surprise mix to try first | Mystery Light | seven different Flashys, chance of Aurora |
| Warm sunset trails | Sunset Lights | Flame Red, Solar Orange, Royal Gold |
| Cool, dreamy trails | Fairy Lights | Power Pink, Mystic Violet, Sky Breeze |
| Crew paints the same colour | Friends Pack | 5 Flashys in one colour – enough for five |
The Collectors Edition is the clear lead for light painting: 21 Flashys – three each of Flame Red, Solar Orange, Royal Gold, Power Pink, Mystic Violet, Sky Breeze and Emerald Green. Ocean Blue is not in this pack; those seven colours are plenty for long sessions with lots of swaps.
Mystery Light gives you seven different Flashys as a mix – ideal when you want to test which trail colour you like, with a chance of a rare Aurora Flashy.
Sunset Lights, Fairy Lights and the Friends Pack are strong secondary picks once you know whether you want warm, cool or matching crew trails.
FAQ
Can you do light painting with a phone? Yes. You need long exposure, night mode or a pro mode on the camera, plus a moving light source – for example the phone flashlight with a coloured Flashy.
Is light painting the same as Lichtmalerei? Same idea: long exposure + moving light = light trails in the image. “Light painting” is the common search term; “Lichtmalerei” is the German name.
Do I need a tripod? Very helpful. The camera should stay as still as possible. A stable shelf works if you do not have a tripod.
What shutter time do I need? It depends on your phone and how dark it is. Start shorter and lengthen until the trail looks clear. Absolute second counts without your device would be a guess – try it.
Collectors Edition or Mystery Light to start? Collectors Edition if you want many colours and spares (21 Flashys, 7 colours). Mystery Light if you want a mixed set and a chance of Aurora.
Does a Flashy fit all smartphones? Yes. A Flashy fits all smartphones, iPhone and Android. With a large LED ring, stick on several Flashys.
Where can I get Flashys? Available directly in the shop at flashyhue.com. All packs: Phone flashlight colour filters. More questions: FAQ. More colour ideas: Add more colour to your life. For party-light ideas: DIY disco lights. For warm content lighting: TikTok red light filter look.
Find your light-painting colour: Collectors Edition (21 Flashys in 7 colours) · Mystery Light (7 different Flashys, chance of a rare Aurora Flashy) · Sunset Lights (Flame Red, Solar Orange, Royal Gold) · Fairy Lights (Power Pink, Mystic Violet, Sky Breeze) · Friends Pack (5 Flashys in one colour) · All packs: Phone flashlight colour filters
Available directly in the shop. Delivery within Germany, free from €10. 14-day right of withdrawal. FlashyHue is a brand from Germany – designed in Stuttgart; the idea was born in Namibia (at Fractal Festival at the Spitzkoppe). Centropy Lights UG (haftungsbeschränkt).