# Scrolling text blink syntax

**URL:** <https://rpi-rgb-led-matrix.discourse.group/t/scrolling-text-blink-syntax/594>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [December 13, 2022, 8:57pm UTC](https://rpi-rgb-led-matrix.discourse.group/t/scrolling-text-blink-syntax/594 "2022-12-13T20:57:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Stargazer2022](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@Stargazer2022](https://rpi-rgb-led-matrix.discourse.group/u/Stargazer2022)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2022, 8:57pm UTC](https://rpi-rgb-led-matrix.discourse.group/t/scrolling-text-blink-syntax/594/1 "2022-12-13T20:57:48Z")

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Hi, I’m using a pi 3b for the 32x64 matrix using the text-scroller and it does what i programmed it to display except i can’t get text to blink.  
Can anyone show me the correct syntax to accomplish this please?

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**Author:** ![markyharris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@markyharris](https://rpi-rgb-led-matrix.discourse.group/u/markyharris)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 2:00am UTC](https://rpi-rgb-led-matrix.discourse.group/t/scrolling-text-blink-syntax/594/2 "2022-12-19T02:00:47Z")

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You can use a separate canvas to create a blank screen. So draw the text to one canvas and blank a 2nd canvas, then switch canvas’ as desired.

To instantiate a canvas  
offscreen\_canvas = matrix.CreateFrameCanvas()  
offscreen\_canvas1 = matrix.CreateFrameCanvas()

To draw on a canvas  
offscreen\_canvas1.SetPixel(x,y,r,g,b)  
or use PIL to draw text on a specific canvas

To swap canvas’  
offscreen\_canvas1 = matrix.SwapOnVSync(offscreen\_canvas1)

There is more info on GitHub

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Stargazer2022](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@Stargazer2022](https://rpi-rgb-led-matrix.discourse.group/u/Stargazer2022)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2022, 6:24pm UTC](https://rpi-rgb-led-matrix.discourse.group/t/scrolling-text-blink-syntax/594/3 "2022-12-26T18:24:37Z")

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Thanks for the tip but the rgb-led-matrix instructions for scrolling text blinking called for a " -b " with x seconds on and z seconds off. However, this method obviously didn’t work.  
Can you provide an example for your method?