Image to lithophane maker: photo to STL, flat or curved

In short: drop a photo above. The tool turns it into a 3D-printable lithophane: a thin panel, thicker where the photo is dark and thinner where it's light, so the picture appears when a light shines through it. Choose the size, thicknesses, frame and shape, then download the STL. It's all done in your browser.

#How to make a lithophane

1. Add a photo (JPEG, PNG or WebP), or click Try it with an example.
2. Set the width. The height follows the photo's proportions.
3. Set the thicknesses. The thinnest parts are the brightest when lit; the thickest are the darkest. 0.8 mm and 3 mm are common starting points.
4. Choose a frame and shape. A frame makes the edge stronger. A curve lets the lithophane stand on its own and spreads the light from a lamp behind it.
5. Pick the detail level, check the 3D preview and the lit preview, then Download the STL.

#Choosing a good photo

• Strong contrast and simple shapes work best: portraits with even light, landscapes with a clear horizon, pets against a plain background.
• Avoid very dark photos. Everything thick blocks the light, so the picture looks flat. Brighten the photo first if needed.
• Crop first. The whole image becomes the panel, so crop to what matters.

#Printing tips

• Print standing up, with the picture facing you, so the detail is in the layers' finest direction (X and Y).
• White or natural PLA shows the picture best. Colours tint the light.
• 100% infill, so light passes evenly through every part. Most slicers let you set this for one model.
• Layer height 0.1–0.12 mm gives smoother tones. The Standard detail level (0.2 mm between points) suits a 0.4 mm nozzle.

#What it can't do

• Colour. Lithophanes show brightness only; colours become shades of grey.
• An exact preview. The lit preview estimates how light passes through the plastic. The real result depends on your filament's colour and opacity, your layer height and the light behind it.
• Lamp shades and full cylinders. The tool makes flat and curved panels up to a half cylinder (180°).

#Example

The example mountain landscape as a 100 mm curved lithophane, with the backlit preview:

The example landscape as a lithophane

#Frequently asked questions

#Is my photo uploaded?

No. The photo is read and the STL built in your browser, on your device. Nothing is sent to Shot3D.

#Why do I see nothing when it's not lit?

That's how lithophanes work. Against a light, the thin areas glow and the thick areas stay dark, and the picture appears.

#Which thicknesses should I use?

Start with 0.8 mm (thinnest) and 3 mm (thickest). Thinner minimums make the brightest parts brighter but more fragile; thicker maximums give deeper darks but need a brighter light.

#Why is the STL file so large?

A lithophane needs many small triangles to show detail. Fine detail on a large panel can make files of 50 MB or more. Use Standard unless you print with a smaller nozzle.

#How is a lithophane different from a heightmap?

A lithophane is thicker where the picture is dark, and you look through it at a light. A heightmap (relief) is the opposite: bright parts stand up higher, and you look at its surface, like a carving. The image to heightmap STL tool makes those.