Lithophane

Turn a photo into a 3D relief: print it, put a light behind it, and the image appears. Dark = thick, light = thin. Everything is generated in your browser.

What this tool does

How it works

  1. 01

    Upload the photo

    Portraits and photos with good contrast work best. The image is processed locally.

  2. 02

    Tune the relief

    Min and max thickness in mm, size, frame, and flat or curved shape — with a backlit preview.

  3. 03

    Print the STL

    White or natural filament, 100% infill, 0.1–0.15 mm layers, and put a light behind it.

Frequently asked questions

What thicknesses should I use?

0.6–0.8 mm in bright areas and 2.5–3.5 mm in dark ones is the sweet spot for white PLA: enough contrast without fragile zones. The tool's defaults are already in that range.

What filament and settings do I print with?

White or natural PLA, 100% infill, 0.1–0.15 mm layers, and print the lithophane vertically (on edge) so layer lines don't cross the image. Slow, but worth it.

Why does my lithophane look inverted (lights are dark)?

In a lithophane, material blocks light: dark areas of the photo need MORE thickness. The tool already inverts luminance correctly — if it looks reversed, check you didn't enable manual inversion.

Which photos work best?

Portraits with even lighting and good contrast. Very dark photos, busy backgrounds or ultra-fine detail lose legibility — check the backlit preview before printing.