PhotoSTL
Lithophane maker
Turn a photo into a lithophane you can print, flat or curved, with a live 3D preview.
- Nothing uploaded
- No sign-up
- Free, no limits
Drop your photo here
or paste it, or pick it from your device
.jpg · .jpeg · .png · .webp
- Drop your photo
- Adjust and preview in 3D
- Download STL
Good to know
How to make a lithophane from a photo
- Drop a photo above (JPG, PNG or WebP). It stays on your device.
- Choose the shape: flat for frames and light boxes (or cut to a heart or circle), curved for a standing panel, or cylinder for a lamp shade or night light.
- Drag the crop box over the photo to choose the part you want.
- Pick your filament and check the Lit from behind preview. It shows how the print will look with a light behind it. Adjust brightness and contrast until it looks right.
- Download the STL or 3MF and print it with the settings below.
What is a lithophane?
A lithophane is a thin plate whose picture only appears when light shines through it. Thick areas block more light and look dark; thin areas glow bright. The technique started with porcelain in 19th-century Europe; today it's one of the most popular things to make with a 3D printer.
Why this lithophane maker looks better
Most lithophane tools map brightness to thickness in a straight line. But plastic doesn't dim light in a straight line: each extra millimetre lets through only a fraction of the light that reached it. A straight-line mapping therefore crushes the shadows into flat dark areas.
This tool uses the physical model by default (True light): it works out the thickness that lets through the right amount of light for every pixel, for the filament you chose. UltiMaker Cura offers the same idea as its “Translucency” mode. The classic Linear mapping is one click away if you prefer it.
Best settings for printing a lithophane
| Filament | White or natural PLA. Dark, silk and clear filaments wash the picture out. |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 0.8 mm thinnest and about 3 mm thickest (the defaults). Thicker gives more contrast but needs a stronger light. |
| Layer height | 0.08–0.12 mm. Thinner layers mean more shades of grey. |
| Infill | 100%. Any gaps show up as dark lines when lit. |
| Speed | Slow (around 20–45 mm/s). Detail improves with lower speed. |
| Orientation | Flat on the bed is the most reliable and is what UltiMaker recommends. Many makers print standing up for finer detail; if you do, add a brim (the frame helps too). |
| Nozzle | 0.4 mm works well. A 0.2 mm nozzle shows finer detail. The detail setting follows your nozzle automatically. |
Don't scale the height in your slicer: thickness is what makes the picture, so changing it changes the light. Scale the width in the tool instead.
Lighting it
Use an even, diffuse LED light 2–5 cm behind the lithophane. Point lights make bright hot spots. Avoid hot bulbs: PLA starts to soften at around 60 °C.
Flat, curved or cylinder?
- Flat: for picture frames, light boxes and window hangers. Turn on the stand to make it free-standing.
- Heart or circle: a flat lithophane cut to shape, with the frame running along the edge. Great as a gift or a window hanger; drill or add a small hole in your slicer for a string. The crop keeps the shape's proportions, so drag it to put faces in the middle.
- Curved: stands on its own and looks great on a shelf with a tea light or LED behind it.
- Cylinder: a lamp shade or night light that shows the photo all the way around. Set the circumference to fit your light.
Choosing a good photo
- Clear subjects with good contrast work best: portraits, pets, landscapes with a clear horizon.
- Very dark photos come out dark. Raise the brightness, or keep Auto levels on.
- About 1000 pixels across is plenty; more doesn't add printable detail.
Want a logo or drawing instead of a photo? Use the SVG to STL converter.
Questions
Can I make a heart-shaped lithophane?
Yes. Choose Flat, then Heart as the outline. The photo is cut to a heart with a frame along the edge, and you can drag the crop box to choose which part of the photo goes inside.
What is the best filament for lithophanes?
White or natural (unpigmented) PLA. They let enough light through to show many shades. Dark, silk and clear filaments make the picture look washed out or muddy.
What thickness should a lithophane be?
About 0.8 mm at the thinnest (brightest) points and around 3 mm at the thickest (darkest). These are the defaults; go thicker for more contrast if your light is strong.
What infill and layer height should I use?
100% infill so there are no gaps, and a fine layer height of 0.08–0.12 mm for smooth shading. Print slowly.
Should I print a lithophane flat or standing up?
Flat is the most reliable and is what UltiMaker recommends. Many makers print standing up for finer detail; use a brim if you do. The frame makes either way sturdier.
Why does my lithophane look too dark?
Usually the photo is dark, the maximum thickness is too high for your light, or the light is too weak. Raise the brightness, lower the thickest setting, or use a brighter, diffuse LED.
Can I make a lithophane lamp?
Yes. Choose the cylinder shape and set the circumference to fit your light or lamp base. Use an LED: PLA softens at around 60 °C.
Is my photo uploaded?
No. The photo is processed entirely in your browser and never leaves your device. There's no account and no watermark.