Make a lithophane from a photo

What is a lithophane and why does it look so good?

The thickness of a lithophane follows the brightness of the photo. Dark areas are printed thicker and let less light through; bright areas stay thin and let more through. With a soft lamp or window light behind the plate, the picture appears in smooth, deep tones. Without light it is just a plain plate with fine relief. The image is built into the thickness of the plastic, so there is no ink to fade.

How the Jarvis 3DP lithophane maker works

The tool runs in your browser, so there is nothing to install. The steps are:

• Upload your photo. Sharp photos with good contrast give the best result.
• Choose one of six shapes: rectangle, square, circle, curved, cylinder or heart.
• Add a stand, a lamp-socket collar or a hanger if you want one.
• Set the size and thickness and download the STL file, or order the finished print from us.

The output is an STL file that any slicer and any FDM 3D printer can print.

Material, size and thickness

White or off-white PLA filament is the usual choice for lithophanes because it passes light softly and evenly. Coloured or dark filaments absorb a lot of light and wash out the detail.

A lithophane is typically about 0.6 to 3 mm thick, and the thinner the layers, the more detail you see. Desk frames and night lights are commonly 10 to 20 cm wide, and larger sizes can be printed as long as they fit your printer’s bed. A low layer height and 100 percent infill in the slicer give a better result.

Who is this tool for?

It is for anyone making a personal gift for a birthday, an anniversary or a memorial; for 3D printer owners looking for a rewarding project; for sellers who offer custom products; and for people without a printer who simply want their photo turned into a printed lithophane.

Frequently asked questions

What is a lithophane?

A lithophane is a thin 3D-printed plate whose thickness follows the brightness of a photo. The picture appears when light shines through it; without light it is a plain relief plate.

Which photo works best for a lithophane?

Sharp photos with good contrast and a clear subject turn out best. Very dark, blurry or busy-background photos show less detail. Portraits and landscapes are the most popular choices.

What filament should I print a lithophane in?

White or off-white PLA is the best choice because light passes through it softly and the detail stays clean. Coloured or dark filaments absorb too much light and the picture looks dull.

What light do I need to display a lithophane?

A soft LED lamp or window light is enough. The tool can add a lamp-socket collar or a stand. Keep it away from hot bulbs so the PLA does not soften.

What if I do not own a 3D printer?

You can order the lithophane from Jarvis 3DP. Make it in the store’s studio, add it to your cart and we print, check and ship it.

Our tools

• Make a lithophane from a photo: Turns a photo into a thin plate that shows the picture only when light shines through it.
• Make string art from a photo: Turns a photo into a string-art pattern: the ordered list of nails that rebuilds the image with a single thread.
• Turn a map into a 3D printable model: Turns any area of a real map into a printable 3D model with buildings, streets and terrain.
• Make a silicone mould from a 3D model: Turns any 3D model into a printable two-part mould, with pins, a pour channel and vents.
• Online brick maker for 3D printing: A brick editor in the browser: build a model and download parts that fit real LEGO.
• Make a custom drawer organizer: Builds a custom insert for a drawer, shelf or toolbox from its inner size and the items you store.
• Make a shadow lamp from an image: A box with a lamp inside that casts the image you choose as a shadow on the wall.
• Make a printable lucky egg: Choose the egg size, the figure hidden inside and the egg type, and get the print files.
• Make a layered 3D lamp: A lamp of flat layers stacked one behind another that read together as a 3D scene.
• Make a miniature cubic room: A small printable model of a room, with simple furniture inside.
• Turn a Minecraft map into a 3D print: Turns a Minecraft map you upload into a printable 3D model.
• Turn a game map into a 3D print: Turns a selected area of a well-known game’s map into a printable 3D model.