Lithophane and Relief Maker
Drop a photo to turn it into a lithophane that shows the picture when light shines through it, or into a relief that stands out from a plate. Choose the shape and size, preview it in 3D and download the STL. Everything runs in your browser: your photos are never uploaded.
How to make a lithophane
- 1
Drag a JPG, PNG or WebP photo onto the box above, or click it to choose one.
- 2
Pick Lithophane or Relief, and a shape: flat, curved, cylinder lamp, circle or heart.
- 3
Set the width in millimeters and the minimum and maximum thickness.
- 4
In the Image tab, drag over the photo to crop it, and adjust brightness and contrast.
- 5
Check the 3D preview and download the STL, ready for your slicer.
Ideas to print
- 1
Photo gifts: a lithophane of a family picture, a pet or a wedding.
- 2
Night lights and lamps with a cylinder around an LED tea light.
- 3
Heart shaped lithophanes for anniversaries and Valentine's Day.
- 4
Reliefs of logos, maps and drawings to hang on the wall.
- 5
Ornaments and keepsakes in a circle shape.
Lithophane or relief?
In a lithophane, dark areas are thicker and let less light through, so the picture appears when you hold it against a lamp or a window. Print it in white PLA for the best result.
In a relief, light areas stand out from the base, like a height map. It is meant to be seen with normal light, and works best with high contrast images, logos and drawings. Use “Invert” to swap which tones are raised.
Tips for good lithophanes
Print lithophanes standing up, with 100% infill and a 0.1–0.12 mm layer height: the thickness is what draws the picture. A minimum of 0.8 mm and a maximum of 3 mm work well with white PLA.
Photos with good contrast and a clear subject give the best results. If the picture looks flat, raise the contrast; if the shadows are too dark, raise the brightness.
Frequently asked questions
Is the lithophane maker free?
Yes. You can create and download lithophanes and reliefs for free, without an account and without watermarks.
Are my photos uploaded to a server?
No. The photo is turned into a 3D model entirely in your browser and never leaves your device.
Which image formats can I use?
JPG, PNG, WebP, BMP and GIF. Transparent areas of a PNG are treated as white.
What thickness should a lithophane have?
Between 0.8 mm and 3 mm is a good start for white PLA. Thinner lithophanes look brighter but more fragile; thicker ones give more contrast with a strong light.
How do I make a lithophane lamp?
Choose the Cylinder shape. The width is the length around the inner side, so a width of 200 mm makes a cylinder about 64 mm across. Place an LED tea light inside.
Why is my STL file so large?
The detail sets how many points per millimeter the surface has. Lower it, or make the model smaller, to get a lighter file. Five points per millimeter is plenty for a 0.4 mm nozzle.