STLPalAll tools / Lithophane maker
Lithophane maker
Pick a photo, set the size, download the STL. Print it, hold it up to a light, and the picture shows up in the plastic.
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Good to know
Picking a good photo
- Go for strong light and dark areas. A flat, grey photo turns into a flat, grey lithophane.
- Fill the frame. A face that takes up most of the picture reads better than a small person in a big room.
- Keep the background simple. Busy backgrounds turn into noise once they're printed.
- Crop before you upload. The panel takes the photo's shape, so crop to the shape you want to print.
Print settings that work
| Setting | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Filament | White or natural PLA | Colours and dark plastic block too much light |
| Infill | 100% | Any gaps inside show up as patterns in the picture |
| Layer height | 0.12–0.16 mm | Thinner layers give smoother shading |
| Orientation | Standing up | The nozzle then draws the light-to-dark steps instead of stacking them as layers, which looks smoother |
| Speed | Slow outer walls | Cleaner edges between light and dark |
If you change one thing, make it 100% infill. It matters more than anything else on the list.
To light it, put a white LED behind the panel. A warm bulb gives an old-photo look; a cool one looks sharper.
How it works
- 1Choose a photo. Faces and high-contrast shots work best.
- 2Set the width, thickness and shape (flat or curved).
- 3Download the STL. Print it standing up, in white PLA, at 100% infill.
Questions people ask
Checked October 2026
- Do my files get uploaded?
- No. Everything runs in your browser. The file never leaves your computer, so it works for client files and unreleased designs too.
- What settings should I print with?
- White or natural PLA, 100% infill, 0.12–0.16 mm layers, and print it standing up if your printer allows. Slower outer walls give a cleaner picture.
- What thickness should I use?
- 0.8 mm at the thinnest and 3 mm at the thickest is a safe start for a 0.4 mm nozzle. Thicker panels give more contrast but need a brighter light.
- Why does the picture look wrong on screen?
- A lithophane is meant to be seen with light behind it. On screen you only see the bumps. Dark parts of the photo are the thick parts.
- Can I make a lamp shade?
- Pick Curved and set the arc to 350° for a near-full cylinder, or 120° for a curved panel that stands on its own.
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