Lithophane Maker
Turn a photo into a lithophane STL in your browser: dark areas print thick and bright areas thin, so the picture glows when lit from behind. Free, no upload.
Runs in your browser. Your files never leave your device.
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Free, no sign-up. Built on the Canvas API and a mesh builder written for UpAgents (no extra library). Updated 2026-10-22.
What is a lithophane?
A lithophane is a thin 3D print that shows a photo when light shines through it. Dark parts of the picture are printed thick and block light; bright parts are printed thin and let it through. In normal light it looks like a bumpy white plaque. A lithophane maker turns a photo into that thickness map as an STL.
How to make a lithophane from a photo
- 1Drop a photo on the box above. A portrait or pet photo with good contrast works best.
- 2Set the width, the thinnest and thickest points and the frame: 0.8 mm, 3 mm and a 3 mm frame are good defaults.
- 3Check the backlit preview: dark areas should be thick and faces clear.
- 4Click Download STL and print it standing upright in white PLA at 100% infill, with 0.12 to 0.16 mm layers.
- 5Put a light behind it: an LED strip, a tea light or a window.
What thickness and size work best?
Common starting points for FDM printers: 0.8 mm at the thinnest, 3 mm at the thickest, 100 to 150 mm wide, with a 3 mm frame so the edges stay flat. Thinner than 0.6 mm can leave holes; thicker than about 3.5 mm makes dark areas look solid black. Print a small test first with a new filament.
Which photos make good lithophanes?
Photos with one clear subject, good contrast and a simple background: portraits, pets, a couple, a landmark. Very dark photos and busy backgrounds turn muddy. Crop close around the faces and brighten the photo a little before you drop it in.
A lithophane or a full 3D model?
A lithophane is a picture you light from behind. If you want your dog as a figurine you can hold, that is a full 3D model, which the 3D Print File Agent builds from a photo and checks for printing: watertight, sized, flat side down, as an STL and a colour-split 3MF.
Guides for this job
- How to Turn a Photo into a 3D Print File: Lithophane, Relief or Full Model
Turn a photo into a 3D print file three ways: a backlit lithophane, a relief plaque, or a full 3D model of your pet. Which to pick, the settings and free tools.
Questions
Is this lithophane maker free?
Yes. No sign-up, no watermark and no limit. It runs in your browser.
What filament is best for lithophanes?
White or natural PLA. Coloured filament blocks too much light and hides detail. Print at 100% infill so the thickness, not the infill pattern, decides how much light gets through.
Should I print a lithophane flat or standing up?
Standing up gives the finest detail, because the printer's X and Y axes draw the picture instead of the layers. Add a brim and slow down a little so the tall, thin print doesn't wobble.
Can I make a curved or round lithophane?
This maker makes flat panels with a frame, the most common kind. Curved, cylinder and heart shapes need a dedicated lithophane app.
Is my photo uploaded?
No. Your browser reads the photo and builds the STL on your device. Nothing is sent to UpAgents or anywhere else.