Turning photos into 3D objects gives them more impact and literally adds a new dimension. Of the various ways to do this, lithophanes are a simple way to enhance your favorite photos.
Lithophanes are essentially embossed photos generated by a 3D printer. The print results don’t show much at first, but shine some light through one, and you’ll be amazed by the details. The way it works is that light passes through the thin parts while being blocked by the thick parts. In this way, the differences in light bring out the image details.
In this article, we’ll explain how to turn a photo into a lithophane. But first, let’s take a look at what type of photos make the best lithophanes.
Your image is one of the most important parts of the lithophane process, and some images work better as lithophanes than others. An image that is too complicated or lacks contrast may result in an incoherent muck. So before you even think about how to convert your image to a 3D model, you should consider these tips on selecting and preparing images:
Of course, there are ways to get around these limitations, but if this is your first time making a lithophane, you might want to keep them in mind in order to achieve the best results.
There are many tools for turning your photo into a lithophane model, but virtually all of them work the same way. First, they guess the primary object of the photo and emboss it. Then, they give it a nice border and provide you with the final file in a 3D format like STL.
Below, we’ll present three easy ways to turn a photo into a lithophane model, including slicing software, CAD or 3D modeling software, and browser-based image-to-lithophane converters.
An easy method of creating a lithophane is to use 3D printing slicer software. One of the most popular slicers is Cura, by the 3D printer company UltiMaker. Cura works on a wide variety of printers and has a large user base. Besides its primary function as a slicer, it also provides extra features such as meshes and photo uploading.
There are pros and cons to using Cura to create lithophanes. On the one hand, the software is easy to use and fast, but you have less control over the process. The software also lacks more advanced options, such as adding frames to your images or molding them into different shapes. All things considered, however, Cura is still a great option for beginners.
To get started, ensure that you have the image you want to turn into a lithophane saved on your computer.
Launch Cura, then import the image by selecting “Open File(s)” from the File menu. A pop-up window appears with a variety of settings that will impact how the image appears when printed.
This is where all the magic happens:
After selecting your settings, Cura converts the image to a 3D model, and at this point, you simply slice the file and save the G-code.
Before you do that, though, we recommend you take a peek at the printing tips below for recommendations on print settings, as well as the print orientation of your newly created model. So, for now, just save the model as an STL file.
CAD and 3D modeling software are other options for creating lithophanes. Blender is a great choice, especially if you try online image-to-lithophane converters and they produce broken STL files.
This method gives us the most control over the final result, but there are a few more steps involved. Just follow along, and you’ll be done in a few minutes.
The more contrast the image has, the better, but that goes for any method of making lithophanes.
You can rotate the view by pressing the scroll wheel button while dragging the mouse to see the relief, but be warned, you might have a pretty scary image. This is because Blender usually adds too much depth. Fear not, just a few more clicks and all will be well:
A third method of acquiring STL files for your lithophanes is using image-to-lithophane converters. Most of them are browser-based services that convert your image into an STL file for you. There are multiple options, such as 3DP Rocks, ItsLitho, and Lithophane Maker.
Generally, they all work the same way. You upload your image, choose the shape or frame you want, then download the STL file to your computer.
With image-to-lithophane converters, you tend to have more customizability with less complexity. For example, ItsLitho gives you the option to adjust the image’s colors and insert a frame. The converters also allow you to change the shape of your lithophane from planes to arcs and spheres. These features are hard to come by in slicer software.
So, if you want more options than a slicer but would rather not fiddle around with Blender, give an image-to-lithophane converter a try.
The process is very easy. We’ll demonstrate with 3DP Rocks:
Once you do that, your browser will download the STL file, and you’re ready to proceed!
Regardless of the method you’ve selected, you should now have an STL file of your lithophane. The next step is to print it. Although lithophanes can be printed on both fused deposition modeling (FDM) and resin 3D printers, fans of resin printing will have the advantage here.
As with many other models, printing lithophanes with a resin printer gives you a much higher level of detail. Moreover, you can print them faster than if you were to use an FDM printer. Even with a high resolution, some lithophanes can take as little as 20 minutes to print.
There are a couple of things to keep in mind when printing a resin lithophane. First, the thickness of your resin print should be higher than for FDM since light shines through it differently when cured. A thickness of 4.5 to 5 mm is recommended for optimal contrast and detail, but you may have to play around a little to find the perfect thickness for your print. Additionally, adding a 7- to 8-mm frame around your lithophane can let you print without supports.
It’s recommended that you print the lithophane flat, but if you want to make a lithophane larger than the dimensions of the build plate, you can also orient it vertically. Proceed with your usual post-processing methods. For the best results, use white or grey resins and stay away from clear options.
Printing a lithophane on an FDM printer should be simple. Be sure to print it vertically since FDM printer resolution is better on the Z-axis than the X and Y ones. A vertically printed lithophane will be of a much higher quality than one printed flat.
Depending on the shape of your lithophane, this may cause some bed adhesion issues, but makers have said it’s worth the risk. Some makers recommend printing with a brim or raft if you’re printing the lithophane vertically. In addition, you can decrease the chance of your print coming off by positioning it so that the longer side is parallel with the build plate’s moving, the Y-axis.
Besides the print orientation, no extra settings are required. However, there are a few tips to keep in mind:
Once it’s all set up, go ahead and print. With the above settings, a standard-sized lithophane could take up to six hours to print.
License: The text of "How to 3D Print Your Own Lithophane" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.