What Is a Lithophane?
A lithophane is a 3D print that uses thickness variation to reveal an image when light passes through it. Thinner areas appear brighter, thicker areas appear darker.
What You'll Need
- A clear photo with visible contrast.
- Access to the 3DLithophaneMaker app.
- A slicer and a printer profile that is already calibrated.
Step 1 - Choose the Right Photo
Use a sharp image with a clear subject and avoid heavy noise or motion blur. Strong foreground/background separation usually translates better to depth.
Step 2 - Upload and Crop in 3DLithophaneMaker
Upload your image, crop around the subject, and remove empty margins that do not add detail. This improves the final pixel-to-size mapping.
Step 3 - Pick the Best Lithophane Settings
Use these as starting points, then tune based on your printer and material.
Flat lithophane recommended starting values
- Width x Height: 100 x 150 mm
- Min/Max thickness: 0.8 / 3.2 mm
- Resolution: 0.4 mm/px
- Nozzle size: 0.4 mm
Standing lithophane recommended starting values
- Padding: 5 mm
- Min/Max thickness: 1.2 / 3.4 mm
- Stand depth/thickness: 18 / 3 mm
- Bend angle: 90 deg
Cylinder lithophane recommended starting values
- Width (wrap): 251.33 mm
- Height: 120 mm
- Min/Max thickness: 1.2 / 3.4 mm
- Resolution: 0.4 mm/px
Step 4 - Export STL or 3MF
Export STL for broad compatibility. Export 3MF if your slicer workflow prefers it. Open the exported file and verify dimensions before slicing.
Step 5 - Slicer Settings for Better Results
- Layer height: 0.12 to 0.20 mm
- Infill: 100%
- Print speed: moderate and consistent
- Cooling: stable to avoid banding artifacts
Step 6 - Print Orientation and Material Tips
- Print flat or standing based on the model style and required stability.
- Use a bright, light filament for clearer transmitted light.
- Validate the final result with a consistent backlight source.
Troubleshooting
Lithophane too dark
Reduce maximum thickness slightly or increase brightness in small increments. Retest with the same backlight before changing multiple settings at once.
Missing detail
Check source image quality first. Then verify resolution and nozzle pairing, and reduce excessive smoothing from slicer profiles.
Warping or weak base
Increase base support values for standing prints and verify first-layer adhesion with a clean bed and tuned temperatures.
FAQ
What image works best for a lithophane?
Photos with clear lighting, strong contrast, and a single main subject usually produce the best depth and detail.
Should I export STL or 3MF?
STL is broadly compatible. 3MF is useful when you want richer metadata and a modern slicer workflow.
Why does my lithophane look too dark?
Reduce max thickness slightly, increase brightness carefully, or improve your backlight strength.
How do I improve missing fine detail?
Use a cleaner source image, keep resolution aligned to nozzle size, and use a moderate layer height.
Start Making Yours
Load the example to explore the settings hands-on, or jump straight in with your own photo.