KitSTL

Lithophane: a photo that appears with light

BetaBeta version. Check the file in your slicer before printing. Found a problem? Contact us.

Pick a photo, adjust the size and download the STL. Dark areas of the photo make the part thicker; light areas make it thinner. Put a light behind it and the image appears. Never made one? See the step-by-step ↓

How it works — watch the video

  1. 1Pick a well-lit photo with a large face.
  2. 2Adjust the size and check the preview with the light behind it.
  3. 3Download the STL and print it upright in white PLA at 100% infill.

Shape

The 3D preview shows up here

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Printing tips

  • White filament (PLA), 100% infill.
  • Print upright, with a brim, and 0.12 to 0.16 mm layers.
  • View it from the flat side with the light behind, on the relief side.

What is a lithophane?

It's a thin plate of white plastic where the photo becomes thickness: where the photo is dark the part is thicker, where it's light, thinner. Without light, you only see white relief. With a light behind it, more light passes through the thin areas and the photo appears, shadows and all.

It makes a picture frame, night light or gift: Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, birthdays, pet memorials.

light behindthe part (side view)what you seeyouthick = dark · thin = light

Step by step, from photo to light on

  1. 1Pick the photo

    A large, well-lit face with a simple background works best. Distant, dark or very detailed photos get lost in the part. Pets, couples, babies and landscapes with sky look great.

  2. 2Adjust it above

    Choose the width (10 to 15 cm is picture-frame size) and check the “How it looks with light behind” preview. If the face is too dark, lower the contrast (it lightens the midtones) or use a brighter photo.

  3. 3Download the STL and open it in your slicer

    Works in Bambu Studio, Orca, PrusaSlicer and Cura. The part comes at the right size; just place it.

  4. 4Set up the print

    • White filament (PLA). White lets light through and shows the photo; colored filament darkens everything.
    • 100% infill. With less infill, the infill pattern shows up in the photo.
    • Upright (the plate standing vertically on the bed), with a brim so it doesn't tip over.
    • Layers of 0.12 to 0.16 mm and low speed: more detail in faces.
    • No supports.

  5. 5Print it and hold it up to the light

    Without light, the part looks like plain white relief, and that's normal. The photo appears when there's light behind it: hold it against a window during the day to check.

  6. 6Add the light

    LED strip, LED candle or an LED lamp behind the part (or inside, for the round night light). Use LEDs: regular bulbs get hot and can warp PLA.

Common questions

Why is it called a lithophane?

It's an old technique of thin carved porcelain that reveals an image when light passes through. A 3D printer does the same with white plastic.

My photo came out dark on the part. Now what?

Lower the contrast control to lighten the midtones and check the “How it looks with light behind” preview. If it's still dark, reduce the maximum thickness little by little and print a small test piece. Bright photos with a large face come out best.

Can I print it in resin?

Yes, with white or light-gray resin, but the right thicknesses vary by resin. Print a small test piece first.

How long does it take to print?

It depends on the size and the printer. Your slicer shows the estimate as soon as you open the STL.

Can I sell the pieces I make?

With your own photos or your customer's, yes: you generate the file. Don't use other people's photos without permission.