Free Online Photo Lithophane Maker
Turn any JPG or PNG photo into a 3D-printable lithophane in six shapes — flat, curved, sphere, dome, heart, or wave. Export STL in seconds. No signup, no watermark, your photos never leave the browser.
Six Lithophane Shapes
Each shape is tuned for a different use — picture frames, lamp shades, ornaments, or keepsakes.
Flat panel
Classic rectangular lithophane. Fits any picture frame with a backlight.
Curved arc
Gently curved surface for lamp shades and tealight wraps.
Sphere
Full globe. Wraps your photo around a lit sphere — great for ornaments.
Dome
Half-sphere for ceiling or flush-mount light fixtures.
Heart
Anniversary, wedding, and memorial gift favourite.
Wave
Undulating surface for decorative panels and modern art pieces.
How It Works
Upload your photo
Drag in any JPG or PNG. High-contrast portraits and landscapes give the sharpest results.
Pick a shape & resolution
Choose flat, curved, sphere, dome, heart, or wave. Set resolution (300–600) and thickness (2.4–3.2 mm).
Export STL and print
Download the STL, slice with 0.12 mm layers and 100% infill, print in white PLA.
Try it right here
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Lithophane FAQ
What is a photo lithophane?▼
A lithophane is a thin 3D-printed panel that reveals a photograph when backlit. Variations in the panel's thickness create the light and shadow that form the image.
How thick should a lithophane be?▼
Most printed lithophanes are between 2.4 mm and 3.2 mm thick. Thinner panels let more light through but lose detail; thicker panels have crisper shadows but need stronger backlighting.
What resolution should I use?▼
300–600 is the sweet spot in Vextrude. Lower values (100–200) export faster but look pixelated. Higher values produce larger STL files but print almost photographic detail with a 0.12 mm layer height.
Which lithophane shapes can I make?▼
Vextrude supports six shapes: flat (classic panel), curved (arc-shaped for lamp shades), sphere (full globe), dome (half sphere for ceiling lights), heart (decorative gift) and wave (undulating surface).
What material should I print a lithophane with?▼
White PLA is the most popular choice. It diffuses light evenly and shows sharp contrast when backlit. Natural (uncoloured) PLA and translucent PETG also work. Avoid dark filaments — they block too much light.
Which 3D-printer settings work best?▼
Use a 0.4 mm nozzle with a 0.08–0.12 mm layer height, 100% infill, and print slowly (about 30 mm/s). Turn off ironing and avoid supports — lithophanes print best face-down on the build plate.
Do I need to sign up or pay?▼
No. Vextrude's lithophane maker is free, runs entirely in your browser, and never uploads your photos to a server.
Can I use the lithophane as a gift?▼
Absolutely. Heart and dome shapes make popular anniversary, wedding and memorial gifts. Pair the printed panel with a small LED tealight or picture-frame backlight.
Want a deeper walkthrough?
Read our complete 2026 guide — from photo selection to slicer settings.
Read the guide