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Guide · 3 min read
Printing lithophanes: bring a photo to life with light
A lithophane is a thin panel that shows a photo when held up to the light: dark areas print thick, light areas thin. With the right settings, an ordinary printer produces surprising detail.
In the app
- Upload your photo on the Image tab and choose Lithophane as the product.
- Enter the width under Size (e.g. 100 mm).
- Set the thinnest and thickest values: 0.8 mm and 3 mm are a good start. A wider range means more contrast and longer prints.
- The border frame makes the panel sturdier and easier to stand up.
Print settings
- Use white or natural PLA; colored filament blocks the light.
- Infill must be 100%: the whole lithophane is detail.
- Layer height 0.12–0.16 mm; thinner layers give smoother gradients.
- Print the panel upright: printed flat, the detail turns into layer steps. Add a brim so it doesn't tip over.
- Slow down, and keep cooling on for the thin areas.
Which photos work best?
Sharp, well-lit photos with a clear subject (portraits, pets, landscapes). Very dark or busy photos look blurry in the light.
