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Image to Lithophane STL Generator

Turn a photo into a watertight lithophane STL with physical XY resolution, minimum/maximum thickness, tone controls, reinforced frame, live 3D inspection, and binary STL export.

Why this tool is different

A lithophane turns image brightness into physical thickness so light passing through the print reveals the photograph. OpenFileTools builds the actual mesh in the browser instead of sending a family photo to a remote 3D service.

Requirements and recommendations

Build a printable relief

  • Choose a high-contrast photo with useful tonal detail.
  • Set finished width, minimum/maximum thickness, physical XY resolution, tone response, and optional perimeter frame in millimeters.
  • Generate the STL and inspect it in your slicer before committing material.
How OpenFileTools processes it

Local processing, explicit choices.

The browser maps the photo into an aspect-correct luminance grid, flips canvas Y into the defined +Y Front orientation, applies tone/frame controls, builds a closed shell, verifies topology, and exports compact binary STL locally.

Frequently asked

Questions, answered.

Are my family photos uploaded?

No. The photo-to-height-field conversion stays in the browser.

Which material should I use?

Light-colored translucent filament is common for lithophanes, but material choice and printer settings are outside the tool's validation.

Related guide

Learn more about this task.

Read the related guide