{"id":2286,"date":"2022-08-19T17:32:09","date_gmt":"2022-08-19T20:32:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nuevo.impresion3d.website\/?p=2286"},"modified":"2026-09-20T16:30:45","modified_gmt":"2026-09-20T16:30:45","slug":"how-to-make-3d-lithophane","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/impresion3d.net\/en\/como-hacer-litofania-3d\/","title":{"rendered":"3D Lithography: Color Photos with a 3D Printer + Best Settings"},"content":{"rendered":"

3D lithophany is a technique for projecting an image (or photograph) through a semi-translucent medium (preferably white), using layers of varying thicknesses to allow light to pass through. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is the variation in material thickness that causes the opacity to vary as light passes through, making the thicker areas darker and the thinner areas lighter. Using this method, it is possible to produce a very sharp image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally, lithophanes were made of porcelain; a positive image was created using wax, and then the image was transferred to the final material.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Image: original photograph by P. Graff, 1855; etching, 1855, Berlin, in Wikipedia<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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The most common use of a lithophane was\u2014and still is\u2014decorative, specifically for creating lamps. Today, with 3D printers, they can be taken to a whole new level, allowing for the creation of more sophisticated and customizable lamps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How a lithophane Works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once the lithophane has been created, a light source is needed to produce the effect that reveals the hidden image; without it, all you would see is a white sheet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Placing a light behind the sheet will be enough to reveal the image created with the Lithophane Generator. The light can be natural light, from a candle, or from an electric lamp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What You Need to Make 3D Lithophanes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To make a lithophane with a 3D printer, you'll need: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. A \u201cLithophany Generator<\/strong>\u201c, and An image<\/strong> (or photograph).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. A laminating software<\/strong> as \u201cHealing<\/strong>\u201d or \u201cPrusaSlicer<\/strong>\u201d <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. One 3D printer<\/strong> with a white filament.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Print a color page<\/strong> using Paint<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    1. Lithophany Generator<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    A generator for 3D Lithophany<\/strong> It is a platform or application designed to convert a 2D image into an STL file, ready to be downloaded and processed by the slicer before being sent to the 3D printer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Online Lithophane Generator<\/strong> It will process the image you want, and then you'll choose the settings that determine the size, thickness, and type of frame needed to produce the 3D lithophane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There are currently two widely used platforms<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    • 3dp.rocks<\/a>: She creates black-and-white lithographs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • itslitho.com<\/a>: has the ability to produce color lithophanes<\/strong>, (printing a sheet of color paper).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      For this post, I'm going to use the second option: itslitho.com<\/a>, since I want to print a full-color 3D lithophane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n