How to make a lithophane
A lithophane is a thin plastic relief that reveals an image when light shines through it. This guide covers preparation, settings, printing, and lighting.
Choose a good source photo
High contrast helps—faces with clear highlights, landscapes with sky separation, and logos with bold shapes all work well.
Avoid extremely dark images unless you increase maximum thickness so details do not disappear.
Print orientation and thickness
Most makers print lithophanes vertically to avoid support on the image face. Minimum thickness controls the brightest areas; maximum thickness controls shadows.
Start with moderate resolution and increase only if print time is acceptable.
- Vertical print with image facing the bed edge
- 0.12–0.2 mm layers common
- White or natural filament popular
Lighting the finished print
Use LED strips, lamp kits, or diffuse backlights. Even lighting reduces hot spots. Warm LEDs can make grayscale lithophanes feel like backlit plastic.
Steps
- 1
Upload to LithoStack
Open ColorStack, switch to LithoStack, and load your image.
- 2
Set thickness range
Tune min/max until preview shows readable contrast.
- 3
Pick shape and size
Match your frame or lamp opening.
- 4
Export STL and slice
Use solid infill if printing flat; follow your orientation preference.
- 5
Add backlight
Mount LEDs behind the print for the final effect.
FAQ
- Why does my lithophane look muddy?
- Often too narrow a thickness range or uneven backlighting. Widen min/max slightly and diffuse the light source.
- Can I paint a lithophane?
- Grayscale lithophanes rely on thickness, not paint. For color, use a color lithophane workflow instead.