Confirm the preview above, then get
+ Shipping
No purchase needed! Download free, email appreciated.
A lithophane is a thin panel of translucent plastic with a photo's detail sculpted directly into its thickness. Thinner spots let more light through, thicker spots let less. Hold it up to a light source or backlight it, and the image reappears as a glowing grayscale picture, entirely from the shape of the plastic itself.
Your photo is converted to grayscale and mapped onto a grid, one grid cell per point on the panel. Each cell's brightness sets how thick the panel is at that exact point. Darker areas are printed thicker (blocking more light), lighter areas thinner (letting more through). That height map becomes a 3D mesh, which is the file we produce from.
Our Lithos are run on an FDM (fused deposition modeling) 3D printer, which builds the panel one thin layer of melted plastic at a time, from the bottom up, until the full relief is complete. No separate mold or tooling. The same printer and process handles every photo.
The best results come from photos with a clear subject and a real range of light-to-dark tones. That contrast is what becomes visible relief once it's printed and backlit. Even lighting helps too; very dark, very blown-out, or backlit/silhouetted photos tend to lose detail in the conversion. See what makes a good photo for side-by-side examples.
Most orders are printed and shipped within the same week. You'll get a confirmation email when you order, and another once it ships.
Yes. Configure your lithophane, then use the free download button to get the file, as an STL for printing or an OBJ for other 3D software. No purchase is required. An email is appreciated but optional.
Choose from rectangle, square, oval, circle, and hexagon shapes, in sizes up to 7 inches on the longest edge, with an optional frame and hanging loop. Other shapes, sizes, and manipulations are being explored to be added. Lithophanes are currently printed in white. Other, and multi-color options are being tested and may be added later.
Let us know and we'll make it right. Every shipment includes tracking, and USPS Ground Advantage shipments include $100 of loss or damage coverage automatically, at no extra cost to you.
Not yet. We currently ship to US addresses only.
Yes. If you're ordering for a wedding, event, or wholesale, email hello@lucentlitho.com — special pricing is available for large orders.
If your order arrives damaged, or doesn't arrive at all, let us know. We'll make it right. Every shipment includes USPS tracking, and Ground Advantage shipments include $100 of loss/damage coverage automatically, at no extra cost to you.
Questions about an order, or feedback on the process?
Share feedback
Or
email: hello@lucentlitho.com
Special pricing available for large orders.
We only use uploaded photos to generate your preview and print your order. Files are not sold or shared with third parties.
Whether you're downloading a free file or ordering a print, you're confirming you own the rights to the uploaded image or have permission to use it, and that it isn't copyrighted or trademarked material we don't have the right to reproduce.
Files are kept for up to 30 days after your order to support reprints or troubleshooting, then removed.
LucentLitho
