Gifts · 2026
Custom lithophanes: your photo, 3D printed
How is a lithophane made from a photo, and what do you need to send?
A lithophane is a white plastic panel about 3 mm thick in the dark areas of the photo and about 0.6 mm in the light ones: unlit, it looks like a relief; with an LED light behind it, the photo appears in black and white. It's almost always printed in FDM, solid (100% infill) and with fine layers, and each panel takes several hours of machine time. All you need is the original photo: the maker turns it into the 3D model. Fabrishare is a network of makers: post your project for free and get quotes within 24–48 hours.
Lithophane shapes: frame, lamp, light box or ornament
The same photo can be printed in several shapes. Choose by where it will go and what light it will have.
| Shape | What it looks like | Light | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat, in a frame | Like a picture: the photo appears when the light is on | LED strip or panel in the frame | Bedside table, shelf, anniversaries |
| Curved, free-standing | Stands on its own in front of a light | An LED light behind it | Desk or table |
| Cylinder or lamp | Wraps around the light: one panoramic photo or several in a row | LED bulb inside | Table lamp, night light |
| Light box | A cube with a photo on each side | LED inside the box | Several family or holiday photos |
| Hanging ornament | A small piece with the photo | Against the light or with a small LED | The Christmas tree, baby's first Christmas |
| Colour | The photo in colour, not black and white | Daylight-white LED | When colour matters; fewer makers do it |
If you're not sure which to choose, say in the project where it will go and what light there is: the maker will suggest the shape.
What makes a lithophane look good: thickness, infill and orientation
These are the maker's settings, but they're worth knowing to compare offers and to understand why a lithophane isn't just any part of the same size.
| Setting | Typical | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum thickness (dark areas) | About 3 mm | The thicker it is, the less light gets through: that's where the blacks are. |
| Minimum thickness (light areas) | About 0.6 mm | The thinnest areas let light through: that's where the whites are. |
| Infill | 100%, solid | Infill with gaps shows up as blotches when the light is on. |
| Orientation | Standing upright | More detail than printing it flat, though it takes longer. |
| Layer height | 0.1 to 0.2 mm | Finer layers, smoother transitions. |
| Material | White PLA | Colour ones use translucent cyan, magenta and yellow filaments over a white base. |
Resin gives more detail at small sizes; FDM allows larger panels and is the most common. Each maker adjusts these figures to their machine and filament.
Which photo works for a lithophane?
Contrast and framing
A lithophane turns the photo black and white, and black and white depends on contrast. Photos with good light, the face or subject large in the frame and a simple background work best. A dark photo, one taken against the light or one with a small face loses detail.
- Face or main subject large and sharp.
- Even light, no harsh shadows on the face.
- Simple background; if it's busy, the maker can crop it.
The original file, not a screenshot
Send the photo exactly as it came off the phone or camera. Screenshots and photos forwarded by messaging app lose resolution, and it shows in a lithophane. If it's an old printed photo, scan it rather than photographing it.
Pets and old photos
A pet works well if it fills most of the photo and its fur catches the light; a dark animal on a dark background gets lost. A scanned old photo works too: the better the scan, the better the result.
What light should a lithophane have?
The light is half the result. Lithophanes are almost always printed in PLA, which starts to soften at around 60 °C, so the light has to give off little heat. If you want the light fitted, say so in the project.
Yes
- LED strips or panels in the frame.
- A low-wattage LED bulb inside a lamp or box.
- Battery or USB LED lights.
- Warm white for black-and-white ones; daylight white for colour ones.
No
- Incandescent or halogen bulbs: they get hot and can warp it.
- Candles or any naked flame.
- A strong light pressed against the panel for hours with no ventilation.
What to send when ordering a lithophane
- 1
The original photo
At the highest resolution you have. If there are several (for a box or a lamp), say what order they go in.
- 2
The shape and size
Flat, curved, lamp, box or ornament, and the size in centimetres or with a reference: “the size of a 10 × 15 cm photo”, “for a bedside table”.
- 3
The light
Whether you want it included and how it's powered: batteries, USB or mains.
- 4
Any text
A name or a date, copied exactly, with capitals and punctuation.
- 5
The date
When it needs to be at your door. That way each offer tells you whether it'll arrive in time.
Will it arrive for Christmas? Lithophane lead times
| Step | How long it takes |
|---|---|
| Offers from makers | 24–48 hours after you post |
| Preparing the photo and approving the preview | Depends on how quickly you approve; ask to see how it'll look before printing |
| Printing | Several hours of machine time per panel: it's solid and printed in fine layers |
| Frame, lamp or light | If included, add time for assembly |
| Shipping | Stated in each offer |
Everything slows down in December: for Christmas, order two or three weeks ahead and say in the project when you need it. Each offer states its lead time.
How much does a custom lithophane cost?
We don't give a reference price: the Fabrishare calculator assumes FDM parts with 20% infill, while a lithophane is solid, printed in fine layers and takes many hours of machine time for its size. Each maker quotes it after seeing your project, and posting it is free.
What drives the price:
- Size and shape: a flat panel uses less material than a cylinder or a box with several sides.
- Machine time: solid and upright, it takes longer than a normal part of the same size.
- Colour: it needs a multi-colour printer.
- The frame, lamp or light, if included.
- The number of photos: each side of a light box is a separate panel.
More gifts from a photo
Other personalised gifts
Name signs, keyrings, a figure of their pet or a model of their motorbike.
Personalised 3D printed giftsChristmas decorations
Baubles with names, stars and nativity figures to go with the lithophane.
3D printed Christmas ornamentsThe person in 3D
If you'd rather have a figure of the person or pet, it's modelled from several photos.
Custom figurine from photosNo 3D file
For a lithophane, the photo is enough. For other parts without a file, this guide explains what to send.
No STL file?
Which photos you can use
Your photos and your family's: no problem. A photo of someone else, with their permission: a gift for them is the normal case.
What can't be ordered is someone else's photo taken from the internet, a film still or a copyrighted character without permission to use it. When you post the project you confirm you have the right to order it, and the maker can turn down anything that doesn't comply.
How to order your lithophane
- 1Post your project for free with the original photo, the shape, the size, the light and the date.
- 2Makers in the network send you their offer within 24–48 hours, with price and lead time.
- 3Pick the one that arrives in time; the maker prints the lithophane and ships it to you.
Frequently asked questions
What is a lithophane?
A white plastic panel printed with thin and thick areas, from about 0.6 to about 3 mm. Unlit, it looks like a relief; with a light behind it, the thin areas let light through and a black-and-white photo appears. It's mounted in a frame with an LED light, in a lamp or in a light box.
How much does a custom lithophane cost?
It depends on the size, the shape, colour and whether a frame or light is included, and each maker quotes it in their offer. There's no reference price because it's solid and takes many hours of machine time for its size. Posting the project is free, and you compare the offers that arrive within 24–48 hours.
Which photo works best?
One with good light, strong contrast, a large face or subject and a simple background. Send the original file, not a screenshot or a photo forwarded by messaging app, which lose resolution.
Do I need a 3D file?
No. For a lithophane the photo is enough: the maker turns it into the 3D model with the right thickness in each area. You can ask for a preview before printing.
What light should I use?
LED: strips, panels, a low-wattage LED bulb or battery or USB lights. Never incandescent or halogen bulbs or candles: it's printed in PLA, which starts to soften at around 60 °C.
Can it be in colour?
Yes, with multi-colour printers that layer translucent cyan, magenta and yellow filaments over a white base. It's trickier and fewer makers do it, so say so in the project. It looks best with daylight-white light.
Can it have several photos?
Yes: a light box has a photo on each side, and a cylindrical lamp can take one panoramic photo or several in a row. Send all the photos and say what order they go in.
Will it arrive for Christmas?
Offers arrive within 24–48 hours and each one states its lead time. Printing takes several hours per panel, and everything slows down in December: order two or three weeks ahead and say when you need it.
Resin or filament?
FDM in white PLA is the most common: it allows larger panels. Resin gives more detail at small sizes. If you're not sure, leave the technology open and compare the offers.