{"id":2286,"date":"2022-08-19T17:32:09","date_gmt":"2022-08-19T20:32:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/impresion3d.website\/?p=2286"},"modified":"2023-09-04T15:09:21","modified_gmt":"2023-09-04T18:09:21","slug":"how-to-make-3d-lithophane","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/impresion3d.website\/en\/how-to-make-3d-lithophane\/","title":{"rendered":"3D Lithophane: color photos with 3D printer + Best parameters"},"content":{"rendered":"

3D Lithophane is a way of projecting an image (or photograph) through a semi-translucent medium (preferably white), using different types of thicknesses to allow light to pass through. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is the change in material thickness that makes the opacity of the light path vary, making the thicker parts darker and the thinner parts lighter. Through this method a razor-sharp image can be formed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally the lithophanes were made of porcelain, a positive image was created using wax and then the final material was used.<\/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 and is decorative, to create lamps. Today with 3D printers they can be taken to another level, creating more sophisticated and customizable lamps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How does a lithophane work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once the lithophane is created, it is necessary to use a light to produce the effect that reveals the hidden image; since without this you would not see anything more than 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, from a candle or from an electric lamp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is needed to make 3D Lithophanes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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

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  1. A "Lithophane Generator<\/strong>", and An image<\/strong> (or photograph).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. A laminator software<\/strong> as "Healing<\/strong>" either "PrusaSlicer<\/strong>\u00bb <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. A 3D printer<\/strong> with white filament.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Print a color sheet<\/strong> with paint<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

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

    a generator 3D lithophane<\/strong> is a platform or application in charge of transforming a 2D image into an STL file, ready to be downloaded and interpreted by the Slicer before being sent to the 3D printer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    He Online lithophane generator<\/strong> will process the image you want, to then choose the parameters that will determine the size, thickness, and type of frame necessary to produce the 3D Lithophane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There are currently 2 widely used platforms<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    • 3dp.rocks<\/a>: works creating Lithophnies in Black and White.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • itslitho.com<\/a>has the ability to produce color lithophanes<\/strong>, (printing a color sheet of paper).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      For this publication I will use the second option: itslitho.com<\/a>, since I want to print a 3D Lithophane in color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n