Questions about our 3D printed photos
Everything you need to know before you order. Can’t see your question? Email hello@3dprintedphotos.com.
- What can I have my photo printed as?
- Three things. A lithophane is a white panel that glows into your photo when light shines through it. A filament painting builds your photo up in layers of coloured filament, seen in normal light. A sculpted relief carves your photo with real depth you can feel. The studio previews all three with your own photo.
- What is a lithophane?
- A thin panel with your photo pressed into it as a relief. In daylight it looks like a white carving. Put a light behind it and the thin areas glow while the thick areas stay dark, so your photo appears.
- Which photos work best?
- Bright, sharp photos with a clear subject: portraits, pets, couples and landscapes. Very dark photos, heavy filters and busy group shots lose detail. Use the brightness and contrast sliders, and check the preview with the light on before you order.
- Is the preview accurate?
- It's built from the same thickness map we print from, so the light and dark areas match the finished piece closely. Real prints show faint layer lines up close, and the brightness depends on the light you use.
- What size should I choose?
- Small (100 mm on the long edge) suits a desk or bedside table. Medium (150 mm) is our most popular gift size. Large (200 mm) shows the most detail and looks great in a window.
- Flat or curved?
- Flat panels need a stand, a window or a lamp behind them. Curved panels stand on their own and wrap the light around the picture, which works well with a candle-style LED.
- How do I light it?
- Any light behind it works: a window, a lamp or our LED light stand. Warm white light gives the classic sepia glow. Avoid real candles.
- What is it made from?
- SUNLU PLA+, a tougher version of the PLA plastic most 3D prints use. Lithophanes are printed in white; paintings and reliefs use our range of 21 colours. PLA softens with heat, so keep prints out of direct sunlight and away from radiators, heaters and other sources of heat.
- How long does it take?
- Each piece is printed to order. We post within 5 working days, and tracked delivery usually takes 1 to 3 working days after that.
- Can you send it straight to someone as a gift?
- Yes. Enter their name and address at checkout. The parcel doesn't include a price.
- Can I return it?
- Because each piece is made from your photo, we can't take returns for a change of mind. If it arrives damaged or faulty, email us a photo within 14 days and we'll reprint it or refund you.
- What happens to my photo?
- It's used only to make your order. Photos that don't become an order are deleted after 7 days, and photos for completed orders are deleted 90 days after posting. See our privacy notice for details.
- Do you do colour lithophanes?
- Yes, on flat panels, for £5 extra. Thin layers of cyan, magenta and yellow behind the white panel tint the light with your photo's colours. For colour seen in normal light, choose a filament painting.