Filament paintings
Your photo built up in layers of coloured filament, so the colours blend into a picture you see in ordinary light. Choose from 11 high-contrast palettes that run from black to white, let us auto match your photo's colours, or pick your own.
- About 2 mm, nearly flat
- Smooth blended colour
- Seen in everyday light
Free 3D preview with your own photo. Printed to order in Manchester and posted within 5 working days.
Printed in PLA plastic. Please keep it out of direct sunlight and away from radiators, heaters and other sources of heat, as warmth can soften PLA plastic.
Choose your colours
OceanBlack, Klein blue, sky blue and white. Made for seascapes, skies and snow.Try it with your photo
Auto matchWe pick the four filaments closest to your photo's own colours.Try it with your photo
EmberBlack, cherry red, orange and white: warm and dramatic, lovely on ginger and golden pets.Try it with your photo
GreyscaleBlack, grey, silver and white: a classic, timeless look for portraits and pets.Try it with your photoPictures are previews from our 3D studio, using sample photos. Photos of finished prints are on the way.
Relief, painting or lithophane?
| Sculpted relief | Filament painting | Lithophane | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A carved plaque with real 3D depth | A thin, flat picture built from coloured layers | A white panel that reveals your photo when lit |
| Thickness | 5.5 to 7.5 mm, you can feel the carving | About 2 mm, nearly flat to the touch | 1 to 3 mm |
| Colour | Bold, solid bands of up to four colours | Up to four colours that blend smoothly into each other | White, or full colour when lit |
| Seen in | Everyday light; side light shows off the depth | Everyday light, from the front | Light from behind: a window, lamp or LED stand |
| Price | from £18 | from £15 | from £12 |
How it’s made
Colour by height
The painting is a thin relief where brighter parts stand taller. We print it in 0.08 mm layers and change filament at set heights, so each colour shows through the next to make smooth blends.
Two to four colours
Our studio works out the best heights for each filament from your photo, and the preview shows exactly where each colour lands before you order.
11 palettes, auto match or your own colours
Every palette runs from black to white with two colours between, so your photo keeps its full contrast: Sepia, Ocean, Lavender, Crimson, Ember, Emerald, Twilight, Orchid, Mocha, Lagoon and Sage. Auto match chooses filaments to suit your photo instead, or you can choose up to four colours yourself.
Which photos work best?
- Bold scenes with clear areas of light and dark: landscapes, skies, silhouettes and seascapes.
- The colours follow the photo's brightness, so simple compositions read best from across a room.
- Details smaller than about 1 mm blend together, so choose the larger size for busy photos.
- Try a few palettes: the preview shows exactly where each filament colour lands.
Upload a photo to the studio to see exactly how yours will look before you order.
Sizes and prices
| Size | Landscape | Portrait | Square | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 100 × 75 mm | 75 × 100 mm | 80 × 80 mm | £15 |
| Medium | 150 × 112 mm | 112 × 150 mm | 120 × 120 mm | £20 |
| Large | 200 × 150 mm | 150 × 200 mm | 160 × 160 mm | £27 |
Sizes are the photo itself. The optional printed border adds 2 mm all round.
UK tracked delivery £3.95, free on orders over £30.
Displaying it
Filament paintings are made to be seen in normal light, lit from the front, so they look good on a shelf, a picture ledge or a desk without any lamp.
Looking after it
Dust it with a soft dry brush. Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from radiators, heaters and other sources of heat, as warmth can soften PLA plastic. Strong sun can also fade the colours over time.
Questions
- What is a filament painting?
- A picture printed in thin layers of coloured plastic filament. Thin layers are slightly see-through, so colours stacked at different heights blend together and recreate your photo in ordinary light. It's sometimes called a HueForge print, after the software that made the technique popular.
- How is it different from a lithophane?
- A lithophane is white and needs light behind it to show the picture. A filament painting is in colour and is seen in normal light from the front.
- Which palette should I choose?
- Greyscale suits portraits and pets. Auto match keeps your photo's own colours. Every other palette runs from black to white with two colours between: Sepia for a vintage feel, Ember and Mocha for warmth, Ocean, Twilight and Lagoon for cooler tones, Emerald and Sage for greenery, and Crimson, Orchid and Lavender for something bolder. The studio lets you compare them on your photo.
- Is the colour exactly like my photo?
- It's an artistic print with four filament colours, so it gives the impression of your photo rather than a photographic copy. The preview shows the colours you'll get.
- How long does it take?
- We print each painting to order and post it within 5 working days. Tracked delivery usually takes 1 to 3 working days after that.
More answers on our FAQs page and delivery and returns.
More ways to print your photo
See your photo in 3D first
Upload any photo and turn the preview round before you pay. It’s free and takes a few seconds.
Make your painting