How thick is a photo relief?

Ours have a 2 mm backing with the carving rising up to 3.5 mm (small), 4.5 mm (medium) or 5.5 mm (large) above it, so the thickest parts are 5.5 to 7.5 mm.

Can a photo relief be in colour?

Yes. As the carving rises we change filament, so each height band is a different colour. Choose one of our palettes, let Auto match pick colours from your photo, or choose up to four colours yourself.

Which photos make the best reliefs?

One clear subject against a plain or darker background, with good light and shade: a portrait, a pet or a family hug. Busy or blurry backgrounds turn into bumpy shapes in the carving.

How do I display a photo relief?

On a shelf, a picture ledge or a wall, in everyday light. Light from one side casts soft shadows across the carving and brings out the depth best.

How is a relief different from a lithophane?

A lithophane is a thin white panel that shows your photo when light shines through it from behind. A relief is thicker and made to be seen from the front in normal light, with colour and depth you can feel.

What is a photo relief?

Updated 28 October 2026 · 4 minute read

A photo relief is your photo carved with real depth. The picture rises from a flat backing, with the brightest parts standing furthest forward, so faces, fur and clothing take on a shape you can see from across the room and feel with your fingers.

A white sculpted relief of a mum kissing her laughing baby — One colour on the left, the Sepia palette on the right (previews from our 3D studio).

A sculpted relief of a dog in the Sepia palette, rising from black to white — One colour on the left, the Sepia palette on the right (previews from our 3D studio).

A very old idea

Relief carving is one of the oldest forms of art. Sculptors in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia carved scenes that rise from flat stone walls, and the frieze around the Parthenon in Athens is one of the most famous reliefs ever made. Sculptors talk about high relief, where figures stand well out from the background, and low relief or bas-relief, where they rise only a little.

A photo relief is a low relief made from a photograph. For centuries that meant a skilled carver working by eye. A 3D printer can now do it straight from a photo on your phone.

How a 3D printed photo relief works

Brightness becomes height. Our studio reads the light and shade in your photo. The brightest parts rise furthest from the backing and the darkest stay low, so all the detail and contrast of the photo carries into the carving.
A solid backing. Every relief has a 2 mm backing, with the carving rising up to 3.5 mm (small), 4.5 mm (medium) or 5.5 mm (large) above it.
Fine layers. We print reliefs flat in 0.08 mm layers, so the contours stay smooth and fine details such as eyelashes and whiskers come through.
Colour by height. As the carving rises we switch filament, so each band of height is its own colour. Shadows sit in the darkest colour and highlights in the lightest.

Choosing colours

There are three ways to colour a relief, and the studio preview shows exactly where each colour lands before you order.

Palettes. Twelve palettes that run from black up to white with two colours between, such as Greyscale, Sepia, Ember, Ocean and Twilight. Running from black to white keeps the full contrast of your photo.
Auto match. We pick the two middle colours that best suit your photo, between black and white.
Choose your own. Pick from one to four colours from our range. A single colour lets the carving do all the work; white on black gives a bold, striking look.

Which photos work best?

One clear subject. A portrait, a pet or a family hug, filling most of the frame.
A plain or darker background. Blurry or busy backgrounds turn into bumps and blotches, while a plain one stays calm and lets the subject stand out.
Strong light and shade. Side lighting in the photo gives faces and fur the boldest carving.
Texture helps. Curly hair, fur, beards and knitwear all carve beautifully.

How to display a photo relief

Light from the side. A shelf near a window or a picture light casts soft shadows across the carving and shows off the depth.
No lamp needed. Reliefs are made to be seen in everyday light from the front.
Away from sun and heat. It’s printed in PLA plastic, which can soften with warmth, so keep it out of direct sunlight and away from radiators, heaters and other sources of heat.
Easy to clean. Dust it with a soft dry brush.

Questions

What is a photo relief?: A photo carved with real depth. The picture rises from a flat backing, so you can see and feel the shapes of faces, fur and clothing. Ours are 3D printed from your own photo.
How thick is a photo relief?: Ours have a 2 mm backing with the carving rising up to 3.5 mm (small), 4.5 mm (medium) or 5.5 mm (large) above it, so the thickest parts are 5.5 to 7.5 mm.
Can a photo relief be in colour?: Yes. As the carving rises we change filament, so each height band is a different colour. Choose one of our palettes, let Auto match pick colours from your photo, or choose up to four colours yourself.
Which photos make the best reliefs?: One clear subject against a plain or darker background, with good light and shade: a portrait, a pet or a family hug. Busy or blurry backgrounds turn into bumpy shapes in the carving.
How do I display a photo relief?: On a shelf, a picture ledge or a wall, in everyday light. Light from one side casts soft shadows across the carving and brings out the depth best.
How is a relief different from a lithophane?: A lithophane is a thin white panel that shows your photo when light shines through it from behind. A relief is thicker and made to be seen from the front in normal light, with colour and depth you can feel.

See your photo as a relief

Upload a photo and turn the 3D preview round to see the carving. Reliefs from £18.

Try it with your photo

Keep reading: our sculpted photo reliefs · What is a filament painting? · What is a lithophane?