Photo lithophanes
Your photo carved into a thin white panel that glows into a detailed picture when light shines through it. In daylight it looks like a delicate carving; switch the light on and your photo appears.
- Glows when lit from behind
- White carving by day
- For a window or lamp
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 lithophane
Flat panelStand it in a window, on a lamp base or on our LED light stand.Try it with your photo
Curved panelStands on its own and wraps the light round the picture. Lovely with a candle-style LED.Try it with your photo
Full colourThin layers of cyan, magenta and yellow under the white bring back your photo's colours when lit. Flat panels only.Try it with your photo
In daylightWith the light off it's a white relief carving, so it looks good on a shelf all day.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
Carved by thickness
We turn your photo into a panel between about 1 mm and 3 mm thick. Thin areas let light through and become the highlights; thick areas hold it back and become the shadows.
Printed upright, layer by layer
Each panel prints standing on its longest edge in 0.12 mm layers of white SUNLU PLA+, which keeps the picture smooth when lit. A medium panel takes around five hours.
Checked against a light
Every lithophane is held up to a light before it's packed, so you get a clear, even picture.
Which photos work best?
- Close-up faces and pets work best. Fill the frame with your subject.
- Lithophanes show light and shade rather than colour, so a photo with clear contrast prints better than a colourful one.
- Soft, even light is ideal. Very dark photos and faces in shadow lose detail.
- Check the preview with the light on: if faces look heavy, nudge the brightness up.
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 | £12 |
| Medium | 150 × 112 mm | 112 × 150 mm | 120 × 120 mm | £15 |
| Large | 200 × 150 mm | 150 × 200 mm | 160 × 160 mm | £20 |
Sizes are the photo itself. The optional printed border adds 2 mm all round. Curved panels are the same sizes measured flat, and cost £2 to £3 more.
UK tracked delivery £3.95, free on orders over £30.
Lighting it
Any light behind it works: a bright window, a table lamp or our warm-white LED light stand (£8 extra). Warm light gives the classic golden glow; cool white looks crisp and modern. Please use LED light, never a real candle.
Looking after it
Dust it with a soft dry brush or cloth. Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from radiators, heaters and other sources of heat, as warmth can soften PLA plastic.
Questions
- What is a lithophane?
- A thin panel with a picture carved into its thickness. It looks like a white relief until light shines through it, when the thin parts glow and your photo appears. They began as porcelain panels in the 1820s; we make them with a 3D printer.
- Flat or curved?
- Flat panels need something to stand in or against: a window, a lamp base or our LED stand. Curved panels stand on their own and spread the light more evenly.
- Can I have a colour lithophane?
- Yes, on flat panels. We print fine layers of cyan, magenta and yellow under the white panel, so your photo's colours show when it's lit. It costs £5 extra.
- Do I need the LED stand?
- No. Many people stand theirs in a window or in front of a lamp. The stand is a neat, ready-made option that holds the panel and lights it evenly from behind.
- How long does it take?
- We print each lithophane 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 lithophane