How to Pick a Photo That Makes a Great Lithophane
Lithophanes look magical when the photo is right and muddy when it isn't. Here's what to look for.
Our free lithophane maker turns any photo into a print-ready STL, but the source image does most of the heavy lifting. A little care up front makes the finished print look incredible when it's backlit.
Go for high contrast between subject and background. Portraits with a bright face and a dark backdrop pop. Busy, evenly lit photos tend to look flat.
Higher resolution helps, but only up to a point. Anything above ~1500 px on the long edge is plenty for a standard-size lithophane. Very small phone screenshots will look soft.
Crop tight. Empty space around the subject becomes a boring border in the final print. Fill the frame with what matters.
Preview it in the lithophane maker before you export. If the 3D preview looks muddy in the browser, the printed version will too — try a different photo or tweak the thickness slider until the highlights read cleanly.