What is a lithophane?

A lithophane is a thin translucent panel with varying thickness that reveals an image when backlit. Thicker areas appear darker and thinner areas appear lighter. They are typically 3D printed in white PLA.

What layer height should I use for lithophanes?

Use 0.1mm or smaller for the best detail. Each layer height represents one possible grey level, so thinner layers give more tonal range. 0.08mm gives excellent results but takes longer to print.

Why print lithophanes vertically?

Vertical printing gives much better detail because the X/Y resolution of the printer (typically 0.1mm) is finer than the Z resolution (layer height). This means more detail in the image.

What thickness range works best?

A minimum thickness of 0.6-0.8mm and maximum of 2.5-3.2mm works well for most lithophanes. This gives enough range for good contrast while keeping the thinnest areas strong enough not to break.

What material is best for lithophanes?

White PLA is the standard choice because it has excellent translucency and prints reliably at slow speeds. White PETG can also work well. Avoid coloured filaments as they block too much light.

3DPrintCalcs

Lithophane Calculator — Thickness & Print Settings

Calculate optimal thickness range and dimensions for photo lithophanes.

Image Width

Image Height

Min Thickness (Lightest)

Thinnest point - brightest area

Max Thickness (Darkest)

Thickest point - darkest area

Layer Height

Print Speed

Print Orientation

How We Calculate This

Lithophane Calculations

Grey levels = (Max thickness - Min thickness) / Layer height
Total layers = Image height / Layer height (vertical print)
Volume = Width x Height x Average thickness
Filament = Volume x PLA density (1.24 g/cm3)

More grey levels mean smoother tonal transitions in the image. At 0.1mm layer height with a 2.2mm thickness range, you get 22 grey levels which produces excellent detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify settings with test prints before committing to final prints.