Member-only story
3D Printing A Lithophane
What is a Lithophane?
3D printing of a lithophane is the process of creating a three-dimensional reproduction of an image or photograph, designed to be viewed by shining light through the back of the object. The term lithophane comes from the Greek words “lithos,” meaning stone, and “phainein,” meaning to appear or to reveal. Traditional lithophanes were made by carving thin layers of porcelain or other translucent material, such that the thickness of each layer corresponded to the lightness or darkness of the image being depicted. When lit from behind, the resulting object would reveal a grayscale image with varying levels of transparency.
With the advent of 3D printing, lithophanes can now be produced more easily and with greater precision. A 3D-printed lithophane is typically created by first converting a digital image into a 3D model that contains the necessary variation in thickness. This can be done using specialized software or websites (see below). The resulting model is then printed using a translucent or white filament, with the image being revealed when the 3d printed lithophane is backlit.
3D-printed lithophanes have a wide range of applications, from art and decorations, such as Christmas ornaments, to practical applications such as creating custom lampshades or night lights. They can be produced in a variety of sizes and shapes, and can even be made to incorporate multiple images or layers for added complexity.
One of the advantages of 3D-printed lithophanes is the ability to create highly detailed and intricate images that would be difficult or impossible to achieve with traditional methods. For example, 3D-printed lithophanes can incorporate fine details such as textures or even small text, whereas traditional lithophanes would require a higher level of skill and precision to achieve such effects.
3D printed lithophanes represent an exciting development in the field of 3D printing, offering a unique and visually striking way to reproduce images in 3D.
