Lithophane generators
ItsLitho
A modern and beginner-friendly lithophane generator with real-time 3D preview.
- Fast browser-based STL generation
- Adjustable resolution, frame types, and lighting options
🔸 Supports 360°? ✅
🔸 Great for: Quick generation and real-time preview
🔸 Drawback: Meshes may need cleanup for 3D printing
LithophaneMaker.com
A powerful and highly customizable online suite for:
- Flat, curved, and cylindrical lithophanes
- Lamps, night lights, fan covers, globes, and more
- Custom cropping, borders, and layout tools
🔸 Supports 360°? ✅
🔸 Great for: Complex shapes & multi-part lithophane designs
🔸 Drawback: Heavier tool, requires server upload
3dp.rocks – Image to Lithophane
A lightweight, privacy-conscious tool that works entirely client-side in your browser.
- Quick relief generation
- Basic STL export
- Flat shapes only (no fancy curves or frames)
🔸 Supports 360°? ❌
🔸 Great for: Fast test prints, offline privacy
🔸 Drawback: Limited shape options
Creality Cloud Lithophane Maker
Creality’s online lithophane maker, tailored for users of their 3D printers.
- Supports image upload and STL generation
- Integrated into the Creality Cloud ecosystem
🔸 Supports 360°? ❌
🔸 Great for: Creality printer users
🔸 Drawback: Requires account for full access
Vondy – Photo to Lithophane
Modern online generator that uses AI-assisted processing.
- Adjustable thickness, resolution, brightness settings
- Smooth, intuitive interface
🔸 Supports 360°? ❌
🔸 Great for: Clean, stylized results
🔸 Drawback: Limited shape presets
Offline & Advanced Alternatives
🛠️ Blender + Heightmaps
Import grayscale image as a displacement map for full control over mesh geometry.
🔸 Supports 360°? ✅
🔸 Great for: Artists, designers, advanced workflows
🔸 Drawback: Steep learning curve
OpenSCAD with surface()
Parametric modeling from heightmaps with predictable STL outputs.
🔸 Supports 360°? ✅ (via scripting)
🔸 Great for: Engineers, coders
🔸 Drawback: Script-based, no GUI
📝 Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Online? | Client-Side? | Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
| ItsLitho | ✅ | ❌ | Real-time preview, user-friendly interface |
| LithophaneMaker.com | ✅ | ❌ | Most shape presets (lamps, globes, curved) |
| 3dp.rocks | ✅ | ✅ | Lightweight, private, no server upload |
| Creality Cloud | ✅ | ❌ | Easy for Creality printer users |
| Vondy | ✅ | ❌ | AI-based with slick UI and modern output |
| Blender | ❌ | — | Full 3D control for artists and tinkerers |
| OpenSCAD | ❌ | — | Parametric scripting with precision |
💡 Reddit Insights
“Itslitho is more user-friendly and intuitive, but LithophaneMaker has way more shape options and creative flexibility.”
🔚 Final Tip
For large STL files or meshes with problems (non-manifold edges, holes, etc.), consider post-processing with:
