How to Choose the Best Photo for a Lithophane

Alex

Why the Photo Matters

A lithophane is a thin 3D printed image that only comes to life once it's backlit. The printer turns the light and dark areas of your photo into different material thicknesses: where it's light, the layer is thinner, where there's shadow, it's thicker.

If the photo is blurry, overexposed, or has weak contrast, the result will be weak too. A good photo turns into a detail that tugs at your heartstrings.

This Is What Your Photo Should Look Like

Take a look at this gallery of high-contrast portraits on Unsplash, exactly these kinds of photos work best. A face clearly separated from the background, sharp light, clean shadows. If your photo resembles something from this gallery, the result will be great.

4 Things a Good Photo Must Have

1. Strong contrast Photos with a clear difference between light and dark areas work best. A portrait on a white background, a silhouette against a sunset, a black and white photo.

2. A sharp main subject The face, object, or scene must be in focus. If it's blurry in the original, it will be blurry in the lithophane too, this can't be fixed afterward.

3. Sufficient resolution Ideally at least 1500 × 1500 pixels. A photo from a modern phone is perfectly fine. Screenshots from social media often aren't.

4. A simple background The fewer distracting details in the background, the better the lithophane will stand out. Group photos with a busy background are technically demanding.

What Doesn't Work

  • Very dark photos with no bright areas
  • Overexposed photos with no shadows
  • Photos with a watermark or text
  • Very small faces in a group photo
  • Selfies with a heavy Instagram filter

Color or Black and White?

Black and white works almost every time. It's timeless, dramatic, and forgiving of small flaws in the original.

Color is stunning with the right photo, landscapes, portraits with striking lighting. It does, however, need a higher quality source.

If you're not sure, send us your photo and we'll tell you for free what will look best. Checking your file is always free with us.

Where to Put Your Finished Lithophane

An LED strip, a small spotlight, or a special stand with backlighting. Without light, a lithophane is just a white image, with light, it starts to breathe.

Want to be sure your photo will work? Contact us and we'll get back to you within 24 hours. Or go ahead and order your lithophane and we'll take care of the rest.

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