Lithophane and relief settings chart
A one-page reference for turning images into 3D prints: how thick a lithophane should be, how deep a relief should go, how much image resolution is actually worth using, and how big the STL file will get. Free to use and cite under CC BY 4.0.
1. Useful resolution and STL file size by print width
A nozzle can't print detail much finer than half its width in X and Y, so extra grid points only make the file bigger. The table shows the resolution (grid points on the long side) worth using at each print width, and the binary STL size for a square image at that resolution. Sizes are calculated exactly from how our PNG to STL converter builds its meshes (two triangles per grid cell plus the walls and base; 50 bytes per triangle).
| Print width | 0.4 mm nozzle: resolution | STL size | 0.2 mm nozzle: resolution | STL size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 mm | 201 px | 3.9 MB | 401 px | 15.5 MB |
| 60 mm | 301 px | 8.8 MB | 601 px | 34.7 MB |
| 80 mm | 401 px | 15.5 MB | 801 px | 61.5 MB |
| 100 mm | 501 px | 24.1 MB | 1001 px | 95.9 MB |
| 120 mm | 601 px | 34.7 MB | 1201 px | 138 MB |
| 150 mm | 751 px | 54.1 MB | 1501 px | 215.4 MB |
| 200 mm | 1001 px | 95.9 MB | 2001 px | 382.6 MB |
Formula: resolution = width / (nozzle / 2) + 1. Triangles for a w × h grid = 2(w-1)(h-1) + 3(2w + 2h - 4). File size = 84 + 50 × triangles bytes. Non-square images are proportionally smaller. Download this table as CSV.
2. Lithophane thickness
Light passing through PLA falls off quickly with thickness, so the gap between minimum and maximum thickness sets the contrast. These are common starting points used across lithophane tools and maker guides. Use white or natural PLA, 100% infill and print upright.
| Use | Min thickness (mm) | Max thickness (mm) | Width (mm) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Window hanger / picture frame (daylight) | 0.6-0.8 | 2.4-3.0 | 100-150 | Thinner panels glow brighter in daylight |
| Light box or LED backlight | 0.8 | 3.0-3.2 | 100-150 | Common default in lithophane tools |
| Curved lithophane (stands on its own) | 0.8 | 3.0 | 100-160 | 30-180° curve; print upright |
| Night light with strong LED | 0.8-1.0 | 3.2-4.0 | 80-120 | Thicker max keeps shadows dark |
Try it with the lithophane maker, which shows a backlit preview before you print.
3. Relief depth and base thickness
| Width (mm) | Base (mm) | Relief (mm) | Best mode | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keychain tag | 40-60 | 1.5 | 1.0-1.5 | Extrude / SVG |
| Logo badge or sign | 80-150 | 1.2-2.0 | 2.0 | Extrude / SVG |
| Coaster | 90-100 | 2.0 | 1.0-1.5 | Heightmap |
| Photo relief plaque | 100-150 | 1.5 | 3.0-4.0 | Heightmap |
| Cookie cutter outline | 60-90 | 0 | 12-15 | SVG / Extrude |
4. Smallest printable detail by nozzle
Raised details narrower than about two line widths tend to blur or disappear. Scale the model up or thicken lines in your image if they fall below this.
| Nozzle (mm) | Typical line width (mm) | Smallest reliable raised detail (mm) | Layer height for fine relief (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 0.2-0.4 | 0.4 | 0.06-0.12 |
| 0.4 | 0.4-0.8 | 0.8 | 0.12-0.20 |
| 0.6 | 0.6-1.2 | 1.2 | 0.20-0.30 |
How to cite
"Lithophane and relief settings chart", PixelToSTL, https://pixeltostl.com/lithophane-settings, licensed CC BY 4.0. The CSV is at https://pixeltostl.com/data/stl-resolution-file-size.csv.
Convert your own image: PNG to STL, image to STL, SVG to STL or the lithophane maker.
Last updated . Written by the PixelToSTL team. Settings follow common slicer defaults and widely used maker guidelines for 0.4 mm nozzles; always check them against your own printer.