For the first step, you’ll need two files: one for 2D printing the color picture with intensity levels removed and one for 3D printing the lithophane.

While there are several websites and methods you can use to create the lithophane file, this guide will focus on ItsLitho. We found that it’s a fantastic and easy-to-use online tool for generating the 3D lithophane model and colored picture, with a generous number of customizable parameters.

Keep in mind that the final color lithophane will be more opaque once the piece of paper is added, especially for pictures with darker colors, so it’s suggested to go for slightly thinner settings than a normal lithophane. You should also consider that a larger lithophane means more detail. While this is great, remember that it will also take significantly more time to print. Most printers can achieve a larger lithophane as long as it fits in the build volume.

Here are the steps you’ll want to follow:

1. Go to ItsLitho’s website.
2. Upload your desired picture using the “Upload” tab.
3. Go to the “Model” tab, and choose your desired settings. We recommend a maximum thickness of 2.6 mm and a minimum thickness of 0.6 mm.
4. Add final touches to the image if necessary by adjusting the contrast and grey scaling in the “Edit” tab. There is also the option to add a frame or border around your lithophane, as well as different shapes, attributes, and quality options.
5. Click “Download” in the bottom right corner and then “Lithophane only”. This should download an STL file.
6. Then, select “Color Lithophane”. This should download two image files, including your original picture (scaled to your desired size) labeled “Normal” and one with intensity levels removed labeled “Color”.

Next, we’ll need to print the color picture for the lithophane. We’ll use a normal (2D) color printer and print the image at the same size as we want our lithophane to be.

Note that the color picture needs to have its intensity removed, as the lithophane already provides this aspect. The color picture only needs to provide the color aspect. Together, they will create a vibrantly colored lithophane!

To print the color picture, follow these steps:

1. Open the picture with intensity levels removed on your preferred software. We used Microsoft Word, but any similar program should work. Don’t worry if the image looks strange. The intensity levels are removed, so it should not look normal. The correct color will show at the end.
2. Since most software has inbuilt margins that compress everything slightly, it’s difficult to 2D print a perfectly sized photo. You may need to scale up the photo a little. For Microsoft Word, we found scaling to 106% results in a rather accurate print.
3. Print the photo on your color printer.
4. Cut out the photo using a ruler, scissors, penknife, or your preferred tool.
5. Measure any edge of the photo. This measurement will be used to scale the 3D print later.

Now, you’ll need to 3D print the lithophane. You can proceed as follows:

1. In your slicer, scale the lithophane to the same size as your printed picture. Very importantly, only scale in the X- and Y-axis. Do not scale in the Z-axis, as this determines how much light passes through your lithophane.
2. Set the infill to 100% with the rectilinear pattern (or set 99 top and bottom layers). This will ensure that your infill pattern does not show up in the picture.
3. Load up your white filament, slice, and start the 3D print!

You can print at lower layer heights and smaller nozzle diameters for better detail. However, be aware that going too small can lead to clogging, as many retractions are needed for a lithophane print. Typically, a 0.4-mm nozzle and a 0.12-mm layer height will work well.

Keep in mind that the texture of your print surface will affect how your color lithophane looks. For a lithophane with a fuzzy feel, try textured PEI or satin textured sheets. For a sharper feel, go for smooth PEI or glass. Here, we’re using a smooth PEI surface for a clear look.

Now that everything is ready, it’s time to put your color lithophane together. Follow these steps to assemble everything properly:

1. Evenly spread a thin layer of glue on the back side of the lithophane.
2. Carefully place the photo on the back side of the lithophane, making sure the color picture and lithophane are aligned.
3. Firmly and evenly press the lithophane against a flat surface to ensure a good bond, and leave the glue to dry.

Your lithophane should now be ready! Put it in front of a light source, and enjoy the beautiful colors. If you want to display your lithophane on a table or wall, you can create a stand or frame with LED strips.

Keep in mind that the method covered in this guide is the simplest and most cost-effective one — you can do it with any FDM printer using white filament.

However, there are other methods that, while a little more complicated, can lead to impressive results. These alternative methods can create a color lithophane using different filament colors (and more time).

Multi-Material Printing

Multi-material 3D printing involves using more than one type of material within a single print. You can modify your 3D printer with accessories that enable multi-material printing, such as the Bambu Lab Automated Material System (AMS) or Prusa’s Multi-Material Upgrade (MMU).

For example, the Bambu Lab AMS is an upgrade that lets you print with four different spools of filament if you have a Bambu Lab printer. They even offer a CMYK bundle (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, White) for creating color lithophanes with the AMS. It includes white instead of black, as a lithophane is meant to let light shine through.

Any upgrade that supports four or more filaments, such as Bambu Lab AMS, Prusa’s MMU, the Mosaic Palette, or others, will work great for making color lithophanes!

Manual Filament Swapping

This method is essentially the same as the MMU option. However, you’ll have to do the filament swaps manually by inserting special commands at specific points in a print’s G-code. This tells your printer to pause at the end of a layer so that you can manually swap the materials before continuing.

For a color lithophane, this will account for 16 filament changes in total. This method is much more time-consuming than the others mentioned, but it also means you don’t need to invest in an upgrade.

For more information about how to use this method, check out the guide to pausing at specific layer heights in Cura.

No matter which method you use, you can obtain great results. Have fun printing your color lithophanes!