Image to heightmap STL or 3MF
Convert brightness into printable relief height. Use it for bas-relief plates, embossed photos, terrain-like surfaces and single-material image reliefs. Free to use, with no account or sign-up required.
3D preview
Heightmap or lithophane?
This tool creates a relief that is meant to be viewed directly. A lithophane uses a similar image-to-thickness idea, but it is tuned for backlighting: dark areas become thicker and bright areas become thinner. Use the dedicated image to lithophane tool for that workflow.
For direct-view relief, start with moderate smoothing and a practical resolution. If the preview looks noisy, increase smoothing before lowering mm per pixel. If edges look stair-stepped and the print is physically large enough, lower mm per pixel in small steps.
- Use higher relief height for tactile plaques and terrain-like surfaces.
- Use lower relief height for subtle embossed artwork and thin decorative panels.
- Check heightmap vs lithophane before using photo-like images.
- Use the resolution guide to avoid oversized STL or 3MF files.