Many people, who begin with 3D printing, often limit themselves to printing models downloaded from PrusaPrinters and other sites like Thingiverse or MyMiniFactory. At that place is nothing wrong with that, of course, but the 3D printing options are way wider than that. One time you become into the secrets of creating your own models, you volition observe a whole new world.

Before you start exploring avant-garde 3D modeling programs (we recommend, for example, Fusion 360, Blender, SketchUp or Rhinoceros), yous can also enjoy making your own models in an easier way. How nearly printing a pendant using your favorite sports team'southward logo, print an image fatigued by your kid or turning your family photograph into a lithophane? In that location are several ways to accomplish these task and I volition show y'all two bones ones. Both use applications that are free to use.

3D model from a 2D prototype

Not every picture makes a nice 3D impress, just if you choose well, yous can be pleasantly surprised. In general, the less complex a motion-picture show is, the better is the resulting model. It is of import that the source image has conspicuously separated colors, and that the transition between them is clearly divers and non gradual. If the image contains tiny details, you tin can improve the print quality by using a smaller 0.25mm diameter nozzle. You can read everything most nozzles with a different bore in our previous article. Here are two examples of images nosotros've been converting for 3D printing.

Start, we scan the image. I estimate there is no need to mention that college DPI is better. For best results, "clean" the scanned paradigm in whatsoever graphics editor – focus on cleaning the backgrounds and achieving clear color transitions. And then just open the Selva tool in the browser.

  1. In the program window, click Upload image and upload the image you desire to work with.
  2. The image has been uploaded, and you can modify information technology using the two sliders chosen Threshold (Edit Layer Width) and Height. Tweak these values to reach the desired await.
  3. And then salve the prototype, so it can exist further edited, using the Download a Standard Quality STL for free button. Of course, y'all tin can also utilize the paid version and download a file in "High quality" at $ 2.five. The paid version allows you to consign the file at a college resolution – this can be useful if your picture has fine lines. Withal, for the vast majority of objects, standard quality will be sufficient.

We will open the saved file in Tinkercad online app. You also need to sign up for costless hither in gild to edit the objects.

  1. Later on logging into Tinkercad, nosotros can showtime uploading a file by creating a new project, using the "Create new design"
  2. So, on the desktop, use the "Import" push button to select the file to be edited and confirm the option by pressing "Cull file".
  3. One time we have the file yous selected, we check its size. Size tin can exist farther tweaked by irresolute the number in the "Scale" field. We will change the scale to 500 for our logo.
  4. In one case you take an object imported, you tin can immediately export information technology as a .stl file and so print it, or use the various Tinkercad features to modify the file to run across your requirements. For example, we added a pad under the object and a loop to create a key tag.
  5. To make a keychain from a logo, add objects from the correct side menu, specifically the square and the hoop, to the workspace. These objects can be edited using white markings on the edges. We stretched the square across the logo area and shrunk it to make the logo visible. Then we created the key strap by moving a resized hoop to the pendant then that only the one-half of the object is visible.
  6. And then, we converted the modified file into the .stl format ready for slicing using the "Export" button.

The model is almost set up for 3D printing. Nosotros will open this file in PrusaSlicer and so simply adjust its size (or add a brim and support if needed). You tin also try to use Colorprint to prepare multi-color object. And so you can finally print the model.

Photos and lithophane

Another possibility to convert 2D images to 3D printing is lithophane, sometimes chosen 3D Photo Print. Lithophane (from French: lithophanie) is an etched or shaped work of art made of a very thin translucent porcelain. The bodily paradigm can just exist seen conspicuously when it is illuminated by a backlight. Lithophane represents a 3-dimensional epitome – completely different from 2-dimensional engravings and daguerreotypes that are "flat". Images change their characteristics depending on the light source behind them.

What do yous need to do? Just take hold of a photo or any other moving picture! Cognition of 3D software is not needed at all. Creating an STL file tin be washed with an online app available at http://3dp.rocks/lithophane/.

  1. In the top bar, click on "Images" and drag the selected photo into the window. We recommend uploading photos with a lower resolution – for example, 500×500. This resolution is sufficient to create a good looking model and the adding takes much less time.
  2. After uploading an image, a 3D model should be automatically generated. The last button in the summit bar is "Settings" where you tin can modify the model generation settings. To explain the very basics: Under "Settings / Image settings", is the source image editing. The kickoff slider is also the about important ane – Positive Paradigm / Negative Paradigm. Generating a 3D model is based on the principle that each point/pixel is assigned a height coordinate according to the blackness color corporeality (black color = 0, white colour = 1). In order for the resulting 3D photo to friction match the original template, we need to convert the image into a negative – you can practice that with the outset slider.
  3. Nosotros too recommend setting "THINNEST LAYER (MM)" in "Settings / Model settings" to 0.4. Get out the other settings untouched.
  4. As soon equally nosotros have this model gear up, download information technology using the "Download" push button.
  5. And then, open the file in PrusaSlicer. Later opening the file, nosotros recommend switching the layer meridian to 0.10mm. From our experience, it is better to print the object apartment on the print bed to foreclose any kind of wobble that could happen if you printed the object vertically. Y'all tin can besides utilize a 0.05mm setting with a 0.25mm nozzle to attain the all-time possible impress quality.
  6. Then go to "Print settings" and set "Layers and perimeters" values equally follows: Perimeters: one; Solid layers Top: i; Solid layers Bottom: 1
  7. Next step is going to "Infill" where we set the value to 95% Rectilinear
  8. It is of import not to resize the object in PrusaSlicer considering that would increase its top on the Z axis and the catamenia of light through the image would no longer work. Yous can only change the Y and X axes.

This is our tried and tested setup. For the best impress results, we recommend selecting a light fabric colour, ideally white, flossy merely besides silver or even imperial. Still, the quality of the printed object will always depend on the filament manufacturer, since not every filament will be translucent and not every filament will requite you the perfect lithophane consequence, but feel free to experiment… 🙂

If you already have experience with lithophane printing, you can ameliorate information technology farther by coloring it. Just add colors (due east.g. with common markers) to the dorsum and the picture will smooth with prissy new colors. We are working on a separate article about this topic, so stay tuned. 🙂