LOCAL IMAGE TOOL · FLAT PANEL
Image to Relief STL Generator
Create a flat-backed relief from image brightness. White pixels rise higher, dark pixels stay lower. Set the size, relief height and base thickness, then inspect and download the STL.
Free STL export for images you choose from your device. No sign-in or credits required. AI generation and Studio exports follow their existing plan rules.
Choose an image to preview your panel.
Cropped height map · white = higher
Illustrative backlight only. This is not a calibrated prediction or a physical print test.
Inspect size, walls and layers in your slicer before printing. A closed mesh or a simulated preview does not guarantee a successful print.
From your image to an STL in three steps
- Choose a grayscale image or logo. Import a JPG, PNG or WebP from your device. Crop to the area you need. Transparent pixels use a white background.
- Set the relief geometry. Choose width, base thickness and maximum relief height. Adjust brightness, contrast, inversion and smoothing while checking the grayscale map and rotatable mesh.
- Export and check the STL. Download the STL and open it in a slicer with millimeters selected. Check size, edges and layers before printing.
A brightness map, not inferred depth
The tool converts each sampled pixel into a height above a solid base. White pixels reach the maximum relief height and black pixels stay at the base thickness; inversion swaps that relationship. A shaded photograph therefore produces a brightness relief, not an accurate reconstruction of a face or object.
Prepare a clean height map or logo
A deliberately painted grayscale height map gives you more control over shape than an ordinary photograph. For a dark logo on white, try inversion to raise the logo. Transparency is flattened onto white, so inspect the grayscale preview first. Use only artwork you have the rights to process.
Control detail and total thickness
Total thickness is base thickness plus the mapped relief height. For example, a 1.5 mm base with a 3 mm relief range gives a maximum thickness of 4.5 mm. Resolution changes the sampled mesh detail, not the output size. Smoothing averages nearby samples and can soften sharp logo edges.
Inspect the file for your intended use
This version exports one flat-backed, closed rectangular STL. STL contains no unit field: import as millimeters and confirm dimensions. Check thin features, overhangs and layer continuity in a slicer. It does not generate CNC toolpaths, undercuts or a certified manufacturing model. Read the printing checklist before a physical test.
Local processing and Image3D Studio
This page processes an image you select from your device. It does not call an AI model or unlock a Studio asset. AI generation and Studio downloads continue to follow the existing account and plan rules.
Frequently asked questions
Is STL export free?
Yes. This local image tool exports STL files for free, without sign-in or credits. It processes the image you choose on your device in the browser. AI generation and Studio exports are separate and follow the existing account and plan rules.
Does this create a full 3D model from a photograph?
It creates a single raised surface from brightness, with a flat base. It cannot infer real depth, hidden sides or accurate facial geometry. Use the separate AI image-to-3D workflow for an inferred full mesh, then inspect that result independently.
How do I raise a dark logo?
Enable inversion. By default white is high and black is low, so a dark logo on a white background is recessed. Inversion reverses the height relationship. Check the crop and mesh before exporting, especially when the original image has transparent areas.
What does smoothing change?
Smoothing averages neighboring height samples. It can reduce small noisy variations but also removes some sharp detail. Use less smoothing for crisp lettering, and compare the mesh at the intended physical size. Higher resolution does not guarantee that small details will print.
Can I export OBJ or use this directly for CNC?
This first version exports STL only. It does not provide OBJ, toolpaths, cutter clearance checks or machine-specific settings. Any machining use requires additional review in suitable CAM software and the normal safety checks for that process.
Does my image leave the browser?
The image-to-height-map operation runs locally in this page. It does not upload the image to a model service or fetch a Studio asset. The site’s existing analytics consent choices remain separate from this local file processing.
Is a closed STL proof that it will print?
No. A closed surface is only a geometry property. Feature size, material, orientation, slicing and your printer still affect the result. Inspect the exported file and test it physically before making claims about a finished object.
Related tools and guides
- Logo to STL workflows
- AI image to STL
- PNG to STL workflows
- JPG to STL workflows
- Inspect an STL
- Splitting models for printing
- Flat lithophane maker
Need a full mesh beyond a flat relief?
Use the separate AI workflow for a generated 3D mesh. Its generation and export rules are unchanged.
Open Image3D Studio →