Everyone who has a 3D-printer must have heard about Lithophanes by now. 3D-printed images that will turn into stunning pictures when a light or lamp is placed behind it. Before the prices of the resin 3D-printers dropped by the introduction of more affordable LCD printers, FDM printing technology was mostly used. These FDM printers did not always yield satisfying accuracy for a lithophane. Since the desktop SLA / MSLA printers are getting more affordable, basically everybody can make a lithophane in high detail / high resolution. All3DP media has published a great article on making your own lithophane here.
What is the best white 3D-printing resin to make a lithophane?
The best resin to make a lithophane is obviously a highly pigmented white resin. With Liqcreate Premium White we have printed plenty of lithophanes and with standard design settings from the lithophane software, it always turned out beautiful. With its opaque white color, easy to print and low odor characteristics, Liqcreate Premium white is the preferred resin for 3D-printing lithophanes.
lithophane generators & Lithophane creator
To turn your 2D image to a lithophane, you have to run it through lithophane software or online lithophane creator. There are plenty of lithophane software packages online. Lithophanes can easily be created with the online lithophane maker tool by Lithophanemaker.com. For lithophanemaker.com, the standard thickness settings work very well in combination with Liqcreate Premium White resin. Next to lithophanemaker.com there are several other open source lithophane software packages available:
Some lithophane software runs online while for others you have to download the lithophane maker software. After generating the software, send the stl file to your slicing program. Lithophane 3D-printing settings are available on our website for a wide range of 3D-printers. Find the settings for your 3D-printer here or an e-mail to info@liqcreate.com if your lithophane 3D-printer is not listed.
How to 3d print a lithophane with Liqcreate Premium white resin?
Several articles are available online for instructions on 3D-printing lithophanes in thermoplastic filament on an FDM 3D-printer. As lithophanes are more difficult to print in filament, lithophane infill and lithophane settings are very crucial. For resin 3D-printing, lithophanes are very easy to print. Just place the lithophane on the platform on a flat side, and search your 3D-printing settings here. After post-processing your lithophane is ready to be used.
Next level 4D lithophane
Next to personal use, 3D-printing lithophanes can also be used as marketing tools or for design prototyping. Find some examples of cans/bottles with custom labeling below.
With background light it looks even more spectacular.
Team Liqcreate wish you happy printing. If there are any questions or remarks, feel free to contact us at info@liqcreate.com any time.
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Liqcreate Premium White
Liqcreate Premium White is the most opaque white resin available. This white photopolymer has excellent UV-stability, with almost no yellowing upon exposure. Due to its rigidity and high stability it is ideal for the manufacturing of medical models, lithophanes and architectural models.
Key benefit
·       Opaque White, ideal for lithophanes ·    Non-yellowing ·       Low odor ·       Low shrinkage |
3D-Printer compatibility
·       Elegoo & Anycubic series ·    Asiga series ·    Creality & Phrozen series ·    And many more |
