Portrait JPG → Curved Lithophane STL
Mode: Lithophane · Shape: Curved · Arc: 90-120° · Minimum thickness: 0.8-1.2 mm · Relief depth: 2-3 mm.
01 JPG photo height-map conversion
JPG to STL Converter
Convert JPG and JPEG images into 3D-printable STL models. Create reliefs, height maps, flat lithophanes and curved lithophanes directly in your browser.
Free to use JPG · JPEG Your image stays on your device
Drag & Drop JPG or JPEGJPG · JPEG · Max 20 MB · processed locally
DRAG TO ROTATE · RIGHT-DRAG TO PAN · SCROLL TO ZOOM02 Online converter
Convert JPG to STL Online
Convert JPG and JPEG images into STL models directly in your browser. Turn photographs, artwork and grayscale images into 3D reliefs or printable lithophanes, preview the model and download the STL file.
This JPG to STL converter is tuned for photos: crop away unwanted background, adjust brightness and contrast, smooth JPEG compression noise, choose relief, flat lithophane or curved lithophane output, and download an STL file ready to check in your slicer.
03 Four steps
How to Convert JPG to STL
- 01
Upload JPG
Drop a JPG or JPEG photo, portrait, artwork or grayscale height map.
- 02
Adjust depth
Set brightness, contrast, relief depth, smoothing, inversion and crop.
- 03
Preview STL
Compare the original image, live height map and 3D STL preview.
- 04
Download
Export a binary STL for your slicer or an ASCII STL when you need text output.
04 Height map logic
Turn a JPG into a 3D Relief
A JPG is a two-dimensional raster image, so it does not contain real 3D depth. This tool builds depth by converting the image to grayscale and mapping brightness values to different surface heights.
Dark Pixels→Low or Thick Areas→Height Map→3D Relief STL
Relief mode works well for portraits, artwork, badges, plaques and wall pieces. Lithophane mode uses a thinner range so the final print can reveal the photo when light passes through it, either as a flat panel or a curved arc.
05 Photo workflow
Create an STL from a Photo
Clear photos produce cleaner height maps. The best inputs have strong contrast, even lighting and a subject that reads well in grayscale.
Portraits
Use Lithophane mode, keep the depth shallow, and avoid harsh shadows across faces. Backlit prints usually need more tonal contrast than screen previews suggest.
Artwork
Use Relief mode for sketches, grayscale logos and text images. Increase contrast when the subject blends into the background, then invert if the wrong areas are raised.
JPG compression
JPEG artifacts can become tiny bumps in the mesh. Increase smoothing or use a higher-quality source file when the surface looks noisy.
Curved lithophanes
Choose Curved in Lithophane mode and adjust the arc angle. The width setting controls the photo before it is curved, so larger arc angles make the final panel wrap more strongly.
06 Recommended settings
JPG to STL Settings Guide
Start with these settings, then adjust them after checking the height map and 3D preview.
| Use case | Mode | Shape | Base thickness | Relief depth | Contrast | Smoothing | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait lithophane | Lithophane | Flat or Curved | 0.8-1.2 mm | 2-3 mm | +15 to +30 | 1-2 | Use even lighting and crop close to the subject. |
| Raised photo relief | Relief | Flat | 2 mm | 3-5 mm | +10 to +25 | 2-4 | Keep depth modest so faces do not look distorted. |
| Text artwork | Relief | Flat | 1.5-2.5 mm | 2-5 mm | +35 to +60 | 0-1 | Invert if the letters are dark on a light background. |
| Landscape height map | Relief | Flat | 2-3 mm | 2-4 mm | +10 to +35 | 2-4 | Crop sky or empty background before generating the STL. |
| Curved display panel | Lithophane | Curved 90-180° | 0.8-1.2 mm | 2-3 mm | +20 to +35 | 1-2 | Start at 120° and check whether the curved panel fits your printer bed. |
07 Better source images
How to Get a Cleaner JPG STL
The finished STL can only be as clean as the height map extracted from the JPG. A photo that looks fine on screen may still contain compression blocks, background texture or low-light noise, and those tiny image details can show up as bumps in the printed surface.
Resolution
Use the largest clean JPG you have. Higher resolution gives the detail slider better source data, while a tiny compressed image creates stair-step surfaces.
Lighting
Soft, even lighting usually converts better than dramatic shadows. Strong shadows become real height or thickness changes in the generated STL.
Background
Busy backgrounds become unwanted texture. Crop tightly around the subject, or use a simpler image when the STL surface looks cluttered.
Contrast
Contrast separates foreground from background and makes lithophanes easier to read. Increase it slowly; too much contrast can crush midtones into flat plateaus.
Smoothing
Smoothing reduces JPEG artifacts, grain and jagged edges. Use low smoothing for text and line art, higher smoothing for photos and landscapes.
Invert
Invert changes which tones rise or become thicker. For lithophanes, darker photo areas are usually thicker; for reliefs, choose the direction that makes the subject readable from the front.
08 Printing workflow
JPG to STL for 3D Printing
Before printing a JPG relief, check the model width, base thickness, relief depth and mesh detail. A thicker base helps large panels stay flat, while a shallow relief usually preserves photo detail better than an exaggerated height range.
STL files do not store real units. This tool uses millimetres for the size values, so the width and height you choose should match most slicers.
09 Before / after
JPG to STL Examples
Pick Relief for raised surfaces and Lithophane for backlit photo panels. These example settings are starting points, not fixed rules.
Grayscale Logo JPG → Raised Relief STL
Mode: Relief · Contrast: +30 to +50 · Smoothing: 0–1 · Depth: 2–4 mm · Invert if the background rises.
Landscape Photo → Height-map STL
Mode: Relief · Crop first · Smoothing: 2–4 · Depth: 2–3 mm · Use a wider model to keep fine terrain detail.
Text Artwork → Embossed Sign STL
Mode: Relief · Contrast: +40 · Smoothing: 0 · Depth: 2–5 mm · Invert when dark letters should stand proud.
10 Related workflows
More STL Tools
Use the format-specific converter that matches your source image and next printing step.
11 Common questions
JPG to STL FAQ
How do I convert a JPG to STL?+
Upload a JPG or JPEG image, crop the photo if needed, adjust brightness, contrast, relief depth, smoothing and size, preview the 3D model, then download the STL file.
Can I convert JPG to STL for free?+
Yes. This JPG to STL converter is free to use, requires no sign-up, and processes your photo locally in your browser.
Can JPEG files be converted to STL?+
Yes. JPG and JPEG are handled on the same page. Upload either file type and export a standard STL model for 3D printing.
Can I turn a photo into an STL file?+
Yes. Photos work best as shallow reliefs, height maps and lithophanes. A single flat JPG does not contain full 360 degree depth, so this tool maps image brightness into surface height.
Should I use Relief or Lithophane mode?+
Use Relief mode when the model should be viewed from the front as a raised surface, such as a plaque, sign or decorative panel. Use Lithophane mode when the print will be backlit and the photo should appear through different material thicknesses.
What is the best JPG for STL conversion?+
Use a high-resolution JPG with a clear subject, simple background, even lighting and strong grayscale contrast. Avoid tiny files, heavy compression, busy backgrounds and harsh shadows unless you want those details to appear in the surface.
What arc angle should I use for a curved lithophane?+
Start around 90 to 120 degrees for a standing portrait panel. Use 150 to 180 degrees for a stronger wraparound display, and reduce the angle if the model becomes too deep for your printer bed.
Why does my JPG STL look noisy?+
JPEG compression blocks, film grain, textured backgrounds and low-light noise all become small height changes. Increase smoothing, crop away busy areas, reduce relief depth, or use a cleaner source image.
How does a 2D JPG become a 3D model?+
The converter reads the JPG as pixels, turns the image into grayscale, applies brightness and contrast, then creates a printable 3D surface with a solid base.
Are the generated STL files ready for 3D printing?+
The exported STL is closed and sized in millimetres. Check thin details, use enough base thickness, and preview the model in a slicer before printing.