Wrap your photos round a glowing ornament.
Up to four photos fade into each other round a 360° lithophane band, between two domes with light-through decor, a cap and a loop. Three parts press-fit over a coin-size LED puck. It is a Paid shape of the Lithophane Maker: design it here for free.
What is a lithophane ornament?
A lithophane ornament is a Christmas bauble with your photos printed into a thin band round its middle. Thick parts look dark and thin parts glow, so the pictures appear when the LED inside is on. This maker wraps up to four photos round a 360° band, fading each into the next, between two domes with light-through decor.
The ornament is a Paid shape of the Lithophane Maker: anyone can design and preview it, and Paid members download the print files.
How to make a photo ornament
- Add up to four photos. Each photo takes its share of the band and fades into the next. One photo wraps all the way round.
- Place and tone them. Drag and scale each crop, set the fade between photos, and adjust the tones and thickness.
- Choose size, decor and colours. 70, 80 or 90 mm across. Round dots, round-ended slits or little Christmas trees cut through the domes, a few, some or many; a smooth, sweater-knit, ribbed or diamond-quilted surface; any dome and cap colour.
- Pick the fit. Tight, standard or loose press-fit, with optional fit-test rings to print first.
- Download and print. Paid members download a four-plate Bambu Lab 3MF or STL files: the band upright in white, the two domes, and the test rings.
- Assemble. Press the band into both domes, push the LED puck into the bottom and hang it by the loop.
Ornament at a glance
| Sizes | 70, 80 or 90 mm across |
|---|---|
| Photos | Up to four, blended round a 360° band |
| Decor | Dots, vertical slits, horizontal slits, Christmas trees or none, top and bottom |
| Texture | Smooth, sweater knit, ribbed or diamond quilt on the domes |
| Fit | Snap fit: six bumps and dimples at each joint, with a fit-test ring |
| Light | A coin-size LED puck in the bottom |
| Files | Bambu Lab P2S 3MF with four plates, or STL files |
| Download | Paid membership; designing is free |
Lithophane ornament FAQ
What is a lithophane ornament?
A Christmas bauble with a lithophane band round its middle. The band is thin where your photos are bright and thick where they are dark, so the pictures appear when the LED inside is on.
How many photos can I use?
Up to four. Each one sits on its own part of the band and fades into its neighbours over a width you set, from a hard edge to almost half its share. One photo wraps all the way round.
What sizes are there?
Balls 70, 80 or 90 mm across. The band covers the middle of the ball, about 36 mm tall at 80 mm, with the photos running almost to its edges.
Is the ornament free?
Designing and previewing it is free, with no account. Downloading the print files needs Paid membership (US$19.99 a month). Square and circle lithophane panels download free.
How do the parts fit together?
The band’s top spigot presses into a 3 mm collar in the top dome, and the bottom dome’s spigot presses up into a 3 mm socket at the band’s foot. Each joint clicks home on six bumps and dimples; print the fit-test ring first to check the click on your printer.
How is it lit?
A coin-size LED puck presses into a round pocket in the bottom dome, its light shining up through a window into the ball.
How is it printed?
The band prints upright in white PLA at 0.12 mm layers with 100% infill. The domes print at 0.2 mm with tree supports: the top with its open end down, the bottom on its flat.
Prefer a flat night light?
The Lithophane Maker makes square and circle lithophanes free, plus a clock and a tree, with snow piles, candy canes and a gingerbread roof.