Lithophane frame and light box: how to display a flat lithophane
A flat lithophane needs two things to look its best: something to hold it upright, and an even light behind it. Hold one up to a window and it looks great. Put it on a shelf with a lamp in front of it and it looks like a lumpy white tile. This guide covers the three ways to display one, from a ready-made photo frame to a simple light box you can build in an evening, plus how to choose the LEDs so the light is smooth instead of spotty.
Short version. Decide the frame size first, then make the lithophane to fit it exactly. Light it from behind with warm white LEDs placed at least 20 mm away, with a sheet of white paper or thin white plastic between the LEDs and the picture. LEDs only: never a candle or a hot bulb.
Three ways to display a flat lithophane
| Option | Effort | Light | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Window or stand | None | Daylight | A quick test or a window display. |
| Photo frame | Low | LED strip or light pad behind it | Gifts that look like a normal framed photo. |
| Light box | Medium | LEDs built into the box | A bedside light or a display that glows at the press of a switch. |
Step 1: decide the size before you make the lithophane
The most common mistake is printing first and looking for a frame afterwards. Pick the frame or box, measure the opening, and make the lithophane to that size. Standard photo frame sizes in millimetres:
| Frame | Opening | Print time (rough) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 × 6 inch | 102 × 152 mm | 5 to 8 hours |
| 5 × 7 inch | 127 × 178 mm | 8 to 12 hours |
| 6 × 8 inch | 152 × 203 mm | 12 hours or more |
| Square 100 mm | 100 × 100 mm | 3 to 5 hours |
Make the panel about 1 mm smaller than the opening on each side so it drops in without forcing. Check the depth of the frame too: the lithophane is up to 3 mm thick in the picture area by default, so the frame needs at least that much room behind the front edge, and more if you leave a printed border on.
In the Lithophane Maker, untick Height follows the photo so you can type the exact width and height, then use Zoom into photo to choose which part of the photo fills the panel. For a picture frame, set Frame width to 0, because the picture frame does the job of a border. For a light box or a free-standing panel, keep a printed frame of 3 mm or more: it stiffens the panel and gives you a solid edge to slot in.
Option 1: a lithophane in a photo frame
A cheap wooden or plastic photo frame with a removable back is the easiest display. Take out the glass (it adds reflections and is not needed), put the lithophane in with the smooth side facing out, and replace the back with something that lets light in. A few ways to do that:
- Hang it in a window. No electronics at all. Daylight is bright and perfectly even, so this is the best way to judge a print.
- Cut an opening in the back board and tape a short warm white LED strip around the inside of a small cardboard box fixed behind it.
- Use a deep "shadow box" frame, the kind sold for medals and keepsakes. Its 20 to 40 mm depth leaves room for LEDs and a diffuser right inside the frame.
Whichever you choose, the lithophane should face the viewer smooth side out. If there is text or a famous landmark in the photo, check that it reads correctly from the front, and use Mirror the photo in the generator if not.
Option 2: build a simple lithophane light box
A light box is just a shallow box that is bright and evenly lit inside, with the lithophane as its front. You can print one, build it from foam board, or adapt a deep frame. The parts:
- A back and sides, white or lined with white paper on the inside so light bounces around instead of being absorbed.
- LEDs on the back wall or around the inside edges (see the next section).
- A diffuser about halfway between the LEDs and the lithophane: plain white printer paper, tracing paper, or a 0.4 to 0.6 mm sheet of white PLA printed flat.
- A front slot or rebate that holds the lithophane, sized to the printed frame on the panel.
- A cable exit or battery space, and some ventilation holes at the top.
Depth is what makes the light even. With LEDs on the back wall, a box 25 to 40 mm deep inside usually gives smooth light through a diffuser. Shallower than about 20 mm and you will see each LED as a bright dot through the picture. A useful rule: the distance from the LEDs to the diffuser should be at least the spacing between the LEDs.
Choosing the light
| Light | Pros | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| USB LED strip (5 V, warm white) | Cheap, runs from any phone charger, easy to cut to length | Visible dots if the box is shallow; needs a diffuser |
| COB LED strip | A continuous line of light with no separate dots | Usually 12 or 24 V, so it needs the right power supply |
| LED light pad (A5 or A4 tracing pad) | Already perfectly even and very thin; just stand the lithophane in front | Often cool white; pick one with adjustable brightness |
| Battery LED puck | No cable, good for gifts | One bright spot; needs a deep box and a good diffuser |
| WS2812 LED strip with Arduino or ESP32 | Dimming, timers, colours, breathing effects | More wiring; keep brightness low to limit current |
Warm white (about 2700 to 3000 K) gives the classic amber glow and flatters skin. Cool white looks like a black and white photo, which suits landscapes and buildings. If you go the Arduino route, the breathing-glow sketch in how to make a lithophane lamp works with a strip just as well as a ring: change the LED count and pin.
Fixing hotspots and uneven light
- Bright dots in the picture: the LEDs are too close. Move them back, add a diffuser, or both.
- Bright edges, dark middle: the LEDs are only around the edges of a large panel. Add a row across the back, or make the box deeper.
- The whole picture looks pale: the light is too strong for the thickness. Dim it, or make the next print with the thickest part at 3.5 mm.
- The picture looks muddy: the light is too weak, or the diffuser is too thick. Use one sheet of paper, not three.
- Light leaks around the panel: line the slot with black tape or paint the inside edge of the front dark.
Print the panel so it fits
Print the lithophane standing upright in white PLA, at 0.10 to 0.12 mm layers with 100% infill and a brim. The full slicer steps for Bambu Lab, Prusa and Ender printers are in lithophane print settings. Remove the brim cleanly, and lightly sand the edges if the panel is a tight fit in the frame. Never sand the picture side: it scratches the surface and the scratches glow.
Safety
- Use LEDs only. PLA starts to soften at around 60 °C, so never use a candle, an incandescent bulb or a halogen bulb.
- Leave a few ventilation holes in a closed light box, even with LEDs.
- Use a proper USB or low-voltage supply. Do not wire mains voltage inside a printed box.
Make the lithophane
Once you know the size, open the free Lithophane Maker, load your photo, set the exact width and height, and check it in the backlit preview before you download the STL. If you are still choosing a photo, read how to make a lithophane from a photo first.
Frequently asked questions
How do you display a lithophane?
Put it in a window for daylight, in a photo frame with an LED strip or light pad behind it, or in a light box with LEDs and a diffuser inside. The light must come from behind the lithophane.
What is the best light for a lithophane?
Even, warm white LED light from behind: an LED light pad, a COB LED strip, or an LED strip behind a diffuser. Never use a candle or a hot bulb.
Can I put a lithophane in a normal photo frame?
Yes. Make it to the frame's opening size, about 1 mm smaller on each side, remove the glass, and replace the solid back with something that lets light through, such as a deep shadow box frame with LEDs inside.
How deep should a lithophane light box be?
About 25 to 40 mm inside with LEDs on the back wall, with a diffuser between the LEDs and the lithophane. Shallower boxes show the LEDs as bright dots.
Why does my lithophane have bright spots?
The LEDs are too close or there is no diffuser. Move the LEDs further back or add a sheet of white paper or thin white plastic in front of them.
Related guides
- How to make a lithophane from a photo
- Lithophane print settings for Bambu Lab, Prusa and Ender 3
- How to make a lithophane lamp with an LED
- Shadow lamp vs lithophane: which to print
Free tools: Lithophane Maker for flat, curved, heart, round and cylinder lamp lithophanes, the Shadow Box Lamp Generator for wall shadow lamps, Text to STL for names and keychains, and 3MF to Web to show your prints on a website. See all tools.