Relief generator

What is the relief generator?

The relief generator turns a photo into a 3D relief. An AI depth model estimates how far each part of the image is from the camera, and that depth map becomes the height information of a solid relief plate. The result is an STL file that you can inspect in the browser and then have printed by us.

Please note: the generator interface is currently in German. The German labels are quoted below with an English translation.

How to use the relief generator

Step 1: Upload an image

Click the upload area or drop your file onto it. Accepted formats are JPG, PNG and WebP, up to 10 MB. Transparent areas in a PNG or WebP file are cut out of the model, so a cut-out subject gives you its silhouette instead of a rectangular plate.

Step 2: Choose a depth model

Seven AI models are available. They read the same photo differently, so it is worth trying more than one:

• DA Small – fastest option, preselected by default
• DA Base – more detail, balanced runtime
• DA Large – the most detailed of the three
• Marigold – soft transitions, quick
• Marigold HD – same approach with more computing steps, slower
• MiDaS – the classic, robust on difficult images
• ZoeDepth – metric depth estimation

Step 3: Set the dimensions

Open “Weitere Einstellungen” (more settings):

• Relief-Tiefe (relief depth): 1–30 mm, 10 mm by default – the height difference between the lowest and the highest point
• Breite (width): 50–300 mm, 100 mm by default – the height follows the aspect ratio of your image
• Basis-Dicke (base thickness): 0.5–10 mm, 2 mm by default – the solid plate under the relief
• Glättung (smoothing): 0–20 – evens out noise, softens fine structures
• Sockelausgleich (pedestal removal): on by default – removes the plateau the subject would otherwise sit on, so the full relief depth goes into the subject itself
• Invertieren (invert): produces the negative, for example for casting moulds
• Rahmen (frame): optional border, 1–10 mm wide and 1–20 mm high

Step 4: Generate the relief

Click “3D-Relief erstellen” (create 3D relief). The depth estimation runs on our own servers. The generator shows the expected runtime for the model you picked, from about 30 seconds up to three minutes for Marigold HD. Keep the tab open while it works.

Step 5: Check the result in 3D

The model appears in an interactive viewer: drag to rotate, scroll to zoom, and use the two buttons to reset the view or switch to the top view. Below it you see the AI model used, the width and the relief depth. If the result does not convince you, go back and try another model, another smoothing value or another depth.

Step 6: Order the print

Three buttons sit under the preview: “FDM-Druck anfragen”, “SLS-Druck anfragen” and “SLA-Druck anfragen” (request FDM, SLS or SLA printing). Each one hands your model to the matching price calculator, where you choose material, colour and quantity.

Tips for good results

1. Use images with depth: portraits and subjects that stand out from their background work best. Flat graphics carry little depth information.
2. Cut out the subject: a PNG with a transparent background gives the outline of the subject instead of a plate.
3. Adjust the depth, not the photo: if the relief looks flat, increase Relief-Tiefe; if it looks exaggerated, reduce it.
4. Do not expect more from a larger file: the mesh is reduced to at most 400 points per edge, roughly 320,000 triangles. Beyond that, a bigger source image adds no detail.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a lithophane generator?

No. A lithophane translates brightness into wall thickness and only shows its image when backlit. This generator builds a height relief from estimated depth: a solid part with real contours on a base plate, which needs no light behind it.

Which images are suitable?

Photos with a recognisable foreground and background – portraits, animals, buildings, objects on a plain surface. Flat logos or line drawings produce an almost even plate; for that kind of artwork the cookie cutter generator is the better tool.

How large can the relief be?

The width can be set between 50 mm and 300 mm, the relief depth between 1 mm and 30 mm. The height follows the aspect ratio of your image, plus the base thickness underneath.

Can I download the STL file?

Not on this page. The model is passed directly to the price calculator when you click one of the order buttons. If you want an STL file to keep, use our AI 3D model generator or AI CAD model generator, where the file can be purchased.

⚠️ Important note: disclaimer

Please note: the depth information is estimated by artificial intelligence. It is an interpretation of a two-dimensional image, not a measurement of the real object, and it can be wrong.

Please check the 3D preview carefully before ordering, allow for tolerances if the part has to fit somewhere, and order a small test print if you are unsure. We accept no liability for reliefs whose depth interpretation does not match your expectations.

Other ways to create a 3D model

• Create 3D model – overview of all our generators
• Cookie cutter generator – for logos and silhouettes that should become an outline shape
• AI 3D model generator – for a full three-dimensional object instead of a relief

If you run into technical problems with the generator, please contact our customer service.