PNG → STL · LOSSLESS SOURCE · FREE · NO UPLOAD
PNG to STL — Logos & Line Art to Printable Reliefs
PNG is the lossless format, so flat colors and sharp edges convert cleanly. Conversion runs in the browser — the file never leaves the device.
What it does: converts a PNG into a 3D relief STL using lossless pixel data — black = low, white = high. Transparent pixels are composited over white, not punched as holes.
Why you need it: logos, line art, QR codes and icons stay sharp because PNG is lossless; JPEG compression ringing would become surface bumps on flat color art.
How it works: Canvas reads PNG luminance (alpha over white) into a height map; three.js builds a watertight mesh in this tab. No server, no upload.
Relief settings
The exported mesh is a closed solid: relief top, flat base and side walls — ready to slice.
Conversion specs
| Input format | PNG (lossless, optional alpha channel) |
| Output format | Binary STL — watertight solid, 50 bytes per triangle |
| Transparency | Alpha composited over white — not cut out as holes |
| Height mapping | Pixel luminance → surface height (black = low, white = high) |
| Best sources | Logos, line art, QR codes, maps, text signs — lossless edges stay clean |
| Processing | 100% client-side via Canvas + three.js |
| File size limit | Device RAM only — no server limit |
| Cost | Free, unlimited, no account required |
Why PNG is the best source for a printable relief
PNG is lossless: there is no compression noise to turn into surface bumps, and hard edges stay hard. The tool also accepts JPG and WebP; this page focuses on PNG. Defaults are width 100 mm, relief 4 mm, base 1 mm, and about 220 samples along the longer side — all adjustable with live sliders.
| What converts well from PNG | Tip |
|---|---|
| Logos & wordmarks | Flat colors and sharp edges convert cleanly; dark-on-white raises in lithophane mode, recedes in emboss. |
| Line art & icons | Hard edges stay hard — lossless source, no compression ringing on the outline. |
| QR codes | Remain scannable when printed ≥60 mm wide with high contrast; keep relief shallow (1–2 mm) and test-scan. |
| Maps & floor plans | High-contrast line work maps to a clean height grid; lossless fills stay flat. |
| Text signs | Bold, high-contrast lettering; the lossless source keeps edges crisp at the default ~220 samples. |
For photos and the full relief guide, see image to STL. If you are converting photos from JPG, use the JPG to STL page. After export, verify the result is watertight.
How to convert PNG to STL
Drop the PNG on the converter above. Lithophane mode (default) maps dark pixels to thick plastic; uncheck it to emboss light artwork. Set width in millimetres, relief height, and base thickness, then download a binary STL. The mesh is watertight by construction. Logos and QR codes need high contrast; photos belong on the image to STL page. After export, check the STL if the slicer complains.
FAQ
Is my PNG uploaded?+
No. Processing is 100% client-side: the browser's canvas API reads the image and the mesh is constructed in this tab. There is no upload endpoint, so the file never leaves your device.
What happens to transparent areas?+
Transparent PNG pixels are composited over white — treated as blank paper, not as holes or cutouts. The tool does not punch holes for transparency. In lithophane mode (the default) those areas end up thin; in emboss mode they read as raised background, so a dark logo on transparency is recessed. Flatten the PNG to the intended background color in any editor first if you want full control.
How do I make a raised (embossed) logo?+
Uncheck lithophane (invert). Bright pixels become raised, so use light artwork on a dark background — or invert the colors in any editor first. A dark logo on white or transparent is recessed (engraved) in emboss mode; to raise that kind of mark, keep lithophane mode, where dark equals thick.
Can I 3D print a QR code from a PNG?+
Yes. Keep high contrast, print ≥60 mm wide, use a shallow relief of 1–2 mm, and test-scan after printing. The code remains scannable when contrast is strong and the width is enough.
PNG vs JPG for this — does it matter?+
Yes. JPG compression artifacts become surface noise on flat-color art. PNG is lossless, so edges and fills stay clean. For photos either format works; see the JPG to STL page on this site.
Is the exported STL watertight?+
Yes, by construction: the displaced top grid, a flat bottom and side walls share their edge vertices, so every edge belongs to exactly two triangles. Verify the result with the STL repair checker on this site.