It is best to choose a picture with a fairly high contract ratio.The 3D printed photo will basically appear in shades of grey, so if there is any important detail that requires color, the image may not be a good fit.Not all photos will look good when 3D printed, so you must think of the following things when choosing the right picture :
The first thing you need to do is to choose a photo/picture that would be appropriate for 3D printing. Once you do it right though, the results are phenomenal! I've compiled my experiences here so you don't have to go through the learning curve yourself. It is not a very difficult task to accomplish but it's not a trivial task either, as there are many different ways of accomplishing it. I've had a lot of experience trying to print photos and I haven't always been successful. Lithophanes are definitely unique, the recipient is sure to like it and it makes the perfect gift! It can even save you if you're still wondering what to get your family and friends on Christmas! That's an old picture of me when I was a baby and is also the result of this instructable. The most personalized item I could 3D print was a lithophane! What is a lithophane? To put it simply, it's a 3D print of a photo which uses the thickness of the print to show varying shades of grey when illuminated from behind. Since I bought a 3D printer, I always think that the best gift would be something personalized that I would 3D print, something that cannot be bought elsewhere and something that would make me proud to show off my printer's creations! And also, I wouldn't have to keep worrying about finding a good gift idea! "What should I get him/her?" and I can rarely find an idea that's worth mentioning. Every time there's a birthday or an event of any kind where I need to buy a gift, I'm always faced with the same problem.