How to prepare a photo for 3D relief
Choose one clear subject, simplify its background and set an intended physical size before generating a relief. Good source preparation is more useful than choosing the largest mesh.
1. Choose a readable subject
Use an image with a complete outline and sharp edges. Avoid overlapping subjects, extreme perspective and objects hidden behind hands or furniture. You need permission to use the image and any depicted person.
2. Crop without cutting the silhouette
Keep ears, hair and other important edges inside the crop. Rotate and mirror deliberately; lettering for an impression may need mirroring, while a display plaque usually does not.
3. Remove only what you can identify
Use the manual background brush to erase distractions. Restore any removed part of the subject before submitting. Inspect fur and hair at a useful zoom instead of judging a tiny thumbnail.
4. Set the dimensions
The size parameter controls the long side in millimeters before bending. Relief depth and base thickness are separate. Start with a modest design and inspect the output in your slicer.
| Purpose | Long side | Relief depth | Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Print study | 100 mm | 6 mm | 2 mm |
| CNC study | 150 mm | 3 mm | 3 mm |
| Stamp study | 100 mm | 2 mm | 2 mm |
5. Review, generate and inspect
The free grayscale preview is a brightness simulation. Formal generation uses credits and the result may differ. Download the STL, GLB and original 16-bit PNG before the storage period ends.
Review mesh integrity, real dimensions and material limitations in your slicer or CAM software. These example settings are not machine-ready manufacturing instructions.
Before you make your first relief
Is this a complete 3D scan?
No. A single image becomes a shallow relief with a flat or curved back. Hidden surfaces and exact real-world measurements cannot be recovered from one photo.
What is free?
Upload into the browser, crop, rotate, mask and simulate grayscale for free. No image is sent to the model during editing. Formal generation requires credits.
What happens if generation fails?
A failed task returns its consumed credits automatically. Repeated status checks and queue messages do not charge again. A new generation with changed parameters uses a new credit charge.
How long are my files kept?
Source images are kept for 3 days. Result files are available for 72 hours, or 30 days when Studio Pack credits are used. Download a copy before expiry.
Can I send the files straight to a machine?
Inspect dimensions, mesh integrity and material limits first. We do not generate toolpaths or guarantee a safe print, cut or engraving. Start with a small test piece.