How to make a 3D model of photos

For almost 100 years, photographs have been the way we record and share what’s important: occasions with friends and family, beautiful landscapes, mechanical designs, and so on. Over the last decade or so, people have begun to realize the potential for 3D printing to immortalize our memories – why have a picture of your dream car, when you can have a scale model?

This is great for those printing new models of things they care about, but you can also use the photos you already have and turn them into 3D prints. There are many ways to do this, in fact, and we’ve listed the best options for your time, budget, and experience level below.

Whether you’re working from multiple drone shots or vintage photos of your parents’ wedding, it’s very much possible to render two-dimensional images into three-dimensional art, bringing out the details of the subject in a whole new way.

Now, let’s learn how to get the renders!

SPECIALIZED APPLICATIONS

Taking photos is only the first step of the process. Luckily, the rest aren’t too difficult. Converter programs take an existing photo and model a 3D render from it. This is the easiest and most straightforward method of making an image 3D, though the least customizable.

Smoothie-3D

Smoothie-3D was one of the first image converter tools widely available. Recently it’s moved from being 100% free to a donation model. You can upload an image and use the provided tools to draw an outline around it. The program then generates a 3D render based on the outlined image, which can be exported as a slicer-compatible file type, such as OBJ or STL. Symmetrical images are recommended, as details on asymmetrical ones might be lost from the tracing.

Aside from tracing an outline to create a 3D image, Smoothie-3D also allows you to morph the image into predetermined shapes like cones, cylinders, and more. You can even change the camera orientation to see how the image looks from multiple angles.

Difficulty: Medium
Customizability: Medium
Output formats: OBJ, STL, VRML 2, USDZ
Cost: By donation of at least $2.50 (desktop version); ~$3 (iPad version)
Supported platforms: Any (online)

Selva3D

Selva3D is a more recent addition to the image converter scene. It automatically traces out a 3D design based on a few manageable settings, rather than relying on user-drawn parameters like Smoothie-3D.

It has two main settings: Logos, for designs with higher contrast and fewer colors, and Photographs, for real-life pictures. From within the site, you can manipulate the threshold (including or excluding parts of your picture from the conversion) and the height of the model. You can download a standard STL file for free, or a higher quality version for a small fee. (You’ll need to prepurchase “credits”.)

When we made an account with this service, our browser warned us that the login screen was not secure, and that our username and password might be compromised. As always, it’s best to create a unique password, and use an email address without sensitive information in it.

Difficulty: Low
Customizability: Low
Output format: STL
Cost: Free (fee to export higher quality)
Supported platforms: Any (online)

3D MODELING

3D modeling software is a great way to bring your photos to three-dimensional life. It’s the most involved option on this list, but the results can be stunning.

Blender

Blender is a free, open-source 3D modeling program that’s increasingly used by professional animators, engineers, and designers, as it’s robust, customizable, and complex, with hundreds of settings and options. If you’re not already familiar with Blender, here’s a list of tutorials to help you get acquainted.

Once you’re ready to tackle something more advanced, the Face Builder add-on will allow you to import photos into the program. Create a mesh outline around the head, place pins where you want to anchor it (nose, cheeks, lips, etc.), and shape the mesh to the head. Textures from the photograph can be added to create a close likeness to the subject.

One thing to note: While Blender itself is free, Face Builder has a free trial. 15 days after first installing, it will cost ~$150 for a personal license or ~$300 for a commercial license to continue using it.

Difficulty: High
Customizability: High
Output format: STL
Cost: Free
Supported platforms: Blender, MacOS, Linux

Tinkercad

Using the "Extrude" function, CAD software can make a flat image 3D (Source: Tinkercad)

CAD (computer-aided design) software is the standard toolkit used in industrial design, whether for cars, houses, or products. With so many to choose from, it’s difficult to pin down which is the best to use to create 3D photographs.

One thing CAD programs have in common is the Extrude tool, which takes a 2D drawing and makes it a 3D image by increasing the height. Depending on the user’s skill, this tool could be used to create a 3D model, with some tweaking.

One particularly accessible CAD program is Tinkercad, which is browser-based and very easy to get started with. For a simple task like extruding an image to an STL, it’s the perfect tool; you’ll just need to convert your photo to an SVG first so that Tinkercad can read it.

Difficulty: Low
Customizability: Very high
Output formats: STL, OBJ
Cost: Free
Supported platforms: Any (online)

AI

As artificial intelligence begins to print cars, go to space, and even create art, is it any surprise it can be used for 3D photographs?

3D Face Reconstruction

Artificial intelligence accurately recreated this face in three dimensions from one photograph (Source: Kingston University)

In 2017, Aaron Jackson released his AI-assisted photo enhancement program as part of his PhD in computer science. The program applies deep learning techniques to photos of human faces, turning them into instant 3D renders with almost no human input. The result is detailed enough to be turned into a recognizable model of the subject when 3D printed.

If that’s not strange enough, researchers are looking into AI-generated photographs, which create human faces and models that don’t actually exist but are a product of the artificial intelligence’s “imagination“.

Difficulty: Very low
Customizability: Very low
Output format: OBJ
Cost: Free
Supported platforms: Any (online)

LITHOPHANES

Lithophanes are 3D photographs in the truest sense. They work on the same principle as film negatives: The more material is layered onto a spot in the photo, the darker that spot will be when light passes through the negative.

Featured image of How to 3D Print Your Own Lithophane

PhotoToMesh

PhotoToMesh is the only downloadable lithophane program on this list, and the only one that requires purchase – although there’s a free demo version that users are encouraged to give a try before purchasing the program. There are two versions that are available for purchase, for ~$35 and ~$50 respectively, each for a single user.

Difficulty: Low
Customizability: High
Output format: STL
Cost: ~$35 or ~$50
Supported platform: Windows

Cura

Lithophanes are the simplest way to make a photo 3D (Source: DesignMakeTeach via Pinshape)

Cura is a slicer, a program that translates 3D models into code that 3D printers can read and therefore print with. While it’s not a lithophane program specifically, it has the ability to create lithophanes quite easily. Simply load the JPG that you wish to print into Cura, and a dialog box will pop up. Leave most of the settings at their default values, ensuring that “Darker is Higher” is selected, and dial the Smoothing bar to the left, as smoothing can blur the image.

Once the file is loaded onto the build plate with the above options, set the infill to 100%. This allows the light to shine through without distracting infill pattern artifacts, like lines or squares. After that, simply hit “Slice” and load it onto your printer.

Difficulty: Medium
Customizability: Medium
Output format: G-code
Cost: Free
Supported platforms: Windows, MacOS, Linux

Lithophane Maker

Lithophane Maker lives up to its name, and delivers high-quality 3D photographs that can be used as lampshades, wall hangings, and even ceiling fan covers. While the program doesn’t have have as many bells and whistles as others on this list, the results make great gifts for family and friends!

Difficulty: Low
Customizability: High
Output format: STL
Cost: Free
Supported platforms: Any (online)

Image to Lithophane

Image to Lithophane is one of the list’s easiest programs to use. Simply upload your photo, pick the desired shape (including dome, half dome, and heart) and download your new lithophane, all for free! There are also customization options tucked away at the top of the screen.

Difficulty: Low
Customizability: Medium
Output format: STL
Cost: Free
Supported platforms: Any (online)

ItsLitho

Probably the most robust lithophane program in this list, ItsLitho is a fully fledged ecosystem, with tutorials, a lithophane maker, and even a storefront that sells PLA and 3D printers.

A great feature of ItsLitho is the variety of options you have to create the exact print you want. You can flip the image you import into the program, adjust light intensity, and even preview differently colored materials to know exactly what you’re getting, before you hit “print”. They also have an account system to keep track of your lithophanes so you don’t lose all your hard work.

Difficulty: Medium
Customizability: High
Output format: STL
Cost: Free
Supported platforms: Any (online)

PHOTOGRAMMETRY

While the rest of the article has dealt with renders made from single photographs, there’s another technique that gives much higher-quality results: photogrammetry. This process merges together multiple images taken from different angles to create a whole 3D model. Photogrammetry is so powerful that it’s beginning to bridge the gap between picture conversion and 3D scanning.

While a professional DSLR camera is still probably best for this kind of work, a host of smartphone apps have come to market to take advantage of the leap in camera quality found on the latest iPhones and Androids. That being said, there are a few programs that leverage desktop processing power for results, though they can be pricey.

If you’re keen to learn more about photogrammetry, Crompwell has put together a detailed YouTube playlist of tutorials.

Context Capture

Dozens of cameras were used to render the models for the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare remaster (Source: 22Hz via Reddit)

Context Capture earns a spot on this list due to its sheer power and versatility, though it’s probably outside the average hobbyist’s price range.

Owned by Bentley Systems, a software company, it’s more of an industry-facing option used by drones to do flyby scans of bridges and the like. The power of this type of modeling allows engineers to better understand how to maintain and augment existing infrastructure.

Difficulty: High
Customizability: High
Output format: OBJ
Cost: Request a quote via the website
Supported platform: Windows

Metashape

Photogrammetry can be used to capture significant structure such as buildings — Photogrammetry can capture significant structures such as buildings (Source: Civilax)

Similar to Context Capture but more affordable, Agisoft’s Metashape has a couple of paid options. The standard edition can process data from multiple cameras at once and render them into 3D models or stitch together panoramic shots, among other possibilities. The professional edition has more options, such as accurately measuring terrain features and distances, even from satellite imagery.

The standard edition costs less than $200, while the professional edition is a one-off purchase of around $3,500. Both start with a 30-day free trial.

Difficulty: Medium
Customizability: High
Output format: OBJ
Cost: ~$180 (standard) or ~$3,500 (professional); free trial available
Supported platform: Windows

IMAGE TO 3D MODEL: HOW TO CREATE A 3D MODEL FROM PHOTOS

Recap Pro

From Autodesk, the same people who make AutoCAD, comes Recap Pro, a cloud-based subscription service. Like the other options on this list, it compiles a number of photos taken to create a fully immersive 3D model, though specifically for use with drones. At around $40 per month or $325 for a year’s subscription, it’s a solid middle-of-the-road option, also with a free trial.

Difficulty: High
Customizability: High
Output format: OBJ
Cost: ~$40/month or ~$325/year; free trial available
Supported platform: Windows