How it works
Light, shaped into a picture
A lithophane is a thin white panel, thicker where your photo is dark and thinner where it’s light. On its own it looks like a soft white carving. With light behind it, the picture appears.
Lit and unlit
- LitThin parts let more light through, so the bright parts of your photo glow and the shadows stay deep.
- UnlitIn a bright room it looks like a quiet white relief. Some people love it that way too.
- See both firstThe preview on the Create page has a light switch, so you can see both before you order.
Light or no light
Three styles
Light Box
Lit from behind by a warm LED panel, on its stand. Touch to switch it on, and dim it to suit the room.
Window Frame
The same frame with an open back, on a stand. It glows in a sunny window or in front of a lamp.
Panel
The lithophane on its own, on a slim stand. Simple, and lovely in a window.
From photo to parcel
What happens after you order
We check it
A person looks at your photo and preview, usually within one working day.
We print it
Your lithophane is printed in fine layers, and the frame in your colour.
We light it
We switch it on and check it against your preview before packing.
We post it
Carefully packed and sent with Australia Post, with tracking.
Photo tips
Choosing a photo
A lithophane shows light and shade, not colour. Photos with a clear subject and soft light work best.
- Close and clearA face, a pet or a couple filling most of the frame.
- Tiny in the distanceA person small in a big landscape.
- Soft, even lightDaylight from a window, or bright shade outdoors.
- Very dark or very brightNight photos, or faces lost in strong sun.
- The original photoStraight from your phone, not a screenshot.
- Busy backgroundsPatterns and clutter around the subject.
Not sure? Try it in the preview. You can make it lighter or darker, and we check every photo before it prints.