Photo Moon Lamp Generator (3D MakerBench)

About this generator

The Photo Moon Lamp Generator turns a photo into a hollow moon lithophane. The surface comes from NASA's Moon 3D model, and your photo is projected onto the front and fades into the craters, so it shows when the lamp is lit from inside. You can also untick the photo for a plain moon.

You set the photo width, the moon diameter (70 to 200 mm), where the sphere is cut open at the bottom, the thinnest and thickest wall, brightness, contrast, invert and mesh quality, and check the result in a backlit preview. The lamp either sits on a printed stand for a 38 mm LED tea light or a USB puck, with an optional cable slot, or hangs from a pendant lamp holder with a snap-on bottom cap. The moon and the stand or cap download as separate STLs, because the moon prints at 100% infill and the stand does not.

It is free, needs no account, and the photo stays on your device. The maker states that files made with 3D MakerBench may be printed and sold. Files are large: the default 100 mm moon is about 60 MB. It suits gift makers who want a photo lamp for a birthday, anniversary or memorial.

What you can make

• Moon lamps with your photo
• Plain moon lithophane lamps
• LED tea light and USB puck stands
• Hanging moon pendant shades

How to use Photo Moon Lamp Generator

1. Upload a photo, or untick it for a plain moon
2. Set the moon size, photo width and stand or hanging
3. Check the backlit preview and adjust brightness and contrast
4. Download the moon and stand STLs and print the moon in white PLA at 100% infill