15 Personalised 3D Printed Gifts You Can Make Without CAD

Personal gifts are where no-CAD generators really earn their keep. Every tool on this list takes a name, a date, a photo or a sound and turns it into something that could only have been made for that person. Most of them finish in a single evening.

For photos

1. A lithophane. Upload a favourite photo and print it as a lithophane that appears when backlit. Make My Lithophane even does full colour. See our lithophane generator comparison for more options.
2. Polaroid fridge magnets. The Custom Polaroid Magnet Generator makes magnetic frames for several photos.
3. A memory card. The MakerLab Personal Memory Card is a keepsake plaque for births, weddings and anniversaries, with names and dates.

For a special date

4. A star map. Print the sky exactly as it was over a place on a date that matters: a birth, a wedding, the night you met. Try StellarMesh (made by us) or the MakerLab Star Map Generator.
5. A piece of the Moon. OrbitStudio (also ours) turns a crater or an Apollo landing site into a snap-together puzzle or an ornament, a nice gift for space fans.

For music lovers

6. A song card. The MakerLab Song Card Generator prints a music card with song details, a lyric passage and a photo.
7. A soundwave sculpture. The OmArTronics 3D Kollektion turns an audio file, such as a voice message or the first notes of a wedding song, into soundwave art.
8. A Spotify keychain. A scannable Spotify code on a keychain; see our keychain and QR guide.

With their name on it

9. A name keychain in their favourite font with the Custom Name Keychain Generator.
10. A family Christmas tree ornament. The Christmas Tree Family Names customizer stacks every family member’s name in a tree shape.
11. A personal stamp for letters, clay or baking with the Koolm Stamp Maker.
12. A desk name plate for a new job; see the sign generators.

For the holidays

13. One-of-a-kind snowflakes. The Infinite Snowflake Generator makes a new design every time you change the seed. Print a set in silk white.
14. Custom cookie cutters in the shape of their pet or initials; see the cookie cutter category.
15. A lithophane lamp with a family photo on each side.

Make it look finished

• Choose the right filament. Silk PLA looks premium for ornaments and keychains, white PLA is a must for lithophanes, and glow-in-the-dark filament delights children.
• Add hardware. Split rings, magnets and LED puck lights turn a print into a finished product.
• Wrap it in a printed box. A custom box generator makes packaging that fits exactly.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good 3D printed gift for a beginner to make?

A name keychain or a lithophane. Both finish in one evening, need no special hardware, and look far more personal than anything you can buy.

How long does a lithophane take to print?

A 10 x 15 cm flat lithophane at fine layers usually takes a few hours. Curved and lamp versions take longer.

Can I sell the gifts I make?

Check the licence of each generator. Many MakerWorld customizers and MakerLab tools are for personal use, and some designers sell a commercial licence.