Lithophane Maker Luban – Will It Be Better Than The Rest

Luban Lithophane Maker Alpha 0.1 09/04/2019

For this version (0.1) the lithophane maker is very basic for just now, once you scroll down to the most updated version, as you can see that the Luban lithophane creator has progressed a lot since the first test.

1. Shape Flat
2. Unit MM, Inch, CM. DM, Meter
3. Select Image
4. Model Size Z
5. Minimum Thickness
6. Max Thickness
7. Export

For test ONE, TWO and THREE we used Sunlu PLA+ Ivory White filament. Test FOUR and FIVE, Eryone white PLA filament was used. In our eyes both of the plastic came out the same; there was no defect or changes to the quality of the finished 3D print.

The reason behind this change was in fact of a user error, what happened was the Sunlu ivory white did not pop out on the lithophane, so it had us thinking was it because of the filament. So we went onto trying the Eryone white PLA when we tried this filament it came out the same. So again we were puzzled it wasn’t standing out! 🙁 but all of a sudden we thought “HEY” why don’ we increase the thickness of the 3D model.

Underneath the picture, there are tests 1-5, on the information about our results and the changes.

Luban Lithophane Test 1-5

• Test One

This lithophane came out okay, but I think we may need to go a little thicker in the second test. There was a stringing problem, but this was easy to fix. You lower the temperature on the extruder and change the retraction settings. In the end, there won’t be any strings attached. We used model size z 50, the minimum thickness of 0.8 and the maximum thickness 2.

• Test Two

Same settings as above but we changed the maximum thickness to 3, it didn’t change because you need to press enter, this failed by user error as we did not know you had to do that. So for this test, the maximum thickness was two so no change there.

• Test Three

The reason we edited the picture in photoshop to black and white was to enhance the depth, with light and dark. Using contrast to make the image stand out more, the lighter parts more light and of course the dark elements to go even more mysterious. Again the settings were the same expect the maximum thickness is set at 3. In the picture, it slowly starts standing out but let’s go further.

• Test Four

Here is where we changed the filament to the Eryone PLA white, using a maximum thickness of 4. The details are getting a lot better every time going up a depth, don’t go overboard as you won’t get light through the lithophane. Because the thicker it is, the less the sun shines through, and the affect will be reduced.

• Test Five

The test we talked about earlier about the Luban and Inov3D logo. It was just a trial at first, to see if the text would show up on such a small print. We are amazed how good it came out, it’s great how the small text (if you can dream it, we can shape it) showed up but it would help if we made the model bigger for the smaller text to show up better. Overall the whole lithophane came out amazing compared to what we first had!  The maximum thickness 5, perfect thickness for us to use.

Luban Lithophane Maker Alpha 0.2 12/04/2019

Since the last version Luji Chen, the owner of Luban has added more features these features are – 

1. Positive and negative lithophanes
2. Border light and dark
3. Border size
4. Base size
5. Slant (Degree)
6. Back Light
7. Resolution

Luban Lithophane Test

• Test 1

Using the settings we liked on the last test alpha 0.1 test 5. The new settings that are using are resolution 0.1, border dark, positive, border size 3, base size 40 slant (degree) 10. I noticed there is a backlight feature. It allows you to see how the lithophane will appear.

What Changes To Make

The base and the lithophane should be two separate parts, for the main reason, it is best to 3D print a lithophane vertically. To point out this is so light won’t affect the layers as much, the more of a degree you have, the more effective the light has on the layers. Over extrusion and under extrusion can also affect the outcome of the lithophane as well as infill it is best to set this as 100%, but this is nothing about Luban. It is just something that can occur on any 3D printer.

If you make them two separate parts, this allows you to print the base and the lithophane in two different colours. It is ideal if you want to change over the lithophanes to a different one. Everyone is different, but we suggest if using the base, support is needed as it is not touching the build plate completely.

Our Suggestion

Keep all the features so you can control the base and border but make it, so the base and the lithophane generates separately. In the base, you can make a part that you can slip the lithophane into. For borders, you would need to make it stay the same thickness for inserting it into the lithophane base; this would only need to be for the bottom part.

Luban Lithophane Maker Alpha 0.3 20/04/2019

This basically is releases one

In this version, there is now a lot more shapes Arc, Rectangle, Hexagon, Octagon, Dodecagon, and of course Cylinder in this last test there is also a hanger method and lamp socket method for the lamps you can turn it upside down for this it depends on how your lamp is

TO BE CONTINUED

Luban Lithophane Maker Release Two 09/05/2019

Since the first release, Luji Chen has been working hard on adding more features and updating current options.

1. Added base to arc lithophane
2. Updated Dark Border
3. Added Sphere Lithophane

Luban Lithophane Maker Release Three 27/05/2019

1. Adjusting lighting and filament color to simulate color effects
2. Rectangle, Hexagon, Octagon, Dodecagon lithophane as an assembly of parts: each face is a lithophane, also a base and a cap. You can assemble the parts as one big structure
3. Light and dark border added between images on a cylinder

Luban Lithophane Maker Release Four 01/06/2019

Long story version: LuBan Lithophane 4th release

This is an idea I initially heard from Michael Chai: Generate a lithophane with an uneven surface on the inside and a smooth surface on the outside. The point is that when the backlight is off, a viewer will only see the smooth surface, not the uneven surface. When the backlight is on, the viewer will see a photo. This is more surprising than seeing the uneven surface before turning on backlight as the viewer will have no clue how the photo is produced.

However, there has been discussion in LuBan group leading to a conclusion that it will not work well because when the smooth surface is outside, a blurry photo will be produced. The discussion is backed up by video evidence and some hypothesis.

Just when I almost forget about the idea, Rob Dorward showed me a video, which clearly proves that the idea is valid. So how come?

(This paragraph is all due to Rob’s observation and experience.) The key lies in the type of filament in use. If using a while filament, a lithophane tends to diffuse more light and makes a photo more blurry. If using a silver filament (natural color or semi-transparent is my guess), the lithophane diffuses less light. Rob often uses Min/Max 0.6mm/2.2mm on silver filament. The second video in this post is Rob’s experiment showing the effect of using white filament. It is exactly what we observed in Edward West’s video; a blurry photo when looking at the smooth side.

Since doubts are cleared, I have added this new feature: an option of exterior and interior to Arc, Cylinder, and Sphere lithophane

Luban Lithophane Maker Settings

Let’s talk more in depth about the settings the Luban Lithophane Maker feature has so far

• Shapes

There are many shapes in the Luban lithophane maker Flat, Arc, Hexagon, Rectangle, Octagon, Dodecagon, Cylinder.

• Unit MM, Inch, CM. DM, Meter

Do you like working with a specific measurement unit? You can choose from the list above.

• Select Image

In some shapes, you can have multiple images or single images. It depends on the form you chose, to select various models it is simple to go to Select photo Browse and select the photos you want.

• Model Size Z

Model Z direction size, In some shapes only Z direction size, is needed. The format in other directions is calculated based on the photo size.

• Minimum Thickness

Adjusts the minimum thickness of your lithophane.

• Max Thickness

Adjusts the maximum thickness of your lithophane, the higher the width, the more light depth you will get.

• Export

A handy feature that I don’t see on any other lithophane maker and this lets you export your lithophane to edit it at a later point in time.

• Positive and negative lithophanes

Gives you a positive or negative lithophane

• Border light and dark

Do you want a border on your lithophane? This setting will provide you with that a light edge that will be a thinner print. A dark limit will be a thicker print.

• Border Size

Here you can adjust the thickness of your border if you put the value as 0 no limit will be added

• Base size

Changes the size of your base if you make the value 0 no plate will be attached.

• Slant (degree)

Gives your lithophane a slant, you can change the angle by increasing or decreasing the value.

• Backlight

Now, this is a handy little feature; it gives you a simulation of what your lithophane is going to look.

• Hanger

do you want your lithophane to hang high or low then you can choose this feature hanger yes or hanger no?

• Lamp Socket

Ever wanted to put your finished lithophane on to a lamp well you can with the lamp socket, change the value to correspond with the size of your lamp socket,

• Upside Down

Is your lamp on the ceiling or a table with this you can change the orientation your lithophane will be.

• Add base to arc lithophane

This now adds a base to your arc lithophane

• Updated dark border

now there is no support needed when printing a dark border

• Added a sphere lithophane shape

Now this is an interesting shape to add to Luban with this you can do many interesting things including making a moon lamp.