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Convert your FAX file to STL

Use our free and fast online tool to convert your FAX (Group 3 FAX) image or logo into 3D STL (Standard Triangle Language) mesh/model files suitable for printing with a 3D printer or for loading into your favorite 3D editing package.

How to Convert your FAX to STL Online?

Here are three simple steps to create an STL file from a FAX file.

Upload a FAX

Click the "Upload a File" button and select FAX to upload. The maximum file size is 100MB.

Select your Options

Set the dimensions and other options, and click the "Convert to STL" button to convert your FAX to STL.

Download your STL

Click the download link once completed to receive your STL file.

FAX to STL Conversion Options

Tool

This setting allows you to specify how your FAX image is converted to an STL model. The Extrude options will extrude your image into 3D space, while the Standard options will apply a heightmap process to your image.

Detail

The setting can be used to alter the detail of the final STL model that is created. The default setting of Medium works well for most Extrude and Heightmap conversions, with the High setting recommended for highly detailed image files.

Add Base

This setting, when given a height of more than zero, will instruct the tool to add a solid 3D base to the final STL model. The selected unit of measurement specifies the height of the base.

Invert Output

When the Invert Output option is checked, the pixel brightness is reversed, i.e., black becomes white and white becomes black, resulting in a 3D model that is reversed.

Units

This setting tells the tool how to size the final 3D model when using the settings below for Width, Height, and Depth settings.

Upload Color Overlay

When using either the Color Extrude or Heightmap options within the Tool menu, you can optionally upload a separate image that can be used to colorize your 3D model.

Color Conversion

This setting instructs the tool on how to interpret the color information of pixels in your image, thereby influencing the creation of the 3D STL model. The grayscale option is most commonly used when working with heightmaps, unless you are dealing with specific requirements that necessitate the use of color.

Merge Similar Colors

Use this value to merge similar colors; this is useful if the image is of low quality. A higher number can help reduce the effects of anti-aliasing in the FAX image.

Hole Reduction

With this setting, it is possible to reduce the inclusion of small holes within the 3D model caused by small, darker areas of the source FAX file, which can be useful in situations where the source image has not been optimized for use with the tool.

Transparency Conversion

When your FAX file has a transparent background, this option can instruct the tool on how to treat the transparency, with the transparency converted to either black or white.

Enable Smoothing

When this setting is enabled, the conversion tool will attempt to smooth out any "spikes" within the 3D model that are caused by contrasting pixels in the image being in close proximity to one another.

Z-Axis Mirror

With this option enabled, the tool will mirror the 3D geometry of the generated STL model along the Z-axis.

Generate Preview

If you would like the tool to create a 3D preview of your model, then please select this option. It is on by default.

STL Format

You can use this option to fine-tune the STL format the tool uses. Binary is the default option, as this is the most common format of STL file, with the other two formats supporting color, which is only useful if your 3D editing application supports color STL model files.

Image to STL Frequently Asked Questions

What does this tool do?

Our tool converts image (bitmap) data into 3D geometry, which is then saved to the common STL file format.

What files does it support?

The FAX to STL tool can convert the most common image file formats, such as PNG, JPG or any one of our supported image formats. The output is provided in STL format, which can be used in most 3D graphics applications.

How does the tool interpret the image pixel data?

3D geometry is created based on the luminosity of each pixel in the source image. For example, using the default tool settings, a black pixel represents a 3D pixel height of 0mm, and a white pixel represents a 3D pixel height of 10mm. Colors in between these will be converted to a 3D pixel in this range.

What does the "Invert Output" option do?

This option reverses the black-to-white range conversion, so with this option set, a black pixel will be rendered as a 3D pixel of 10mm in height, and a white pixel will be rendered as 0mm.

How do I control the Model detail?

The "Detail" option allows you to control the resolution of the created STL file. Low detail will generate the model quickly and result in a smaller file. The High option will take longer to generate and can result in very large download files.

What does the "Enable Smoothing" option do?

With this option, the FAX to STL converter will attempt to remove or smooth out any spikes in the resulting STL 3D model. Spikes are usually caused by highly contrasting adjacent pixels in the source FAX file.

What is the maximum FAX resolution I can upload?

The FAX you upload can be any size; however, our tool will resize your image to a maximum of 800x800 pixels for normal users, and for premium subscription holders, this is increased to a maximum of 1200x1200 pixels.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

How can I convert my FAX file to STL?

First click the "Upload..." button, select your FAX file to upload. Select any configuration options. When the FAX to STL conversion has completed, you can download your STL file straight away.

How long does it take to convert my FAX to STL?

We aim to process all FAX to STL conversions as quickly as possible, this usually takes around 5 seconds but can be more for larger more complex files so please be patient.

How accurate is the FAX to STL conversion?

We aim to create the most accurate conversions with our tools. Our tools are under constant development with new features and improvements being added every week.

Is it safe to convert my FAX to STL on ImageToStl.com?

Yes, of course! We do not store the FAX file you submit to us. The resulting STL file, once created is deleted 15 minutes after upload and the download link will expire after this time.

Can I convert my FAX to STL on Windows, Linux, Android, iOS or Mac OS?

Yes! Our FAX to STL tool will run on any system with a modern web browser. No specialist software is needed to run any of our conversion tools.

What if I am using an Ad Blocker, will that affect things?

Yes. Although you can use an Ad Blocker, if you like our FAX conversion tool please consider white-listing our site. When an Ad Blocker is enabled there are some conversion limits on some of our tools and processing/conversion times will be longer.

Can I get support with converting my FAX to STL?

Yes. When you have converted your FAX to STL, there is a "Feedback" option that you can use to let us know of any issues you encountered when converting your file.

What is an STL file?

The STL file format describes an unstructured triangulated surface of the triangles using a 3D Cartesian coordinate system. STL files do not contain any scale information, and the units are arbitrary. We have a more detailed description of an STL file here.

What STL formats can I convert to?

Our tool will save all STL files in binary format. Optionally, our tool will allow you to save to the non-standard color STL format.

Comparing FAX and STL Features

 

FAX Features

  • Supports Lossy Compression
  • Supports Non Lossy Compression
  • Supports Transparency
  • Supports Color Palettes
  • Supports Monochrome (1-Bit)
  • Supports 16 Colors (4-Bit)
  • Supports 256 Colors (8-Bit)
  • Supports 16 Million Colors (24-Bit)

STL Features

  • Mesh Geometry (Vertices and Faces)
  • Vertex Normals
  • Face Normals
  • Vertex Colors
  • Face Materials (Excluding textures)
  • Textures
  • Point Cloud
  • Multiple Objects Per File
  • Object Transforms (Translation, Rotation, and Scale)
  • Bones/Joints
  • Animations
  • Suitable for 3D Printing

File Format Information for FAX to STL

ExtensionFAX
Full NameGroup 3 FAX
TypeImage
Mime Typeapplication/octet-stream
FormatBinary
ToolsFAX Converters, Create Cookie Cutter, FAX Viewer

Description

The FAX file format introduced in the 1990's is a raster image file format intended to store digital versions of documents used by Fax (facsimile) machines that were popular at the time.

Although Fax machines have been slowly replaced since then by internet based communications such as Email and Instant Messaging the FAX file format is still used for certain applications and the files can be edited within some 3rd party applications.

ExtensionSTL
Full NameStandard Triangle Language
Type3D Model
Mime Typeapplication/vnd.ms-pki.stl
FormatText & Binary
ToolsSTL Converters, 3D Model Voxelizer, Create STL Animation, Compress STL, Text to STL, STL Viewer
Open WithBlender, Daz Studio, MeshLab, CAD Assistant

Description

The STL file format has its roots in the 1980's and is the native file format for 3D Systems stereolithography CAD software. The format defines a triangulated mesh with vertices and faces and is a popular format for sharing 3D printable model files.

There were several formats that attempted to extend the STL format, namely SolidView and VisCAM, whose formats included limited 15-bit color information for each mesh face, which is often ignored by most modern 3D software. The STL format can be either text or binary; our tools will support both formats.

STL Notes

The standard STL file format does not support colored faces, vertices, or texture information. The STL file generated by the tool will contain only raw mesh/triangle data by default, which is perfect for 3D printing.

The tool also has the option to save the file to one of the non-standard formats that support colored faces, such as VisCAM and SolidView which is perfect if you want to further process the STL in software that supports these formats.

Supported Features

  • Mesh geometry
  • Face colors via the VisCAM and SolidView formats
  • Binary and text versions are supported

Converting Your FAX File for 3D Printing

Software used to prepare a 3D model file for printing, which is also known as 3D slicer software, cannot directly 3D print image files such as FAX. This is due to the fact that slicing software is designed for use with 3D models rather than flat 2D images.

A Pokémon coin image in grayscale

A Pokémon coin image in grayscale

The Pokémon coin extruded to a 3D STL model

The Pokémon coin extruded to a 3D STL model

The 3D printed Pokémon coin

The 3D printed Pokémon coin

Slicer software can, however, handle files formatted to the STL standard. This is because the STL format was specifically designed as a medium of storage and exchange for 3D printable models. Our FAX to STL conversion tool will first create either a heightmap or an extruded 3D model from your FAX image file. This 3D model can then be loaded into your slicer software and sent to your 3D printer for printing.

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