Convert JPG to STL For Free

How to Convert your JPG to STL Online?

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

Upload a JPG

Click the "Upload a File" button and select JPG 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 JPG to STL.

Download your STL

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

JPG to STL Conversion Options

Tool

This setting allows you to specify how your JPG 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.

For more information about the differences between the Extrude and Heightmap modes and to see some examples, please see our How Does Image to STL Work section below.

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.

Remove Background

When this option is enabled, the tool will automatically attempt to make the background of your image transparent.

Specify Color

Manually specify your image background color rather than our tool trying to automatically work it out.

Color

If the tool is unable to identify the background and you know the background color, you can specify it here.

Tolerance

This value can be adjusted to control the background removal tolerance. The higher the value, the more background is removed.

A higher value is useful for creating smoother results if your image is anti-aliased.

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 JPG 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 JPG file, which can be useful in situations where the source image has not been optimized for use with the tool.

Transparency Conversion

When your JPG 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.

Generate Normals

Use this option to generate Face or Vertex (Smooth) normals in the final 3D model. Vertex normals give the mesh a smooth appearance. You can choose to not create Normals using the None option to reduce the file size.

File Format Information for JPG to STL

Extension	JPG
Full Name	Joint Photographic Experts Group
Type	Image
Mime Type	image/jpeg
Format	Binary
Tools	JPG Converters, Create Cookie Cutter, JPG Viewer
Open With	Paint.NET, Photoshop

Description

The JPG file format is a popular image format most commonly used for the storage of digital photographs. The format implements a lossy-compression technology that allows for high levels of file compression with little perceptible loss of image quality, making it an ideal format for photographs.

This format is one of the most used on the internet today, with its small file sizes making it ideal for website images. Although there are newer image formats that may offer higher compression and quality, the JPG is still an ideal format for digital photos.

Extension	STL
Full Name	Standard Triangle Language
Type	3D Model
Mime Type	application/vnd.ms-pki.stl
Format	Text & Binary
Tools	STL Converters, 3D Model Voxelizer, Create STL Animation, Compress STL, Text to STL, STL Viewer
Open With	Blender, 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

Comparing JPG and STL Features

JPG 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

Converting JPG to STL, How Does It Work?

Standard Mode (Heightmap)

In Standard mode, our tool examines your JPG image file and, based on the luminosity of each pixel, creates a corresponding "3D" pixel where the height of the pixel is determined by the pixel luminosity. A black pixel in your JPG will have a height of 0mm and not be included in the final 3D-generated model; however, a white pixel will have a height that you specify once your image is uploaded. The JPG tool has an Invert Output option if you wish to reverse the model height calculations. When this option is selected, a white pixel will have a height of 0 mm, and a black pixel will have the height you have specified. This mode is ideal for the conversion of detailed heightmap images into 3D models.

Extrude Mode

In Extrude mode, our tool behaves in a similar way to Standard mode, except the tool attempts to find simple shapes in your image and performs an Extrude operation on any shape found. The height of the extruded shape is again based on the pixel luminosity. This mode is ideal for simple images such as logos and other simple shapes such as coins (see our coin examples in the library tab).

Converting Your JPG 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 JPG. 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

The Pokémon coin extruded to a 3D STL model

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 JPG to STL conversion tool will first create either a heightmap or an extruded 3D model from your JPG image file. This 3D model can then be loaded into your slicer software and sent to your 3D printer for printing.

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 JPG 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 JPG 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 JPG file.

What is the maximum JPG resolution I can upload?

The JPG you upload can be any size; however, our tool will resize your image to a maximum of 1200x1200 pixels for all uploaded images that are larger than this.