Use our free and fast online tool to convert your PNG image or logo into a 3D 3MF model file suitable for sending directly to a 3D printer. To convert your PNG, simply click the Upload a file... button and select your image. Once selected, you will be able to set various options to control the size of the generated 3MF 3D model.
Here are three simple steps to create an 3MF file from a PNG file.
This setting allows you to specify how your PNG image is converted to an 3MF 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.
The setting can be used to alter the detail of the final 3MF 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.
This setting, when given a height of more than zero, will instruct the tool to add a solid 3D base to the final 3MF model. The selected unit of measurement specifies the height of the base.
When this option is enabled, the tool will automatically attempt to make the background of your image transparent.
Manually specify your image background color rather than our tool trying to automatically work it out.
If the tool is unable to identify the background and you know the background color, you can specify it here.
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.
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.
This setting tells the tool how to size the final 3D model when using the settings below for Width, Height, and Depth settings.
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.
This setting instructs the tool on how to interpret the color information of pixels in your image, thereby influencing the creation of the 3D 3MF 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.
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 PNG image.
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 PNG file, which can be useful in situations where the source image has not been optimized for use with the tool.
When your PNG 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.
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.
With this option enabled, the tool will mirror the 3D geometry of the generated 3MF model along the Z-axis.
If you would like the tool to create a 3D preview of your model, then please select this option. It is on by default.
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.
| Extension | PNG |
| Full Name | Portable Network Graphics |
| Type | Image |
| Mime Type | image/png |
| Format | Binary |
| Tools | PNG Converters, Create Cookie Cutter, PNG Viewer |
| Open With | Paint.NET, Photoshop |
The PNG graphics file format is a commonly used format for storing 2D images, which can be highly compressed by the use of a palette if the image has a sufficiently low number of colors (256 colors in general). The PNG file is then further compressed using the DEFLATE compression algorithm to ensure small file sizes that are fast to download.
PNG files are seen as the logical successor to the GIF image file format and was devised in the mid-1990s as a superior format to GIF. PNG files are generally used for company logos, icons, and other non-photographic image content. Saving a digital photo in the PNG format will create a much larger file than an equivalent JPG image, hence the PNG format being unsuitable for most digital photo content.
| Extension | 3MF |
| Full Name | 3D Manufacturing Format |
| Type | 3D Model |
| Mime Type | application/vnd.ms-package.3dmanufacturing-3dmodel+xml |
| Format | Binary |
| Tools | 3MF Converters, 3D Model Voxelizer, Create 3MF Animation, Compress 3MF, 3MF Asset Extractor, Text to 3MF, 3MF Viewer |
3MF files are a modern 3D file format designed specifically for use with 3D printable models (additive manufacturing). It was designed to be the successor to the popular legacy STL format (also a common format in 3D printing) to overcome the limitations of that format.
The format of 3MF files is XML-based and compressed with standard Zip file compression, resulting in small, easily transferable files. The format supports 3D meshes along with associated materials and textures, all contained within the Zip file.
3MF files support material and color information. If your uploaded model contains color information, our tool will attempt to save this in the 3MF file at the end of the conversion process. Textures are supported and will be included in the final 3MF file.
In Standard mode, our tool examines your 2D PNG image 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 PNG will have a height of 0mm and not be included in the final generated 3MF model; however, a white pixel will have a height that you specify once your PNG is uploaded. The tool has a useful option, Invert Output which will 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.
In Extrude mode, our PNG to 3MF 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 offers superior quality compared to Standard mode and is ideal for simple images such as logos and other simple shapes such as coins (see our Pokécoin example in the library tab).
In Extrude Color mode, our PNG to 3MF tool behaves in a similar way to Extrude mode, except the tool does not vary the height of the 3D-generated 3MF model based on the pixel luminosity; rather, it transfers the pixel color directly to the generated 3D model, allowing for color logos to be generated (see our Olympic logo example in the library tab).
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 PNG. 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 3MF model
The 3D printed Pokémon coin
Slicer software can, however, handle files formatted to the 3MF standard. This is because the 3MF format was specifically designed as a medium of storage and exchange for 3D printable models. Our PNG to 3MF conversion tool will first create either a heightmap or an extruded 3D model from your PNG image file. This 3D model can then be loaded into your slicer software and sent to your 3D printer for printing.
Our tool converts image (bitmap) data into 3D geometry, which is then saved to the common 3MF file format.
The PNG to 3MF 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 3MF format, which can be used in most 3D graphics applications.
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.
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.
The "Detail" option allows you to control the resolution of the created 3MF 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.
With this option, the PNG to 3MF converter will attempt to remove or smooth out any spikes in the resulting 3MF 3D model. Spikes are usually caused by highly contrasting adjacent pixels in the source PNG file.
The PNG 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.
First click the "Upload..." button, select your PNG file to upload. Select any configuration options. When the PNG to 3MF conversion has completed, you can download your 3MF file straight away.
We aim to process all PNG to 3MF conversions as quickly as possible, this usually takes around 5 seconds but can be more for larger more complex files so please be patient.
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.
Yes, of course! We do not store the PNG file you submit to us. The resulting 3MF file, once created is deleted 15 minutes after upload and the download link will expire after this time.
No. All our conversion tools process your PNG file on our dedicated conversion servers, meaning you can use our tools on low-spec computers, laptops, tablets, and mobile devices and receive your converted 3MF file quickly.
Yes! Our PNG to 3MF tool will run on any system with a modern web browser. No specialist software is needed to run any of our conversion tools.
Yes. Although you can use an Ad Blocker, if you like our PNG 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.
Yes. When you have converted your PNG to 3MF, there is a "Feedback" option that you can use to let us know of any issues you encountered when converting your file.
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