Use our free and fast online tool to convert your PNG (Portable Network Graphics) image or logo into 3D VTK (Visualization Toolkit) mesh/model files suitable for printing with a 3D printer or for loading into your favorite 3D editing package.
Here are three simple steps to create an VTK file from a PNG file.
This setting allows you to specify how your PNG image is converted to an VTK model. The Extrude options will extrude your image into 3D space, while the Standard options will apply a heightmap process to your image.
The setting can be used to alter the detail of the final VTK 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 VTK 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 VTK 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 VTK 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 | VTK |
| Full Name | Visualization Toolkit |
| Type | 3D Model |
| Mime Type | application/octet-stream |
| Format | Text |
| Tools | VTK Converters, 3D Model Voxelizer, Create VTK Animation, Text to VTK, VTK Viewer |
The VTK file format is a 3D modeling and graphics format supported by the Visualization Toolkit. Created in the '90s, the Visualization Toolkit provides a series of data and visual tools for advanced 3D modeling applications. Some example functions of the toolkit include polygon simplification, mesh repair and smoothing, and more.
The format has evolved over the years. It started out as a simple text-based format that could be edited within a simple text editor. Additional features have been added over the years, with the most recent version of the format supporting an XML-based format.
Any model converted to the VTK format will be stored in a triangulated mesh format.
Our tool converts image (bitmap) data into 3D geometry, which is then saved to the common VTK file format.
The PNG to VTK 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 VTK 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 VTK 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 VTK converter will attempt to remove or smooth out any spikes in the resulting VTK 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 VTK conversion has completed, you can download your VTK file straight away.
We aim to process all PNG to VTK 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 VTK file, once created is deleted 20 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 VTK file quickly.
Yes! Our PNG to VTK 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 VTK, there is a "Feedback" option that you can use to let us know of any issues you encountered when converting your file.
© 2025 ImageToStl. Convert your PNG and JPG Files to 3D STL files.
