FAQ
If you can't find your answer, reach us by LINE or email from the About & contact page.
Making & materials
What kind of photo makes the best lithophane?
A clear subject, even lighting and moderate contrast work best. For portraits, the face should fill at least half the frame; backlit or very dark photos lose detail when lit. The backlit preview in the studio is close to how the finished piece will look (it varies with filament, colour and printer), so adjust brightness and contrast there until you are happy with it.
How should I choose a silhouette image for a shadowbox?
The more the subject differs from the background, the better — for example a black silhouette on white. A shadowbox casts the outline of the box's side wall onto the wall, so very thin parts (a thin tail, strands of hair) round off or disappear; the studio shows a “fidelity” score to help you judge.
How do the shade and the base fasten together? Is glue needed?
No glue. The top of the base has a short bayonet cylinder and the light disc stands inside it; first the adapter (a file in the same download package) slides over the cylinder's bayonet grooves and locks with a clockwise turn of about 30°, then the pins at the bottom of the shade slide into the grooves on the outside of the adapter and lock with another turn of about 23°. There is also a translucent filter ring (in a colour of your choice; also a file in the same download package). By this site's design rules, all shades and bases share the same joint dimensions (actual fit depends on your print).
What material is it printed in?
White PLA by default, which transmits light best. Lamps can also be made in “frosted white” (PETG); PETG generally softens at a higher temperature than PLA, but neither is heat-resistant or fireproof. Each colour transmits a different amount of light, and the preview adjusts to the colour you pick.
Free download
Can I buy printed items from you?
Not at the moment. For now we offer online design and free STL downloads, to print yourself. We are preparing a printing service, but orders are not open yet and there is no opening date; if we open it, what is offered and on what terms will be announced on this website. Printed parts will not include electrical items such as LED discs, light sources or drivers. Please prepare those yourself and follow the Safety notes (use a complete off-the-shelf light source with proper safety marks); we do not sell, and do not endorse, any third-party product. If we later offer items that include electrical parts, we will announce it separately.
Are there limits on free downloads?
There is no limit on how many times you download, and you do not need to leave any details. The files are generated right in your browser and are not sent to our servers.
How do I use the downloaded file?
After you press “Free STL download”, your browser builds a zip directly: an STL for each part, the file notes and the licence, plus design.json recording this design's parameters. Open it in a slicer such as Bambu Studio; the files are already in print orientation. The files are generated on your device, so please keep them yourself.
What may I do with a free download?
You may print them on your own 3D printer, for yourself or as gifts; do not resell, rent or redistribute the files, and do not sell the printed pieces; for commercial use, contact us first for express permission (an email or LINE message is enough). The full text is in the “Licence” file inside the zip. If you share prints publicly for non-commercial purposes, please credit them as made with the Carvewick studio (not needed for personal use); see usage terms.
Can I keep my design?
To keep a design: for the lamp, press “Share link” to save the address; every download zip also contains a file of the design parameters. Lithophane and shadowbox zips do not include your original photo, so keep it yourself.
Privacy & photos
Will my photos be used for anything else?
No. Photo adjustments, calculation and file generation all happen in your browser; your photo is not uploaded to our servers and is not stored.
What data does the site store about me?
The site does not collect your photos, designs or email, and has no database. When you contact us by email or LINE, we receive the contact details you give; the hosting provider generally keeps connection logs (such as IP addresses). A share link keeps the design parameters after the # in the address, so they are not sent to us or to the hosting provider. See Legal & Privacy.
Terms of service
Who owns the designs I make?
Who holds the rights in a design and its generated files is set out in the licence included in the download package and in Legal & Privacy. The site does not store your designs. Please do not use photos or images you have no right to use (for example other people's work, trademarks or cartoon characters).
For the full text see Legal & Privacy; company details and contact are on About & contact.