<p>What you describe, sounds like you want to create a lithophane; a pattern etched or engraved on a thin translucent base material (in your case a bowl) that can only be seen clearly when backlit with a light source behind it. Apparently you want to use it for another purpose.</p>

<p>Special software and or scripts that transform the image to the base material exist. An example is e.g. <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2770219" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this sphere which becomes a globe when lit from the inside</a>. Recommending a tool for creating such bowl is a little <a href="https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/357/are-shopping-questions-on-topic-for-the-site">out of scope</a> as these types of questions become outdated very quickly as technology changes or tools cease to exist. With the provided information you should be able to find software that is able to provide what you want to do.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-12T06:04:47.427Z
2019-06-12T06:04:47.427Z
0scar
<p>You may want to look up <a href="https://3dp.rocks/lithophane/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://3dp.rocks/lithophane/</a> it lets you do things like that</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-29T15:39:59.823Z
That link was given in a comment previously. It would be helpful if you could summarize the article and maybe give your experience if you have used that technique.
agarza
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-29T16:00:55.643Z
Hi and welcome. This is a [link only answer](https://meta.stackexchange.com/q/8231/280335), and when the link dies your answer will not be much use. As such, it may be deleted. If that happens, please summarise the information from the link and flag your answer to be undeleted.
Greenonline
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-29T15:26:28.403Z
2021-04-29T15:26:28.403Z
I3D 2
<p>How can I print an embossed image in a concaved shape?</p>

<p>Like a big saucer. I will use this an a mold for a project.</p>

<p>So far I've found lots of software with huge spread of features. It's sort of overwhelming. There is lots of ways to create images into 3D printable objects but to add the extra step and concaving that image is harder to find out.</p>

<p>How would you do it? I'm open to suggestions.</p>

<p>I'm new to 3D printing and would really appreciate the help.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-12T00:42:33.360Z
What are you using for your modeling software?
Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-12T01:02:18.893Z
I have not selected a modeling software. I'm a programmer and I work with software everyday therefore I'm open to tryout anything.
ForgottenKahz
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-12T15:43:50.627Z
http://3dp.rocks/lithophane/  can do the interior of a cylinder;  I haven't found a free site that will project into a sphere, but I strongly suspect you can take a planar model and use one of the standard CAD/mesh programs to make it spherical.  Maybe search YouTube for tutorials on "convert plane to hemisphere" ?
Carl Witthoft
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-12T15:46:33.850Z
If you know Python, maybe this link   https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2770219  or (I have not tried it)  the spherical projector at  http://maker.dongguk.edu/
Carl Witthoft
<3d-models><3d-design>
How do I concave an image to create a 3D file for use in a 3D printer?
ForgottenKahz
# How do I concave an image to create a 3D file for use in a 3D printer?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-06-12)

How can I print an embossed image in a concaved shape?

Like a big saucer. I will use this an a mold for a project.

So far I've found lots of software with huge spread of features. It's sort of overwhelming. There is lots of ways to create images into 3D printable objects but to add the extra step and concaving that image is harder to find out.

How would you do it? I'm open to suggestions.

I'm new to 3D printing and would really appreciate the help.

**Tags:** 3d-models, 3d-design

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What are you using for your modeling software?  
> **username_0**: I have not selected a modeling software. I'm a programmer and I work with software everyday therefore I'm open to tryout anything.  
> **username_2**: http://3dp.rocks/lithophane/  can do the interior of a cylinder;  I haven't found a free site that will project into a sphere, but I strongly suspect you can take a planar model and use one of the standard CAD/mesh programs to make it spherical.  Maybe search YouTube for tutorials on "convert plane to hemisphere" ?  
> **username_2**: If you know Python, maybe this link   https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2770219  or (I have not tried it)  the spherical projector at  http://maker.dongguk.edu/  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2019-06-12. Score: 2

What you describe, sounds like you want to create a lithophane; a pattern etched or engraved on a thin translucent base material (in your case a bowl) that can only be seen clearly when backlit with a light source behind it. Apparently you want to use it for another purpose.

Special software and or scripts that transform the image to the base material exist. An example is e.g. [this sphere which becomes a globe when lit from the inside](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2770219). Recommending a tool for creating such bowl is a little [out of scope](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/357/are-shopping-questions-on-topic-for-the-site) as these types of questions become outdated very quickly as technology changes or tools cease to exist. With the provided information you should be able to find software that is able to provide what you want to do.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2021-04-29. Score: -1

You may want to look up <https://3dp.rocks/lithophane/> it lets you do things like that

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: That link was given in a comment previously. It would be helpful if you could summarize the article and maybe give your experience if you have used that technique.  
> **username_6**: Hi and welcome. This is a [link only answer](https://meta.stackexchange.com/q/8231/280335), and when the link dies your answer will not be much use. As such, it may be deleted. If that happens, please summarise the information from the link and flag your answer to be undeleted.  

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