Making 3D Silhouettes from Pictures:

CookBook Instructions

The sequence that I follow is:  1st (*) I make a JPEG image of a picture containing the object to be 3d printed.  Next (**) I select the object to be 3d printed and save it in SVG format.  Then (***) convert the SVG to STL, and finally (****) slice the STL into G-Code ( the 3d printer compatible format).  

(*) Sources of JPEG Images:

Your Camera/Phone; you can capture essentially anything the eye can see.

Your Computer Screen; using “Screen Dump” (Command+Shift+3 on Apple)

(NOTE: What you have just done or about to do may be illegal!)

Copyright and Patent Rights may exist – don’t think of selling anything!

for example:

International Copyright laws protect all of the work of M.C. Escher, as well as his spoken and written words. Any reproduction of his work, including downloading, is prohibited without the express written permission The M.C. Escher Company.

(**) Image Editing, Translating, Manipulating, Altering, Enhancing, Value Adding, Fair Using, Transforming:

(NOTE: What you think you are doing is legally important!)

I use “Inkscape” to select the object to be 3d printed, and save in SVG format.  Inkscape offers several ways to create a selection path around a portion of the image.  I use the Bezier Curve tool.

Inkscape offers a SVG format Save option, but not the STL format that is needed.  

(***) “TinkerCad” can be used to translate SVG format to STL format.  

(****) There are a number of Freeware Slicing tools. Most 3D printers come with their own.  My printer (SnapMaker) comes with a slicing tool, which I use.  It also handles the printing details like scaling and quality control.

I then use a memory stick to move the G-Code format file from the computer to the 3D printer.

The Sequence is:  Image -> JPEG, -> SVG, -> STL, -> G-Code, -> 3D Printer.

OR find

‘Ready made’ sources of STL files:

thingaverse.com is a shareware website where you can share your creations.

The creations that others will share are numerous and wonderful!

OR enjoy

Your own creations, using tools like:

TinkerCad

Mathematica

TouchTerrain

Terrain2STL

Inkscape

Blender