Input guide
Prepare one image for an STL draft
Start with a clear inanimate object image you have the right to use, then inspect the generated mesh before downloading.
- PNG, JPG or WebP
- 2,000,000 bytes max
- 200 credits
01
How do I turn an image into an STL draft?
Choose a clear photo or illustration of one inanimate object against a simple background. Gift STL Studio accepts PNG, JPG, or WebP files up to 2,000,000 bytes. Sign in, confirm your rights, check the 200-credit quote, and submit once. Rotate the generated STL preview to inspect inferred surfaces, then download the STL. An optional GLB appears only when supplied for that job. Neither file establishes print readiness.
02
From source image to saved mesh
Choose a single object
Use your own photo or illustration with the whole object in frame. A plain background and readable silhouette make inspection easier. Do not submit portraits, people, or designs you do not have the right to use.
Keep the input within the file boundary
Save as PNG, JPG, or WebP, no larger than 2,000,000 bytes. The workbench checks file type and file signature; it does not accept PDF, PSD, or a multi-image set.
Confirm the current quote
Sign in, choose the image, affirm your rights, and check availability, balance, and the 200-credit quote before submitting. New accounts start with zero free credits.
Inspect the returned mesh
Rotate the actual STL preview and compare front, side, opening, base, and any details against your image. The unseen back and internal geometry were inferred from one view.
Download for the next task
Download STL for further mesh inspection or repair. If the job also saved GLB, its extra download appears alongside STL. Use the print checklist before a physical project.
03
Which file should you keep?
Source image
Keep your original photo or illustration to compare with the model. The public vase input is a self-drawn illustration, not a photograph of a physical vase.
STL draft
The successful job provides a saved STL mesh and a rotatable workbench preview. STL is the primary download for further mesh and slicing checks; no unit scale or print suitability is promised.
Optional GLB
The provider may also supply a GLB file. This site offers it only when saved for that job; do not plan on receiving one for every request. The public vase result is a local render of one saved GLB.
04
What one view cannot show
A single image can convey silhouette and visible surface, but it cannot prove the back, bottom, hollow interior, wall thickness, or real-world size. Inspect and repair the actual file for your use case; the STL print checklist explains the next checks.
The public home-page example comes from one saved provider result. It is not a quality benchmark for every input. See pricing before a new job.
05
Image and output questions
Can a drawing work, or must it be a photograph?
The public vase example used a self-drawn illustration. Both photos and illustrations are possible inputs, but the model may interpret them differently; inspect each result.
Does the STL preserve the image exactly?
No. It is an inferred 3D draft from one view. Hidden surfaces and small details may differ.
Will I always get both STL and GLB?
No. STL is the primary saved output. GLB is optional and is shown for download only when it was returned and saved for that job.
Can I submit several angles in one request?
The current workbench accepts one image per job. It does not combine a set of views; hidden surfaces are inferred from the image you submit.
Try one object image
Check availability and the 200-credit quote before submitting; inspect the saved draft afterward.