Lithophane CMYK

The Lithophane CMYK tool converts CMYK artwork into a grayscale depth map suitable for 3D lithophane printing. Conceptually, each pixel's brightness becomes a print thickness; darker pixels yield thicker regions while lighter pixels yield thinner sections. The process first converts CMYK to RGB using standard relationships: R = (1-C)*(1-K), G = (1-M)*(1-K), B = (1-Y)*(1-K). Next, a luminance value L = 0.299R + 0.587G + 0.114B is computed and normalized to a 0–1 scale. This luminance controls thickness via a user-defined min and max depth. The resulting mesh is exported as STL or OBJ, enabling immediate 3D printing. Benefits include precise depth control, batch processing capability, and compatibility with common 3D printers. Use cases span custom wall art, personalized gifts, and small-batch product runs for designers and print shops. The tool emphasizes CMYK-aware conversion to better preserve perceived contrast in the final relief when starting from CMYK artwork rather than standard sRGB images, improving print fidelity and predictability. Core features include depth-range mapping, resolution control, and mesh exports; advanced users can enable batch processing and dithering for nuanced textures. This tool serves makers and professionals seeking scalable lithophane production from CMYK imagery, with outputs ready for standard 3D printing pipelines.