No plate behind the shape
Everything lighter than the cut-off is removed, so only the subject is left.
Silhouette to STL Converter
Cut the subject out of any image at one even thickness. Background gone, holes kept, edges smooth.
Samples
3D previewSample
Loading 3D preview
Drag to rotate
90 mm
3 mm
Advanced settings
0.50
Detail
Runs in your browser. Your image is never uploaded.
After you make your cut-out
Make a raised version instead, add lettering, or check the STL before slicing.
How to make a silhouette STL
- 1
Add a high-contrast image
Drop, paste or choose a PNG, JPG or WebP. A dark shape on a light background works best.
- 2
Set size, thickness and cut-off
The cut-off decides which pixels become solid. The outline updates as you drag.
- 3
Download the STL
Save the file and open it in your slicer at the size shown under the preview.
From drawing to cake topper
A black cat silhouette with a stake drawn in, and the cut-out this converter builds from it.
Why use this silhouette to STL converter
Built for flat pieces that are defined by their outline.
Traced, smooth outline
Edges are traced as curves after a light blur, so pixels and JPEG noise do not show as steps.
Adjustable cut-off
Drag it from 0.10 to 0.90 to keep soft shadows or drop faint marks.
Light or dark subjects
Turn on Keep light areas instead for a white shape on a dark background.
Size and thickness in mm
Set the longest side from 20 to 200 mm and the thickness from 0.8 to 10 mm.
Private, free preview
Runs in your browser with no upload. The preview is free; each STL is 2 credits.
Print settings for cut-outs
Flat pieces are simple to print. These four habits keep thin parts intact.
Print it flat
A cut-out has one even thickness, so it lies flat on the bed and needs no supports.
0.2 mm layers, three walls
Standard layers suit a flat shape. Extra walls make stakes, tails and thin edges stronger.
A brim for narrow parts
A small brim keeps thin stakes and tips from lifting off the bed during the first layers.
Keep parts above 0.8 mm
Details narrower than about two nozzle widths print poorly. Scale the piece up or thicken them in the artwork.
Silhouette to STL guide
How a silhouette differs from a relief, tuning the cut-off, and planning holes and thickness.
How silhouette differs from relief
Relief keeps a solid plate and raises the design on top of it. Silhouette has no plate at all: everything darker than the cut-off becomes solid at one thickness, and everything else is removed, including enclosed holes.
That makes it the right mode for objects defined by their outline: cake toppers, stencils, wall art, ornaments and name tags. The edges are traced as smooth curves rather than stair-stepped pixels.
Tuning the cut-off
The cut-off decides which pixels count as solid. At 0.50, anything darker than mid gray is kept. Raise it to include lighter areas such as soft shadows; lower it to drop faint marks and keep only the darkest parts.
For a light subject on a dark background, turn on Keep light areas instead. Photos rarely have a clean edge, so for the best outline paint the subject black on white first, or start from an image that is already a silhouette.
Holes, islands and thickness
Holes inside the shape stay open, which is how eyes, key-ring loops and letters cut through a tag. Watch for islands: the middle of an O or an A becomes a loose piece that falls out. Stencil fonts and connected designs avoid this.
For cake toppers and ornaments, 3 mm is stiff enough in PLA. Stencils can go down to about 1.5 mm. Draw a pick or stake into the artwork itself if the piece needs to stand in a cake or a plant pot.
Silhouette to STL questions
Answers about uses, missing parts, loose letter centers, topper thickness and photos.
What is a silhouette STL used for?
Cake toppers, stencils, wall art, ornaments, cookie-cutter shapes and name tags: any object defined by its outline at an even thickness.
Why did part of my image disappear?
It was lighter than the cut-off. Raise the cut-off slider, or darken that part of the image before converting.
Why did the middle of a letter fall out?
Closed shapes inside holes become separate pieces. Use a stencil font, join the piece with a thin bridge, or pick words without closed letters.
How thick should a cake topper be?
About 3 mm in PLA. Keep the pick at least 6 mm wide so it does not snap when pushed into the cake, and follow food-safe practices for anything that touches food.
Does it work with photos?
Yes, but photos have soft edges and busy backgrounds. A high-contrast image, or a photo with the subject painted black on white, gives a much cleaner cut-out.