Improving color matching with science

For better color lithophanes

After I released the last update to the color lithophane tool I decided to focus on the biggest issue, that being face portraits, particularly of fair skinned people. In the current model they still come out too blotchy. After doing quite a bit of research I realized I needed to step up my game in significant way. I did that by purchasing a spectrometer.

I won’t go into all the gory technical details, but a spectrometer lets me do a couple things. First, it allows me to see the exact physical properties as is refers to light transmission of filament over the entire visible spectrum. Then building on that information it then allows me to use known light equations to predict, with high accuracy, how a filament, at a given thickness, will change the color of the white backlight.

I originally thought that I could simply update the current program but with all these insights I got from being able to actually see how filaments effected light it became clear I needed to rebuild it from scratch. While this has meant a much longer time between updates, when this one comes out, I hope you will agree with me it was worth the wait.

I’m not sure when the update will come out, really hoping before the end of February, but every time I mentally set a date, I then figure out an improvement I must add. In the meantime, above is a sample print showing some results. These two images I created with AI with the intent of stress testing the algorithm. The couple shows large improvement, but not perfect since there is still a drop off between light skin and white. The second image I think turned out really well and I think any non-portrait image is going to look pretty good. I’m also really happy with the detail, these are small, 131x75.

Here is a look at the current user interface. Clearly not finished but I had to show that you now get a preview image without needing to create the lithophane first.

Again, don’t have a set release date, but I’m really excited about this version. If anyone wants me to create stl files with this version and you have one of the CMYK filament sets in the program (Epax, Printed Solid, Bambu, Polymaker Panchroma, or American Filament) let me know.