We develop a lot of free applications dedicated to 3D printing to explore and facilitate the use of 3D printers by many. The first Image2stl, allows the creation of 3D object from a 2D base (jpg or png). Associating the colors to values ​​extrusion, the program detects differences in color level to translate the 2D to 3D. Thus, an image composed of a gradient from black to white gradient will create a volume.

This application has been designed by the Design Association The Future Now and developed by Joël Belouet.

More infos: http://dothefuturenow.org/ressources/2-ringmaker-imaginer-designer-et-imprimez-vos-bagues/

Currently, RingMaker only takes jpg, jpeg or png with a colored background (white and black included - no transparency) preferably in contrast to the subject of the image. Each color represents a brightness value used differently, and therefore translation image2stl a value different extrusion. Thus, an image composed of a gradient going from white to black will create a volume having the shape of a slope.