Christmas bauble with customizable lithophane, snowman, elf, icicle and lantern for LED string lights (<=5mm)

Design

This is a set of varied decorations for an LED string light that you can even personalize with photos of your loved ones; perfect for a truly heartfelt gift. 

The icicle, Christmas bauble, and snowman can be printed with a single-color printer (manual color change required for the snowman). 

The elf and lantern require a multi-color printer (they can still be printed in one color but not very nice, specialy for the lantern). 

It is strongly recommended to use filaments with low opacity (light color or transparent).

Features

The kit contains:

•  - 3 Christmas lithophane baubles: Santa Claus, 2025, and 2026.
•  - 3 different lanterns (different on their lids).
•  - 1 elf
•  - 1 icicle
•  - 1 snowman 

 

Customizing lithophanes requires: 

• modifying an image (example using The Gimp tool) 
• using the website https://lithophanemaker.com/ to create the lithophane from your image 
• you must then follow a procedure in your slicer (See the procedure below for PrusaSlicer; we are in the "Printables" site, of course. ;-) ) 

 

Printing settings

When opening the files in your slicer, if prompted, load as a project with a single object containing multiple parts.

Christmas lithophane baubles

Part	View	Tips
Bauble_Screw	Infill 20% gyroide Layer 0.15mm Nozzle 0.4mm No support required
Spherical-*	<img src="https://media.printables.com/media/prints/1498219/rich_content/50a2a0b1-8c9c-4750-953f-094f7c2362f5/image-87.png#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%227e61a3c1-e92a-4450-85c8-e88023a4235c%22%2C%22w%22%3A276%2C%22h%22%3A244%7D" alt="Une image contenant sphère, cercle, vert, art Le contenu généré par l’IA peut être incorrect.">	Infill 0% Layer 0.15mm Nozzle 0.4mm No support required
All	<img src="https://media.printables.com/media/prints/1498219/rich_content/9304a74e-0b00-4b2a-a5c7-2be6604df06b/image-88.png#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%2295466d8a-d3fc-465c-84a0-6d402f21da29%22%2C%22w%22%3A274%2C%22h%22%3A273%7D" alt="Une image contenant sphère, balle, art Le contenu généré par l’IA peut être incorrect.">	Reduce layer height on the top for more quality
Bauble		For better print quality:  - Reduce the speed for overhangs, depending on your printer. I set it to 5mm/s for 0% to 50% overlap, which works for my Prusa XL and Prusa MK4s (this can be fine-tuned).  - Increase the minimum time per layer. I set it to 30 seconds.
Bauble_Cap		For better print quality: - Use a random join position

 

Lantern

Part	View	Tips
Lantern		Infill 15% Layer 0.15mm Nozzle 0.4mm Screw side on the bed No support required
Lantern_Cap1		Infill 15% Layer 0.15mm Nozzle 0.4mm Support is designed (orange part), remove it with a pair of pliers   For better print quality: - Use a random join position
Lantern_Cap2		Infill 15% Layer 0.15mm Nozzle 0.4mm Support is designed (orange part), remove it with a pair of pliers   For better print quality:  - Reduce the speed for overhangs, depending on your printer. I set it to 5mm/s for 0% to 50% overlap, which works for my Prusa XL and Prusa MK4s (this can be fine-tuned).  - Increase the minimum time per layer. I set it to 30 seconds.
Lantern_Cap3		Infill 15% Layer 0.15mm Nozzle 0.4mm Support is designed (orange part), remove it with a pair of pliers   For better print quality:  - Reduce the speed for overhangs, depending on your printer. I set it to 5mm/s for 0% to 50% overlap, which works for my Prusa XL and Prusa MK4s (this can be fine-tuned).  - Increase the minimum time per layer. I set it to 30 seconds.  - Use a random join position

 

Elf

Part	View	Tips
Elf_Screw		Infill 15% Layer 0.15mm Nozzle 0.4mm No support required
Elf_Hat		Infill 15% Layer 0.15mm Nozzle 0.4mm No support required
Elf_Head		Infill 100% Layer 0.15mm Nozzle 0.4mm (or less) Support is designed (orange part), remove it with a pair of pliers

 

Icicle

Part	View	Tips
Icicle		Infill 0% Layer 0.15mm Nozzle 0.4mm No support required
Screw		Infill 100% Layer 0.15mm Nozzle 0.4mm No support required
Icicle_Cap		Infill 15% Layer 0.15mm Nozzle 0.4mm No support required   For better print quality: - Increase the minimum time per layer. I set it to 30 seconds.  - Use a random join position

 

Snowman

Part	View	Tips
Snowman		Infill 15% Layer 0.15mm Nozzle 0.4mm No support required   For mono color printer, manuel change color at 3.2mm     For better print quality: - Use a random join position - Reduce layer height on the top of the print
Snowman_Hat		Infill 15% Layer 0.15mm Nozzle 0.4mm No support required

 

Building

Christmas lithophane baubles

According the holes, place the wires and an LED inside the cap ; screw while turning the bauble.

Lantern

According the holes, place the wires and an LED inside the cap ; screw while turning the lantern.

Elf

Screw the part of the screw without holes into the head.

Following the holes, place the wires and the LED inside the screw (assemblied to head) ; screw the hat on by turning it.

Icicle

According the holes, place the wires and an LED inside the icicle ; screw while turning the cap.

Snowman

According the holes, place the wires and an LED inside the hat ; screw while turning the snowman.

 

Customizing lithophanes 

0.      For those who don't have an image editing tool, I recommend using GIMP, a free image editing program (see : GIMP - GNU Image Manipulation Program)

 

1.      Open the file Bauble_Background.png with the edit image tool

<img src="https://media.printables.com/media/prints/1498219/rich_content/b5d4ca9b-0ac7-4e26-b02d-53b9416acc69/image-102.png#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%228efbfbef-1b10-4ec6-a983-225014c85296%22%2C%22w%22%3A414%2C%22h%22%3A207%7D" alt="Une image contenant habits, tissu, motif, papier d’emballage

Le contenu généré par l’IA peut être incorrect.">

 

2.      Modify the image by adding your pictures part ; the 2 following links can help you

a.      Clipping the foregroung : GIMP Photo Editing Masterclass | How to master the Foreground Select tool in GIMP

b.     Adding text : How to Add Text in GIMP

Avoid modifying the background at the top and bottom zones, because the radius of curvature of the sphere will cause distortions that could make people unrecognizable if portraits are added.

The following sample has the max height zone that you can modify without distorsions issues

<img src="https://media.printables.com/media/prints/1498219/rich_content/1f08cc3e-966d-493b-a3e3-5ca77bcc9cfe/image-109.png#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%22ba86e8a8-024a-48f8-bf28-c3adba39b632%22%2C%22w%22%3A407%2C%22h%22%3A203%7D" alt="Une image contenant Visage humain, homme, sourire, verres

Le contenu généré par l’IA peut être incorrect.">

 

3.      Flip the image

<img src="https://media.printables.com/media/prints/1498219/rich_content/4d74ba10-db09-41c2-a731-c3904f22d96a/image-103.png#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%224c0f98e1-f5ba-4056-9426-1d76c48be128%22%2C%22w%22%3A407%2C%22h%22%3A203%7D" alt="Une image contenant Visage humain, homme, rouge, sourire

Le contenu généré par l’IA peut être incorrect.">

 

4.      Create the lithophane

a.     Use te web tool : Lithophane Sphere Maker

b.     Set the parameters

<img src="https://media.printables.com/media/prints/1498219/rich_content/2b8016a4-2f3d-4c9a-afeb-237d43b91ca4/image-110.png#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%222cf7acfd-ee13-4953-ade0-948c3c08e011%22%2C%22w%22%3A1025%2C%22h%22%3A1243%7D" alt="Une image contenant texte, capture d’écran, diagramme, conception

Le contenu généré par l’IA peut être incorrect.">

You have to check the box Fit the Image to Sphere

You have to set the following fields :

·         Lithophane Resolution: 0.25

·         Sphere Diameter: 58

·         Maximum Thickness: 3

·         Minimum Thickness: 1

·         Cylinder Outer Diameter: 28

·         Cylinder Height: 1.5

·         Cylinder Thickness: 1

·         Cylinder Ledge Outer Diameter: 28

·         Top Hole Outer Diameter: 0

·         Y Shift: 0.95

·         You have to set the following fields :

You have to set your mail

 

5.      Clicking the 'Create .stl' button will download a ZIP file named: spherical-MyImageName

 

6.      Open the ZIP and copy the file spherical-MyImageName.STL into a folder where you have the Bauble_Screw.STL file (provided it this kit)

<img src="https://media.printables.com/media/prints/1498219/rich_content/c55aadf7-ceda-4f2a-95a2-8debb39d2f3d/image-104.png#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%2267375b58-ebad-43cb-92ec-44cf0d1a3fe7%22%2C%22w%22%3A744%2C%22h%22%3A116%7D" alt="Une image contenant texte, Police, ligne, capture d’écran

Le contenu généré par l’IA peut être incorrect.">

7.      Open Prusa Slicer

a.      Add object (CTRL+I)

<img src="https://media.printables.com/media/prints/1498219/rich_content/17b3a75b-2fd0-498e-8dcc-e0542ad557df/image-105.png#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%22a2c61b82-3aca-47ad-ae8d-30cbbf5d95a0%22%2C%22w%22%3A744%2C%22h%22%3A205%7D" alt="Une image contenant texte, logiciel, Logiciel multimédia, ligne

Le contenu généré par l’IA peut être incorrect.">

b.     Select both files (spherical-MyImageName.STL and Bauble_Screw.STL) at once

c.      At prompt, load as a project with a single object containing multiple parts.

d.     Set global infill to 0%

e.      Click right on Bauble_Screw.stl and set infill to 20% gyroide

<img src="https://media.printables.com/media/prints/1498219/rich_content/de06cb18-4e41-476b-a830-865b1247efa5/image-106.png#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%2269ea11e4-c4be-4da5-875f-2d9b5df55932%22%2C%22w%22%3A689%2C%22h%22%3A390%7D" alt="Une image contenant capture d’écran, texte

Le contenu généré par l’IA peut être incorrect.">

f.        Reduce the layer height on the top of the object

<img src="https://media.printables.com/media/prints/1498219/rich_content/cfa3b3c3-5626-4ea5-9670-3d783434ef62/image-107.png#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%22f4080083-d0fc-4d3f-877b-e28ee30638a9%22%2C%22w%22%3A394%2C%22h%22%3A427%7D" alt="Une image contenant capture d’écran, solaire

Le contenu généré par l’IA peut être incorrect.">

g.      For better print quality

·         Reduce the speed for overhangs, depending on your printer. I set it to 5mm/s for 0% to 50% overlap, which works for my Prusa XL and Prusa MK4s (this can be fine-tuned).

·         Increase the minimum time per layer. I set it to 30 seconds.

h.      Print it

 

Feedback

It is welcome.

 

Version

v1/v20251130