HEIC to STL converter straight from your iPhone
iPhones save photos as HEIC, and most converters choke on it. PrintPal does not: drop the HEIC in, it is converted in your browser, and the AI turns your photo into a watertight STL.
- 400,000+ makers
- 2M+ models generated
- No credit card to start
vase.jpg
AI model
Real result
Used by makers, engineers, and educators at
Drag to rotate, click then scroll to zoomDrag to rotate, pinch to zoom
See a real result in 3D
This model was generated by PrintPal from the image beside it. Spin it, then switch to STL (no color) to see exactly what a single-color print gets.
Input: knight.png, 1024 pxA painted-style tabletop hero: sword, shield, cape and visor slits came out as one solid body with its cobblestone base.
- Generated mesh
- 998,810 triangles
- Watertight
- Yes, 1 body
- Detail setting
- High, full color
- This preview
- 59,918 tris, 403 KB
Each example is one AI-generated 1024 px PNG run through PrintPal's full-color image-to-3D at high detail, with no editing afterwards. Mesh checks were run on the raw download with trimesh. The preview is simplified to about 60,000 triangles so it loads fast; your download keeps full detail.
HEIC to STL: what actually happens
HEIC is Apple's name for HEIF images compressed with HEVC, the default photo format on iPhone since iOS 11. It stores a photo at roughly half the size of a JPG of similar quality, but Windows, many web apps and nearly every image-to-STL tool cannot open it.
PrintPal converts HEIC to a high-quality JPEG inside your browser and then runs it through the same image-to-3D pipeline as any other photo. On the iPhone itself you can also tap the upload box in Safari and choose a photo from your library; iOS hands it over as a JPEG automatically.
Updated by the PrintPal teamInput: HEIC
High Efficiency Image Container (HEIF + HEVC) · .heic / .heif
- Type
- Raster, lossy (HEVC)
- Transparency
- Rarely used
- Typical source
- iPhone and iPad camera (default since iOS 11)
- Watch out for
- Windows and most web tools cannot open it
- Conversion: Turned into a high-quality JPEG in your browser before upload.
- Live Photos: The still frame is used.
- Portrait depth: Not used; the AI infers depth from the image itself.
Output: STL
Stereolithography (Standard Triangle Language)
- Stores
- Triangle geometry only
- Color
- No
- Units
- None; slicers assume millimetres
- Size (our 1M-triangle test)
- 49.9 MB binary, 303 MB ASCII
- Opens in
- Every slicer, CAD tool and Blender
- PrintPal plan
- Free and up
How to convert HEIC to STL
-
1
Pick the photo
On a computer, drop the .heic file in. On an iPhone, tap the box and choose from Photos.
-
2
Sign in or create a free account
The converted photo is carried through sign-up.
-
3
Generate
About 30 to 60 seconds at Draft quality.
-
4
Download the STL
Send it to your slicer, or AirDrop it to the computer that runs your printer.
Tips for a better STL
Live Photos and bursts
Only the still key frame is used. Pick the sharpest frame in Photos first if it matters.
Portrait mode is fine
Background blur actually helps isolate the subject. The depth map is not used; the AI infers depth from the image.
Skip filters
Strong filters and heavy edits change shading the AI reads as shape. Upload the unedited original.
Prefer JPG on your phone?
Settings, Camera, Formats, Most Compatible makes the iPhone save JPG instead of HEIC.
From a phone photo to a printed object
Casual photos, not studio shots. Each one was generated on PrintPal and printed on a desktop printer.
Photo
AI model
Print
Store-bought vase to printed planter
A casual photo of a ceramic face vase, the generated model, and the white PLA print holding up just as well.
In the slicer
Print
Diorama straight to the slicer
A detailed cabin diorama loaded into Bambu Studio without repairs, then printed at a few centimetres across.
Which kind of STL do you need?
Five different things are sold as “image to 3D”. Pick the one that matches what you want to hold in your hand.
| AI reconstruction | Heightmap relief | Extrusion | Photogrammetry | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full 3D object from one image | Yes | No, flat panel | No, flat profile | No, needs 30+ photos |
| Keeps exact dimensions | Proportions only | Yes | Yes, from vectors | Yes |
| Skill needed | None | None | A clean vector file | Careful shooting |
| Time | About a minute | Seconds | Seconds | Hours |
| Color output | Yes (Pro) | Light and shadow | One color per shape | Yes |
| On PrintPal | AI generator | Lithophane, filament painter | SVG extruder | Scanning tips |
One model, every format
We exported the same 998,810-triangle generation to each format and measured the files.
| Format | File size | Color | Units | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STL (binary) | 49.9 MB | No | None (slicers assume mm) | Any slicer |
| STL (ASCII) | 303 MB | No | None | Legacy CAD; avoid |
| OBJ + MTL + texture | 84.9 MB | Texture or vertex colors | None | Blender, sculpting |
| GLB (with textures) | 40.5 MB | Yes, PBR textures | Metres | Web, AR, games |
| 3MF (zipped) | 21.0 MB | Yes, per triangle | Millimetres | Bambu Studio, OrcaSlicer, PrusaSlicer |
| PLY (binary) | 27.3 MB | Vertex colors | None | Scans, point clouds |
Same 998,810-triangle knight exported with trimesh; the GLB is the download as it came from PrintPal. The 3MF holds geometry only; a painted multi-color 3MF adds a little for the color data.
After you download the STL
The checklist we use before printing a generated STL.
- Import it into Bambu Studio, OrcaSlicer, PrusaSlicer or Cura and set the size in millimetres. STL has no units, so PrintPal scales tiny models up to at least 80 mm on the longest side; resize to taste.
- Lay the flattest side on the bed, or use the slicer's auto-orient.
- Turn on tree supports for overhangs steeper than about 45 degrees, such as chins, ears and arms.
- Keep walls and small features at least 0.8 mm thick (two perimeters on a 0.4 mm nozzle) so detail survives.
- Printing in resin? Hollow it with about 2 mm walls and add drain holes.
- If the slicer flags errors, run the file through the free mesh repair tool.
Start free. Upgrade for color, GLB and selling.
Simple plans, no contracts. Cancel anytime from your account settings.
Free
For trying image to 3D
Free forever · no credit card
- 10 AI generations / month
- Image to 3D
- Draft quality
- STL & OBJ download
- Free browser tools: SVG extruder, lithophanes, converter
- Full color, GLB & multi-color 3MF
- Refined & Production quality
- Commercial rights
Pro
For makers & sellers
Billed monthly · cancel anytime
Secure checkout with Stripe
- 200 AI generations / month
- Full-color models
- GLB & PLY export
- Multi-color 3MF for AMS (2 to 8 colors)
- Refined & Production quality
- 20 Production models / month (40 in month one)
- Text to 3D and AI model edits
- Priority queue
- Commercial rights
Studio
For print farms & power users
Billed monthly · cancel anytime
Secure checkout with Stripe
- Everything in Pro, plus
- 500 AI generations / month
- 60 Production models / month (80 in month one)
- Built for steady custom-order volume
HEIC to STL FAQ
Do I need to convert HEIC to JPG first?
Where does the HEIC conversion happen?
Does PrintPal use the Portrait mode depth data?
Can I do the whole thing on my iPhone?
Is HEIC to STL free?
How long does a conversion take?
Can I sell prints of the models I make?
Still have questions? Contact our team
Ready to convert your HEIC to STL?
Drop in an image and download a print-ready model in about a minute. Start free, or go Pro for full color, GLB, multi-color 3MF and commercial rights.