How 3D Crystal Photos Are Made

People ask us this all the time, so here's the full answer — exactly what happens between you uploading a photo and a finished 3D crystal arriving at your door. Everything below happens at our studio in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. Nothing is sent abroad.

Step 1: Your photo becomes a 3D model

A normal photo is flat. Before we can engrave it, our software and our team convert it into a three-dimensional map — we separate the people or pets from the background, then build in the depth so a face is actually face-shaped rather than a flat cut-out. This is the part that separates a good 3D crystal from a cheap one, and it's where we spend most of the time on your order.

Step 2: You approve the preview

Before anything gets engraved, we'll email you a free digital proof — usually within the hour. You see exactly how your photo sits in the crystal shape you've chosen. If you want the position changed or text added, we adjust it. We don't switch the laser on until you say yes.

Step 3: The laser does its work

The crystal itself is K9 optical glass — the same grade used in camera lenses. A sub-surface laser focuses to a point inside the solid glass and creates a tiny fracture at that exact spot, smaller than a grain of sand. Then it does it again, up to 15 million times, building your photo point by point in three dimensions. Nothing touches the outside of the crystal — the surface stays perfectly smooth.

Step 4: Checked, packed, dispatched

Every crystal is inspected by us before it leaves — we've made over 15,000 of them, and each one still gets looked at properly. Standard delivery is free to mainland UK in 3–5 working days, and 24-hour dispatch is available when you need it fast.

Why it never fades

Because the image is millions of points sealed inside solid glass, there's nothing to peel, rub off or react with sunlight. It isn't ink and it isn't a print — it's a permanent change to the glass itself. The crystals we made four years ago look the same today as the day they left the studio.

What photos work best?

Any clear phone photo. Faces and pets come out best when they're reasonably sharp and well lit, but we work with old prints, faded photos and even photos of photos — send it over and we'll tell you honestly whether it will engrave well. Background removal is included as standard.

See it for yourself

Browse all 3D photo crystals, or go straight to the popular shapes: hearts, rectangles, cubes and keyrings. Prices start at £39.99 and include the 3D conversion, free text and free UK delivery.