Map to STL: the terrain of any place, ready for your slicer.
Pick an area on the map and Printed Canyon turns its elevation into a printable mesh. Download STL or 3MF for printing, with a GLB for viewing.
Pay what you want. Digital files. No account.
Explore an example terrain model in the interactive preview.
From map to STL in four steps
- Step 1
Choose the area
Search for a place, type in latitude and longitude, pick a US state, or open a famous place. Upload a GPX file instead to put a route on the terrain.
- Step 2
Set size and detail
In the model studio, choose a base shape and model size, then adjust elevation, smoothing and resolution while the 3D preview updates.
- Step 3
Generate the files
Select Review & export, tick STL, 3MF or both, and generate. Name your price at checkout; $0 is accepted.
- Step 4
Slice and print
Import the file into your slicer in millimeters, confirm it fits the bed, and print it yourself or through a printing service.
What the STL file contains
The file is a terrain mesh. The ground surface of your area is scaled to your model size and sits on a base in the shape you choose: square, rectangle, circle, oval or triangle. A state model is cut to the state outline.
It is a terrain model, not a street map. Buildings, roads, labels and other map features are not included, so a city appears as the landform beneath it.
With a GPX route, the track can be raised above the surface, recessed into it, or exported as a separate part. See GPX to STL for route models.
STL, 3MF or GLB: which file to use
Tick STL, 3MF or both in Review & export. A GLB comes with every model.
- STL
- The most widely supported mesh format for slicers and a good choice for single-color prints. STL files carry no units, so import them in millimeters. With a separate route part, the terrain and route arrive as two STL files.
- 3MF
- One file that can hold several objects. When the route is a separate part, the terrain and route stay separate inside it, ready for a second filament.
- GLB
- Included with every model for viewing in a browser, a 3D viewer or AR. Slice the STL or 3MF, not the GLB.
How size and resolution affect the mesh
Model size is the longest side of the model in millimeters. Changing it scales the whole model, relief and base included, but does not add detail.
Resolution, under Advanced terrain settings, controls how many elevation samples span the terrain. Raising it adds triangles and finer relief, makes the file larger and takes longer to generate. Very high settings are reduced to keep the mesh within a size limit.
The samples are spread across the whole area, so a single mountain gets more detail per kilometer than a state. The elevation source matters too: USGS 3DEP in the United States where available, and Copernicus GLO-30 elsewhere.
Open it in your slicer
Import the STL or 3MF and compare its dimensions with the ones the studio showed. Make sure the model lies flat and fits the bed, then check that the layer preview shows the relief you expect. If it is too large, lower Model size and generate again.
Map to STL questions
Is the map to STL converter free?
You can download for $0. Printed Canyon is pay what you want, so paying is optional, and you do not need an account.
Does the model include buildings or streets?
No. Printed Canyon models terrain from elevation data. Buildings, streets and map labels are not part of the mesh. You can add your own GPX route.
Which places can I convert?
Anywhere you can find with place search or coordinates, plus any US state as a whole. Detail depends on the elevation data for the area and on how large the area is.
What resolution should I use?
Start with the default and raise Resolution only if the preview looks too coarse for your model size. Higher values take longer to generate and produce larger files.
Do you print or ship the model?
No. You download digital files and print them yourself or through a 3D-printing service. Nothing is shipped.
Want the printed piece rather than the file? See 3D printed topographic maps. Have a recorded route? Use GPX to STL. Or browse states and famous places.