LumaLayer

LumaLayer is a professional, free tool for creating 3D filament paintings, backlit lithophanes, and flat pop-art from images.

LumaLayer v1.1 (Coming Soon)

🚀 The "Shaping Update"

LumaLayer v1.1 is a major evolutionary leap for the project. This update transforms the software from a 3D relief tool into a professional Product Manufacturing Suite, allowing users to go from a digital image to a retail-ready physical product (like keychains, badges, and coasters) in minutes.

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🎨 The Digital Cookie Cutter (Shaping Engine)

Exclusive to LumaLayer Pro

The headline feature of v1.1 is the ability to physically "cut" your 3D prints into specific shapes. No more rectangular blocks—now your prints can take any form.

• Interactive Shape Library: Use the new dropdown menu to instantly clip your image into Circles, Ovals, Stars, Hearts, Squares, or Rounded Rectangles.
• Precision Composing: New sliders for Mask Scale, Horizontal Position, and Vertical Position allow you to frame your subject perfectly within the chosen shape.
• Keychain Loop Generator: A one-click physical mounting loop can be added to the top of any shape. This loop is mathematically integrated into the 3D mesh for maximum strength.
• Procedural Raised Borders: Add a solid physical rim around your shapes with adjustable Border Width. This gives your prints a clean, finished "merchandise" look.
• Custom Mask Import: Load any transparent .PNG file to use as a custom 3D stencil. If you can draw it, LumaLayer can print it.

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🔬 LumaMeter 2.0 Integration

We have moved the "intelligence" of the LumaMeter from the hardware firmware to the LumaLayer software, resulting in a massive increase in color accuracy.

• 5-Point Calibration Wizard: A guided setup process that teaches LumaLayer the specific spectral fingerprint of your device's LED. Calibrates for White, Black, Red, Green, and Blue.
• Smart Enrollment (Train This Color): Users can now "Enroll" specific filament brands (e.g., "Esun Bronze"). The software takes a snapshot of the sensor data and links it to a custom visual color and TD value.
• Profile Manager: A dedicated window to manage your trained filament signatures. Delete old entries or reset your base calibration with one click.
• Hybrid Sync: The LumaMeter now updates physical TD values live while allowing you to "lock" manual artistic colors if the sensor's raw data doesn't match your creative vision.

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👁️ High-Fidelity Simulation

The simulation window has been rebuilt to provide an honest "What You See Is What You Get" (WYSIWYG) experience.

• Realistic (Final) Mode: A new rendering engine using Exponential Beer-Lambert math. It accurately simulates how light passes through specific TD values and reveals 0.08mm layer transitions.
• Slicer-Sync Precision: The simulation math is now perfectly aligned with the STL exporter. No more "Missing Layers" or height discrepancies.
• Lighting & Contrast Sliders: New Brightness and Contrast controls allow you to tune the on-screen preview to match your monitor's gamma or your intended physical display environment.
• Subsurface Scattering: Realistic mode now includes a "Softness" pass that mimics the way light naturally diffuses through real plastic.

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🛠️ Performance & Stability

• Slicer-Compatible Meshes: Implemented vertex-snapping and "Despeckling" (Island removal) to eliminate "Floating Region" errors in Bambu Studio and OrcaSlicer.
• Float-Point Precision: Improved rounding logic ensures the physical STL height matches the LumaLayer Recipe exactly to the micron.
• UI Polish: Dynamic help labels now explain each simulation mode in real-time as you switch between them.

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📝 LumaLayer Project Tracker

🚨 IMMEDIATE FIXES (Target: v1.0.2 Patch)

Focus: Critical usability bugs and UI scaling.

• [x] High-DPI / 4K Scaling:
  • Issue: UI is tiny on 4K screens; Mouse clicks drift on laptops (125% scale).
  • Fix: Implemented SetProcessDpiAwareness(2) + Manual "View -> Zoom" Menu (100% - 200%).
• [x] Layer Sorting Logic:
  • Report: Zantium reported that moving layers Up/Down in the UI does not update the Simulation order.
  • Task: Check move_layer function to ensure it triggers a full stack rebuild.
• [x] TD Value Save Bug:
  • Report: TD values sometimes get mixed up or don't save correctly when adding multiple custom filaments.
  • Task: Audit the save_to_lib and load_from_lib functions.
• [x] Magic Lift UX:
  • Issue: Turning off the "Lift" toggle disables the effect. Users want to hide the Green Mask but keep the 3D Lift active.
  • Task: Separate "Show Mask" (Visual) from "Enable Lift" (Physics).

📝 LumaLayer Project Tracker (v1.1 Dev Update)

✅ COMPLETED (Target: v1.1 - The Product Update)

Focus: Turning Art into Physical Products & Hardware Precision.

• [x] The Digital Cookie Cutter (Shaping Engine):
  • Feature: STL Exporter now respects transparency and "clips" the mesh.
  • Wall Builder: Implemented a robust loop to generate vertical side-walls for cutouts.
  • interactive UI: Added sliders for Scale, Horizontal Position, and Vertical Position.
  • Shape Library: Built-in Circle, Oval, Square, Rounded Rect, Star, and Heart masks.
• [x] Keychain Loop Generator:
  • Feature: One-click checkbox to add a physical mounting loop to any shaped print. [x] Mask "Plastic" Preview: Ensured the keychain loop is clearly visible in the UI by using a grey "plastic" filler for the mask areas.
• [x] LumaMeter Calibration Wizard:
  • Issue: Solved the "Cool White LED" color bias using software.
  • Workflow: Built a 5-point Wizard (White, Black, Red, Green, Blue) to create a custom user profile.
  • Logic: Implemented KNN (K-Nearest Neighbors) math to identify colors based on the user's specific sensor fingerprint.
• [x] "Train This Color" Logic:
  • Feature: Users can "teach" the meter exotic filaments (Bronze, Gold, Silk) and save them to the permanent profile.
• [x] Hybrid LumaMeter Sync:
  • Fix: Prevented LumaMeter from overwriting manual artistic color choices while still allowing Live TD physics updates.
• [x] TD Slider Label Fix: Ensured the TD value is visible in the library manager.
• [x] Manual Profile Management: Add a button to "Reset Calibration" or delete specific trained colors without editing JSON.

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🚀 FEATURE ROADMAP (v1.2 & Beyond)

Focus: Ecosystem expansion and professional product finishes.

• [ ] Library Import:
  • Task: Write a parser for standard CSV filament lists (3D Filament Profile Database/Spreadsheets).
• [ ] AI Engine Upgrade:
  • Task: Transition from Torch (.t7) to ONNX (.onnx) for modern GPU support.
• [ ] Mac/Linux Port:
  • Task: Finalize Python cross-platform dependencies for a non-Windows release.
• [ ] Auto-Stack (From Guide):
  • Task: Automatically generate a 5-layer stack based on the "Guide" analysis.
• [ ] The "Scale to Content" Engine:
  • Task: Implement "Alpha-Cropping" logic so "Target Width" refers to the actual printed plastic, ignoring transparent empty space in the PNG file.
• [ ] The "Silent Edge" Vectorizer:
  • Task: Move from pixel-perfect masking to Vector-Simplified perimeters to eliminate jagged "staircase" edges and make the printer virtually silent.
• [ ] The LumaText Engine:
  • Task: Add a procedural text layer for keychains and badges (names, dates, or messages) using the "Raised Border" high-Z math.
• [ ] The "LumaPuzzle" Procedural Engine:
  • Task: Break images into random, interlocking puzzle pieces using Bezier-curve tabs with built-in "Slicer Gaps" (0.15mm - 0.25mm) for a perfect friction fit.

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🛠️ v1.0.2 Patch Notes (Jan 22, 2026)

This update addresses critical feedback from the launch and improves the experience for 4K and High-DPI users.

🔍 UI & Scaling

• 4K Support: Added a manual View -> Zoom menu. Users on high-resolution monitors can now scale the UI from 100% up to 200% for readability.
• Mouse Accuracy: Implemented high-precision coordinate mapping. Clicks and X-Ray hovers are now pixel-perfect across all Windows scaling levels (100%, 125%, 150%, etc.).

🥞 Filament Stack & Workflow

• Smart Sorting: Added a Sort ↕ button to the stack. Instantly reorder your UI list to match the physical printing order (Base to Top).
• Magic Lift UX: Separated mask visibility from the physics engine. You can now hide the "Green Mask" to see your art clearly while keeping the 3D lift effect active.
• New Project Button: Added a one-click "New Project / Clear" button to reset the stack and settings instantly.

💾 Library & Stability

• Auto-Custom Detection: The software now automatically detects when a preset is modified and switches the label to "Custom" to prevent accidental overwrites.
• Smart Save Dialog: The Save Filament window now pre-fills with the existing name for faster editing.
• Installer Polish: Added a custom Uninstaller Icon and refined the installation folder to remove redundant files.