Frequently asked questions
What is TerraPrinter?
TerraPrinter is a free web app that turns any area on Earth into a 3D printable model. Pick a place on the map, choose your settings and download an STL, 3MF, GLB or OBJ file, all in your browser.
Is it really free?
Yes. There are no fees, watermarks or paywalled exports. An optional free account lets you save your builds, edit them later and share them in the gallery.
Do I need to install anything?
No. Everything runs in a modern browser on desktop or mobile. The 3D model is generated on your device.
Which file format should I choose?
STL works with every slicer. 3MF keeps terrain, water, roads, buildings and trails as separate parts so multi-color printers can print them in different colors. GLB is best for viewing in 3D and AR, and OBJ for other 3D software.
Can I print in multiple colors?
Yes. Export 3MF and each layer (terrain, water, roads, buildings, trails) arrives as its own part. Surface-color mode can also split the terrain itself into land-cover regions such as forest, rock and snow.
How big can I print?
Any size. Set the model size in millimetres; large areas can be split into a grid of tiles or jigsaw puzzle pieces that each fit your print bed.
Does it include buildings?
Yes. Buildings come from OpenStreetMap using real heights where they're mapped, and stand on the real terrain. Roads, railways, trails and water can be added too.
Where does the data come from?
Elevation comes from the Copernicus GLO-30 digital elevation model (about 30 m resolution), with Mapzen Terrain Tiles on AWS as a fallback and for seafloor depth in bathymetry mode. Buildings, roads, water and trails come from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Can I sell prints made with TerraPrinter?
The models you generate are yours to print. If you share or sell them, credit the data: "Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors" (ODbL) and the elevation sources.
I used Map2Model – does TerraPrinter work the same way?
Map2Model has shut down. TerraPrinter does the same job, turning a real map area into a 3D printable model, for free in your browser. See the Map2Model alternative page for a quick start.