Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about turning a map into a 3D printable model with Map2Model.
How do I 3D print a map of my city?
Open Map2Model in your browser, search for your city or pan the map to it, draw an area, hit Generate to build a 3D printable city model from OpenStreetMap buildings and terrain, then export a multicolor 3MF (or STL) and open it in your slicer to print.
Is Map2Model free?
Yes, Map2Model is completely free with no signup, no account and no watermark. You can turn any map into a 3D printable model and download the file at no cost.
What file format does it export?
Map2Model exports a multicolor 3MF that carries a separate color per part (terrain, buildings, water, roads, greenery and frame) and also a single merged binary STL when you just need one solid body.
Can I 3D print terrain or mountains, not just cities?
Absolutely: Map2Model drapes real elevation data over the selected area, so you can make a 3D printable terrain model of a mountain range or valley with the same workflow you use for a city.
Where does the map data come from?
Buildings, roads, water and greenery come from OpenStreetMap, the elevation that shapes the topographic map 3D print comes from Mapterhorn, and the optional satellite basemap is Esri World Imagery.
Does it work in the browser without installing software?
Yes, Map2Model runs in the browser with nothing to install. The app requests map and elevation data for the selected area, then assembles and exports the generated model on your device.
Will the model print in color on my printer?
If you export the multicolor 3MF and open it in a slicer like Bambu Studio, OrcaSlicer, PrusaSlicer or Cura, each part keeps its own color so a multi-material printer (AMS or MMU) prints the model in full color, while a single-extruder printer simply prints it in one color.
How big an area can I select?
City selections with buildings work best up to roughly 25 km², while pure terrain scales far beyond that. For very large mountain regions the relief simply gets coarser, and you can use Tiles & Puzzle to split the model into printable pieces.
How long does a 3D printed map take to print?
A palm-sized city tile typically prints in a few hours, while a bed-filling multicolor model can run overnight. Print time depends on your printer, layer height and how much building detail the selected area contains.
Which 3D printers work with Map2Model exports?
Any FDM printer that accepts STL or 3MF works: Bambu Lab (with AMS for color), Prusa (MMU), Creality, Anycubic, Voron and others. The files are standard formats, not tied to a specific machine.
Can I add a GPX route, like a hike or a marathon, to the model?
Yes. Upload a GPX file in the Addons tab and Map2Model embosses the route onto the terrain as its own colored part, which makes great mementos of hikes, bike tours and race courses.
Can I sell prints I make with Map2Model?
Commercial use is not permitted by default. Personal prints and gifts are always fine, and if you want to sell models or take commissions, see the Commercial Use page to arrange a license.
Is this the old map2model.com?
No. map2model.com went offline, and Map2Model at map2model.de is an independent free tool that continues the same select-an-area, generate, print workflow and adds multicolor 3MF export, GPX routes and puzzle tiles.
Ready to try it?
Pick a place, draw an area, and download a slicer-ready model. Free, no signup, nothing to install.
Open Map2ModelWant a walkthrough first? Follow the city map guide, the terrain map guide or the map to STL guide.