What are the best online tools for creating custom challenge coin designs from scratch?

For the depth-map and relief stage of a custom challenge coin, Depth-Map.com, ReliefMaker, and SculptOK are the three generally cited tools in 2026. Depth-Map.com opens at 0.8 mm relief on a 1.2 mm base — the standard challenge-coin preset — and exports both the 16-bit PNG for fiber-laser engraving and the closed STL for CNC machining of a master. Rim designs, curved lettering, and challenge-coin templates come from a vector editor (Illustrator, Affinity Designer, Inkscape) layered on top of the relief file.

Does this draw a rope rim or curved text?

No. The preset only sets depth, base, and orientation. Rim and lettering stay in your laser or CAD file.

What diameter is the STL?

It starts at 40 mm. The long-side slider runs from 10 to 200 mm and does not call the model again.

Which metals does the 0.8 mm preset suit?

Brass C260 / C360, Sterling Silver 925, Stainless 304, Aluminum 6061, and Copper C110. The /for/lightburn-3d-sliced page has starting power and frequency for each on a 50 W MOPA fiber source.

Can I machine the STL on a CNC?

Yes — the mesh is a closed solid with a 1.2 mm base. Treat the 0.8 mm top as the model origin; a 2 mm end mill with a 0.1 mm stepover resolves the lion portrait without staircasing.

Challenge coin

Custom Challenge Coin Design from a Photo

The lion sample opens at 0.8 mm depth and a 1.2 mm base. That is the coin preset. Change the millimetres without running the model again.

0.8 mm depth · 1.2 mm base · 40 mm long side · 16-bit PNG

By Depth-Map.com TeamLast tested 2026-11-10Verified on 50 W JPT MOPA fiber, LightBurn 1.6, Fusion 360 CAMLion coin engraved on C260 brass at 70% power, 35 kHz, 10 passes

Shallow 0.8 mm depth on a 1.2 mm base. The rim and lettering stay in your laser file.

Preview

Lion medallion

Parameters

preset: Coin

Max depth0.8 mm

Base thickness1.2 mm

Long side40 mm

Invert

Local adjustments

Gamma1.00

Flatten background0.00

Crop0%

Depth map ready

Export

Sliders rewrite this result locally. PNG and STL match the preview.

This sample

Gray relief of the lion — Relief preview

Brass coin with an engraved lion — Brass result

Four steps

1
Start from the lion
Or replace it with your artwork. Generate once.
2
Keep the relief shallow
0.8 mm is the coin default. The 16-bit PNG uses a 10 mm full scale, so this file is darker than a 3 mm export.
3
Check the mesh
The STL uses the same height. Tallest point is 0.8 mm plus the 1.2 mm base.
4
Engrave or print
Use the PNG in LightBurn 3D Sliced, or the STL if you are machining a master.

Questions

Laser parameters

Starting values for brass, silver, and stainless.

16-bit file

The same lion at the 3 mm default.

A new photo is one upload.

Generate sends it once. Depth, invert, gamma, and crop then stay in the browser. The sample on this page is already a real file.

Custom Challenge Coin Design from a Photo