theatrus/toposaic

TopoSaic is a desktop application that turns real-world elevation data into 3D printable terrain puzzles. You pick a place on a map, and the software builds a jigsaw puzzle model of that landscape. Each piece has round tabs and sockets like a standard jigsaw, and the final model can be sent to a 3D printer. The name is a blend of "topographic" and "mosaic." The app runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, with prebuilt installers available for each. A web interface lets you choose a location, adjust mesh detail, and set surface colors. The program fetches elevation data from public sources like Mapzen Terrarium tiles, then constructs watertight 3D meshes from those samples. It also pulls in land cover, water, roads, and building data from OpenStreetMap and ESA WorldCover, all of which get cached locally so you do not re-download them on every change. You can save named model setups and export them as JSON files to move between computers. The interface shows a live, rotatable 3D preview beside the map, with adjustable dividers between sections. Pieces can range from a 2 by 2 grid up to 16 by 16, with the default making 100 pieces. There is also a solid terrain mode that exports one continuous model with no puzzle seams. A super-tile mode lets you create terrain sets too large for a single printer bed. The model is split across a grid of up to 12 by 12 tiles, each printed separately but sharing the same elevation scale so they line up when assembled. The software locks that scale after your first move across tiles and warns you if a later tile needs adjustment. An optional tray can be exported alongside the puzzle, with contour line inlays and raised place name text. The software outputs files in formats like STL and 3MF, with color information that slicers such as Bambu Studio and OrcaSlicer can read. The full README is longer than what was shown.