Abstract: Given an image and a 3D shape, the current methods for generating digital bas-reliefs barely considered the optimal position for placing the image along the shape. This paper presents an optimization algorithm for the bas-relief placement based on visual saliency. First, we computed the best viewport of the 3D shape to obtain the limited range for placing the image. Then, we defined the criteria considering the modulated area and deformation of the mesh. Finally, we iteratively optimized the position parameters on the shape to achieve the bas-relief result. Experimental results show that the bas-reliefs generated by our algorithm are of both visual saliency and visual aesthetics. This algorithm is fully automatic and suitable for customizing 3D shapes for 3D printing.