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Depth map maker for 3D laser engraving
Shape any image into a clean grayscale height map: set the black and white points, the gamma and the smoothing, invert if your machine wants dark for deep.
Drop a photo here
A depth map from a 3D model or an AI depth tool works best; an evenly lit photo works too. JPEG, PNG, WebP or GIF up to 20 MB. It never leaves your browser.
Brightness becomes height: this tool shapes the tones, it does not guess depth.
How it works
Add an image
A depth map from a 3D model or an AI depth tool works best; an evenly lit photo also works.
Set the range
Pull the black and white points in until the deepest and highest parts just touch pure black and white.
Smooth and balance
A little smoothing removes noise the laser would carve as pits; gamma shifts detail towards the high or the deep end.
Invert if needed, download
Most laser relief modes read dark as deep; CNC software often reads light as high. Download the PNG.
What each control does to the relief
| Control | What it does | How to set it |
|---|---|---|
| Black point | Everything darker becomes pure black: the deepest level. | Raise it until the deepest part of the subject just turns black. |
| White point | Everything lighter becomes pure white: the untouched surface. | Lower it until the highest part just turns white. |
| Gamma | Bends the tones between the two points. | Above 1 for more detail in the high areas, below 1 for the deep ones. |
| Smoothing | A blur of 0–12 px. | 1–3 px removes noise; more turns a portrait into soft hills. |
| Invert | Swaps high and deep. | On when your software reads light as deep, or for a mould. |
A photo straight from a camera has noise and a squeezed tonal range, and a relief carves both. Setting the two points so the image uses the whole range, a little gamma and a touch of smoothing is what turns it into a carve that does not chatter.
Questions makers ask
Does this tool create depth from a normal photo with AI?
No. It does not guess distance. It shapes the tones of the image you give it, which is exactly what a relief engraving reads. For true depth, start from a depth map rendered from a 3D model or made by an AI depth estimator, then use this tool to set its range, smooth it and invert it.
Should white be high or deep?
It depends on the software. Most laser relief modes burn dark areas deepest, so white stays high. Many CNC carving tools read it the other way. The Invert switch flips the map; check one small test before a long job.
Why does my 3D engraving look noisy or pitted?
Camera noise and JPEG blocks become real pits when every grey step is a depth. Add 1–3 px of smoothing and make sure the black and white points are set so the image uses the whole range.
What does gamma do to a relief?
Gamma bends the tones between black and white. Above 1 it pushes detail into the high areas and flattens the deep ones; below 1 it does the opposite. Use it when a face looks flat or the background swallows the subject.
Which software engraves a depth map?
Any laser software with a 3D or relief image mode; LightBurn calls it 3D Sliced. The image is engraved in several passes, each removing the parts darker than a threshold.
Is my image uploaded?
No. Everything happens in your browser; the image never leaves your computer.
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