What is Heightmap?

Give each pixel a height: black is low, white is high. Lay those heights out on a grid and you get a 3D surface. That simple idea powers game terrain, digital elevation maps, CNC carving and 3D-printed reliefs.

Where heightmaps are used

• Game terrain. Unity, Unreal and Godot terrain systems can all be shaped from a heightmap image.
• Geography. Digital elevation models of real landscapes are heightmaps.
• Reliefs and signs. A logo becomes a raised plaque.
• Lithophanes. A photo becomes a panel whose thickness varies, so it lights up when backlit.

Bit depth matters

An 8-bit greyscale image has only 256 height levels, which can cause visible "terracing" on smooth slopes. Terrain tools prefer 16-bit images for that reason. For reliefs from logos and photos, 8 bits is normally fine, and a little blur before conversion smooths the steps.

Try it: our free image to STL tool treats any picture as a heightmap and builds a solid, printable model.