Bump Map Generator
Turn a texture or photo into a controlled grayscale relief signal, inspect the direction, and export a lossless bump-map PNG.
Upload and preview without signing in. Sign in to download 256px and 512px PNGs. Mapper+ unlocks 1K, 2K, original-resolution export, and all six non-albedo PBR maps in one workspace.
Texture or height source to Grayscale bump preview
Upload and preview a grayscale bump map without signing in, control relief, blur, midpoint, levels, and direction, then sign in to export a 256px or 512px PNG.
Privacy: image decoding, pixel processing, preview, and PNG download run locally in the browser.
What does a bump map generator create?
A bump map generator converts source luminance into one scalar relief value per pixel. In the default convention, white is higher and black is lower; invert switches that direction. Relief, blur, midpoint, and output levels control the usable signal, but a photograph is still only an estimate because brightness also contains color, shadow, and glare rather than measured depth.
- White
- Higher relief by default
- Black
- Lower relief by default
- Texture type
- Linear grayscale data
- Geometry
- Not changed by the file alone
How to use the Bump Map Generator
Choose a depth-relevant source
A painted height mask is strongest evidence. If you start with a photo, remove broad lighting and color variation that should not become surface relief.
Set the relief range
Adjust strength and midpoint first, then clamp the minimum and maximum only enough to remove unusable extremes.
Control noise and direction
Blur JPEG blocks, pores, or camera grain that become false bumps. Invert when the destination renders raised details as recesses.
Import as data and tune the shader
Export PNG, disable sRGB or mark it non-color, then set bump or parallax strength at the material scale used in the final scene.
Bump, height, normal, and displacement are not interchangeable
They can describe related relief, but the renderer consumes each signal differently.
| Map or method | What it stores | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Bump map | One grayscale relief signal sampled by a bump node. | White/black direction and shader distance. |
| Height map | Relative elevation for parallax, tessellation, or conversion. | Neutral point, usable range, and scale. |
| Normal map | An RGB tangent-space surface direction. | OpenGL versus DirectX green orientation. |
| Displacement | A height signal used to move real or subdivided geometry. | Mesh density, bounds, and displacement units. |
Bump Map Generator FAQ
Is a bump map the same as a normal map?
No. A bump map stores one grayscale value per pixel. A tangent-space normal map stores a three-component direction in RGB.
Why does my bump map look too harsh?
The range or shader strength is probably too wide, or source noise is being interpreted as relief. Reduce relief, move the midpoint, add a small blur, and test under grazing light.
Should a bump map use sRGB?
Usually no. It stores scalar material data, so import it as non-color or linear data unless a specific renderer explicitly documents another convention.
Can a photo produce an accurate bump map?
It can produce a useful estimate, but it cannot reliably separate real height from pigment, lighting, cast shadows, and reflections.
Is the Bump Map Generator free?
Yes. As of August 26, 2026, the Bump Map Generator is free after sign-in. Free accounts can process images in the browser and export 256px or 512px PNG files.
Which Bump Map Generator export sizes require Mapper?
Exports above 512px require Mapper or a higher plan. Mapper+ unlocks 1K, 2K, and original-resolution export in the standalone tool, plus the full PBR Map Generator for creating normal, height, roughness, metallic, ambient occlusion, and emission maps together.