Height Map Generator
Turn source luminance into a controlled grayscale height map, separate broad relief from noise, and export it without sending the image off the device.
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.
Source image to Height map preview
Upload and preview a grayscale height or displacement map without signing in, tune relief and noise, then sign in to export a 256px or 512px PNG.
Privacy: image decoding, pixel processing, preview, and PNG download run locally in the browser.
How does an image become a height map?
The PLAYTEX AI Height Map Generator converts source luminance into one grayscale elevation value per pixel, then applies strength, midpoint, blur, and output-range controls. Brighter values represent higher relative elevation by default. The result is an inferred surface signal rather than measured depth; displacement scale, mesh density, and silhouette change remain renderer-side decisions.
- Output
- Linear grayscale height
- White by default
- Higher relative elevation
- Free export
- 256px and 512px PNG
- High resolution
- Mapper+ required
How to use the Height Map Generator
Upload a useful source
Start with an evenly lit material image or authored grayscale mask. Remove glare and cast shadows that do not describe surface elevation.
Set broad relief
Use strength and midpoint to place the working elevation range without clipping most of the material to black or white.
Reduce false depth
Add blur when compression, grain, or photographed lighting is becoming unwanted displacement. Use the parallax-safe range when the destination needs a restrained signal.
Export and test on geometry
Download the selected PNG size, import it as linear data, then set displacement or parallax scale in the destination renderer.
Height maps, normal maps, and parallax solve different depth jobs
Choose the least expensive depth representation that produces the required result on the final asset.
| Technique | Best fit | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Height / displacement | Vertex movement and possible silhouette change. | Requires enough mesh density and a controlled scale. |
| Parallax | Apparent depth on a mostly flat surface. | Can break at steep viewing angles. |
| Normal map | Fine lighting detail at low runtime cost. | Does not move the surface silhouette. |
| Combined height + normal | Broad relief plus fine shading detail. | Both maps must describe the same depth direction. |
Height Map Generator FAQ
Is a height map the same as a displacement map?
The image can contain the same grayscale data. Height describes the stored relative elevation; displacement describes a renderer using that data to move geometry.
Can a photo recover real surface depth?
No. A single photo mixes color, lighting, glare, and shadows. The generated height map is an estimate that needs material review.
Should a height map use sRGB?
No. A height map stores scalar material data and should normally be imported as linear or non-color data.
Why does displacement appear flat?
The mesh may have too few vertices, the shader may not support displacement, or the displacement scale may be too low. The PNG alone does not move geometry.
Is the Height Map Generator free?
Yes. As of August 26, 2026, the Height Map Generator is free after sign-in. Free accounts can process images in the browser and export 256px or 512px PNG files.
Which Height 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.