Height Maps for Reliefs and Lithophanes

Height maps drive more than displacement in games. NormalMapAI has a 3D print height map page aimed at relief and lithophane work.

If you want to try it while reading, start with build a height map for 3D printing. The notes below cover what the tool does, how to use it, and where its limits are.

Getting smooth prints

Export 16-bit PNG height maps for 3D printing and CNC to avoid visible steps. Preview the relief in 3D first, then take the file into your slicer or CAM software.

Key features

• Seamless texture tools with a 2×2 to 4×4 tiling inspector
• Export presets for Blender, Unreal Engine 5, Unity URP/HDRP, Godot 4 and 3ds Max / V-Ray / Corona
• 16-bit PNG height and displacement maps for 3D printing and CNC
• Image or heightmap to tangent-space normal map in OpenGL (Y+) or DirectX (Y-) orientation
• Synchronized height, roughness, ambient occlusion, metallic, specular and curvature maps
• Live 3D preview on a sphere, cube, plane, cylinder, torus or your own OBJ mesh

How to use it

1. Open the generator and drop in a photo, a heightmap or a texture.
2. Choose OpenGL or DirectX orientation for the target engine.
3. Adjust strength and detail while watching the live 3D preview.
4. Generate the companion maps you need, such as AO, roughness or displacement.
5. Export with the preset for your engine, or batch-export a ZIP from the full studio at /app.

Who it is for

• Indie game developers building PBR materials from photos
• Blender and Unreal artists who need quick ORM-packed maps
• Makers creating lithophane or relief height maps
• Students learning what each PBR map does

FAQ

Are my images uploaded?

Not for the local tools; processing happens in your browser.

OpenGL or DirectX?

Both are supported, and you can flip the green (Y) channel.

Which engines have presets?

Blender, Unreal Engine 5, Unity URP/HDRP, Godot 4 and 3ds Max / V-Ray / Corona.

Are the local tools free?

Yes. The local browser generators are free to use with no login and no watermark. Optional Cloud AI generation is separate: it needs Google Sign-In, includes one free trial and then uses plans or credits.

Honest limits

A normal map derived from a single photo is an estimate of surface detail, not a 3D scan. Check results in the 3D preview and in your engine. The optional Cloud AI features are a separate, paid service after the trial; everything described above as local runs free in the browser.