HEIGHT MAP CONVERSION TOOL
Convert grayscale height information into a tangent-space normal map with predictable controls for contrast, blur, strength, and Y direction.
Free local converter
No account is required. Upload a source, adjust the controls, and export the map when the preview looks right.
Treat light pixels as height, calculate local surface directions, and preview the result before exporting a lossless PNG.
Envie um height map em tons de cinza ou escolha um exemplo para começar.
How to use this converter
Keep the important decisions visible: source quality, surface strength, renderer direction, and the final lit result.
Drop in the height map or use a sample. The converter reads luminance values as relative surface height.
Adjust Strength and Contrast so the normal map describes the intended relief without making the surface look swollen.
Use a small Blur value when the source contains compression artifacts, isolated pixels, or high-frequency noise.
Select Blender, Unity, or Unreal, then download the Normal PNG once the 3D preview looks correct.
A grayscale height map gives the converter a clearer signal than a color photo because brightness is intended to represent surface elevation.
Choose the tangent-space direction for your engine, inspect the lit result, and export a PNG that can be connected to your material graph.
A generated normal map changes lighting response; it does not recover true geometry, remove baked shadows, or correct a perspective-heavy photograph. Validate the exported map in the target material and at the scale where it will be rendered.
FAQ
Use these answers to choose a better source, engine direction, and export workflow for your material.
The converter compares neighboring luminance values to estimate the slope of the surface in two directions. Those slopes are encoded as RGB normal directions for real-time lighting.
A grayscale image is the clearest input because each pixel directly represents relative height. Color images can still be converted, but their luminance may include color or lighting information that is not physical depth.
Lower Strength or Contrast first. If the source contains sharp pixel noise, add a small amount of Blur and inspect the 3D preview again.
Height remains grayscale elevation data. Normal output stores the local surface direction in RGB, which is usually the direct input expected by a real-time material shader.
Use the convention expected by the target renderer. Blender typically uses OpenGL orientation, while many Unity and Unreal setups use DirectX-style green-channel orientation.
No. A normal map changes lighting response without changing the silhouette or mesh geometry. Use true displacement or a suitable geometry workflow when the surface outline must change.
Related tools
Choose the input type that matches the data you already have, then keep the same local preview and export workflow.