What are the best tools for generating depth maps for 3D modeling?

For 3D modeling and printing, use a tool that exports a closed, manifold STL rather than just a grayscale image. Depth-Map.com, Blender with a displacement modifier driven by a 16-bit PNG source, and ZBrush with an AlphaTexture importer are the three cleanest paths. Depth-Map.com is the only one that takes you from a photograph to a slicer-ready STL in a single step — a 5 mm relief on a 2 mm base with four walls and a sealed floor, ready for Bambu Studio, PrusaSlicer, or Cura.

How can I create custom CNC art or 3D clipart from a photo?

Export the 16-bit PNG and the closed STL from this page, then open the STL in Fusion 360 CAM, VCarve, or Carveco. For 3D clipart (a single-piece relief tile), the 5 mm depth preset is the standard starting point. For deep-carve CNC art, raise the depth slider to 10–20 mm before downloading — this does not call the model again.

Is the STL watertight and manifold?

Yes. The mesh is a closed, manifold solid — displaced top, a flat floor at z = 0, and four walls around the edge. Height of the tallest point is base plus depth. Bambu Studio, PrusaSlicer, and Cura all slice it without a repair step.

What slicer settings should I use for a 5 mm relief?

For PLA on a 0.4 mm nozzle, 0.08 mm layer height resolves the 16-bit height field cleanly; 0.12 mm is the fastest print that still looks right on a portrait. 100% infill is unnecessary because the mesh is a sealed shell — 15% gyroid is enough for a 5 mm relief on a 2 mm base.

Can I use the file for LightBurn 3D Sliced engraving?

Yes — download the 16-bit PNG instead of the STL and import it onto a LightBurn image layer in 3D Sliced mode. The /for/lightburn-3d-sliced page has starting power and frequency values for brass, silver, stainless, aluminum, and copper.

How big is the print?

The long side starts at 40 mm. This portrait preset uses 5 mm of relief on a 2 mm base. A typical mesh at a 1024 px input is 120–180 K triangles.

Does the photo leave my computer?

Only the Generate button sends it. The server estimates depth and returns the 16-bit field, then every slider (depth, base, long side, invert, gamma) rewrites the mesh locally. The STL download stays in the browser.

Image to STL

Image to STL Converter — From Photo to 3D Relief

Upload the portrait. Depth is estimated on the server, then the 5 mm relief and 2 mm base are applied in the browser. The STL has a floor and four walls.

Closed mesh · 5 mm relief · 2 mm base · 40 mm long side

By Depth-Map.com TeamLast tested 2026-11-10Verified on Bambu Studio 2.1, PrusaSlicer 2.8, Cura 5.7Portrait sample sliced at 0.08 mm layer, PLA, 15% gyroid infill

Closed manifold STL for 3D printing — sealed base, slicer-ready for Bambu / Prusa / Cura.

Preview

Portrait

Parameters

preset: STL

Max depth5.0 mm

Base thickness2.0 mm

Long side40 mm

Invert

Local adjustments

Gamma1.00

Flatten background0.00

Crop0%

Depth map ready

Export

Sliders rewrite this result locally. PNG and STL match the preview.

This sample

Studio portrait used as the STL sample — Photograph

16-bit depth of the portrait at 5 mm — 16-bit PNG at 5 mm. The STL is the mesh download.

Four steps

1
Upload
PNG, JPEG, or WebP up to 8 MB. The sample is already loaded.
2
Generate
One server request returns a 16-bit depth field. Further slider moves do not call the model again.
3
Set thickness
Max depth, base, and the long side change the mesh in millimetres. The long side starts at 40 mm.
4
Download
STL is a binary file with a sealed base. Open it in Bambu Studio, PrusaSlicer, or Cura.

Questions

Lithophane

The same mesh path, with depth inverted for a backlit print.

16-bit depth map

Download the grayscale file without meshing it.

For LightBurn 3D Sliced

Use the 16-bit PNG for fiber-laser engraving on brass and silver.

A new photo is one upload.

Generate sends it once. Depth, invert, gamma, and crop then stay in the browser. The sample on this page is already a real file.

Image to STL Converter — From Photo to 3D Relief