Grayscale image for HeightMap formula

[erabyterum]

Hello guys,

I'm just stuck with making grayscale "gradual"-like images from photo to use it with Height map

I attached some examples ... how to do from 1.jpg ---> grayscale 2.png?

What editor is best for this kind of work? Photoshop? Maybe Illustrator?

Should i play with Levels to get this gradual grayscale picture?

Any help appreciated. Thanks.

[Sockratease]

Hello and welcome to the forums   

Those are not photographs.

They are 3D Renders made in a 3D Art program.  That is the only way to get a working Height Map.  The first image is a "straight" render of the 3D Model, while the second is a "height map" - also called Depth Map, Z Buffer, and many other things depending on the 3D application you are using.

There is no way to convert a photograph to a height map.

Sorry if that's not the answer you seek, but it's just the way these things work.

[erabyterum]

Ooohh, thank you very much - you gave me a direction called it "Depth map"!

And look what i found on YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/vGigAEFKPz4&rel=1&fs=1&hd=1" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/v/vGigAEFKPz4&rel=1&fs=1&hd=1</a>

A tutorial in which nice female voice explains how to do Depth Map from ordinary 2D photo image ... in Topaz Lens Effects editor. It's amazing!

p.s.: and also i found some "Depth Map Automatic Generator" software that converts photo to depth map! woohhoooo http://3dstereophoto.blogspot.ru/2013/04/depth-map-automatic-generator-dmag.html

[Sockratease]

Ooohh, thank you very much - you gave me a direction called it "Depth map"!

And look what i found on YouTube ...

A tutorial in which nice female voice explains how to do Depth Map from ordinary 2D photo image ... in Topaz Lens Effects editor. It's amazing!

p.s.: and also i found some "Depth Map Automatic Generator" software that converts photo to depth map! woohhoooo http://3dstereophoto.blogspot.ru/2013/04/depth-map-automatic-generator-dmag.html

Great!

I love being wrong about that sort of thing  

I'd be curious how good those converters actually work though.  A "Z Buffer" from a 3D Program can contain data about "Back Faces" and other things that must be guessed at if working from a photograph.

Feel free to post your results when you get something you like!  I'd like to see how well such things work.