Online Tool Store
Height Map Generator
Upload an image and convert its brightness into a grayscale height map for terrain generation. Runs entirely in your browser.
🔒 This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your files are never uploaded to a server.
Height map (grayscale)
Example shown — upload your own image to convert its brightness into a height map.
How it works
- Upload an image.
- Each pixel's brightness is converted to a grayscale height value.
- Download the result as a height map image.
Generation calculates each pixel's luminance and maps it to a grayscale value, producing a terrain-ready height map — the same brightness-to-elevation encoding game engines like Unity and Unreal read for terrain generation.
FAQ
Is my image uploaded anywhere?
No. Generation happens entirely in your browser using the canvas API — your image is never sent to a server.
What is a height map used for?
Game engines and 3D software use a grayscale height map to generate terrain — bright areas become high elevation, dark areas become low elevation.
How is brightness converted to height?
Each pixel's luminance (a weighted average of its RGB values) becomes its grayscale height value — brighter pixels map to higher elevation.
Can I invert the height map?
Yes — an invert option flips bright and dark, useful depending on how your target engine interprets the map.
How we compare
| Feature | Online Tool Store | Photoshop / GIMP | Terrain generator software |
|---|---|---|---|
| No file upload — runs in your browser | ✓ | Desktop install required | Desktop install required |
| Free, no sign-up | ✓ | Photoshop is paid | Often paid |
Dedicated terrain software is powerful but overkill for a quick conversion. Height Map Generator does the one job — image to height map — in one upload.