Free Online Image Depth Map Generator
Create heuristic pseudo-depth maps from any 2D image instantly. Perfect for generating displacement maps, parallax effects in Blender/After Effects, and creating Facebook 3D photos entirely in your browser.
- ✓ 3 Spatial Heuristic Modes
- ✓ Adjustable Edge Smoothing
- ✓ Facebook 3D Photo Ready
- ✓ 100% Private Local Processing
1. Upload Image
Select a Photo
JPG, PNG, WebP supported
How to Use the Depth Map Generator
- Upload Your Image: Drag and drop a standard 2D photograph into the upload zone.
- Select Composition Strategy: Choose "Landscape" if the foreground is at the bottom of the photo, or "Portrait" if the main subject is centered.
- Tweak Spatial Bias: Adjust the slider to dictate how much the depth relies on image brightness versus structural composition.
- Adjust Smoothing: Use the "Map Smoothing" slider to blur the output slightly. Smooth gradients prevent tearing and jagged edges when used as a 3D displacement map.
- Download: Save the generated grayscale image. If using for Facebook 3D, ensure you name the file exactly like the original, but with `_depth` appended (e.g., `photo_depth.jpg`).
Key Features
- Heuristic Depth Estimation: Intelligently blends luminance data with spatial positioning to simulate 3D depth from 2D images.
- Adjustable Smoothing (Blur): Native canvas filtering creates soft, continuous depth gradients crucial for realistic 3D extrusion.
- Real-Time Processing: Changes to sliders update the depth map instantly.
- 100% Local Privacy: Math calculations happen on your device's browser. Your photos are never uploaded to a cloud server.
Benefits of Pseudo-Depth Maps
Creating genuine depth maps usually requires dual-lens cameras, LiDAR scanners, or heavy, slow Artificial Intelligence models. This tool uses a lightweight heuristic approach: combining luminance (brightness) with spatial assumptions (things lower in the frame or closer to the center are usually closer to the camera). This instantly produces a faux depth map perfect for visual effects, 2.5D animation, and social media posts without the overhead of heavy software.
Common Use Cases
- Facebook 3D Photos: Upload your original photo and the generated depth map together to trigger Facebook's interactive 3D photo viewer.
- After Effects Displacement: Use the generated grayscale map to drive the Displacement Map effect, creating 2.5D parallax animations from still photos.
- Blender & 3D Modeling: Apply the map to a heavily subdivided plane modifier to instantly extrude landscapes and textures into 3D space.
- Photoshop Lens Blur: Use the map as an alpha channel to create realistic, graduated depth-of-field effects (fake bokeh) in post-processing.
Understanding the Settings
| Setting | What it Does | When to Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape Mode | Assumes the bottom of the image is closest (white) and the top is furthest (black). | Scenery, roads, oceans, and wide shots with a clear horizon line. |
| Portrait Mode | Assumes the center of the image is closest (white) and the edges are further back. | Faces, macro photography, product shots, and centered subjects. |
| Spatial Bias | Controls the mix between the structural shape (Landscape/Portrait) and the pixel brightness. | Lower it to highlight fine details (like tree branches); raise it for smoother overall shape extrusion. |
Expert Tips for the Best Results
- High Contrast Helps: Because this tool utilizes luminance to help determine depth, photos with well-lit foregrounds and darker backgrounds will yield the most realistic 3D results.
- Don't Skip Smoothing: Unless you are creating a glitch-art effect, a depth map should almost never have sharp, pixelated edges. Keep "Map Smoothing" around 5px to 10px to ensure organic 3D distortion.
- Facebook Naming Rule: If your original photo is `vacation.jpg`, your depth map MUST be named `vacation_depth.jpg`. Upload them both at the same time to a Facebook post.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
No. True AI depth estimation requires heavy machine learning models (like MiDaS) that are difficult to run instantly in a standard web browser. This tool uses a fast, heuristic "pseudo-depth" approach based on image luminance and structural composition, which is highly effective for visual effects and 2.5D animation.
Absolutely not. The image processing is performed entirely by your device's web browser using HTML5 Canvas and JavaScript. No image data is ever uploaded or saved.
If your 3D displacement is tearing, your depth map contains edges that are too sharp. Increase the "Map Smoothing" slider to blur the gradients. Smooth transitions in grayscale equal smooth extrusions in 3D space.
It depends on your software. Facebook 3D photos and After Effects typically expect White to be near (foreground) and Black to be far (background). Some 3D rendering engines prefer the opposite. You can easily flip this using the "Depth Direction" setting.
The tool supports standard web image formats including JPG, PNG, and WebP. The generated depth map will be downloaded as a high-quality PNG to prevent compression artifacts from ruining the depth gradients.
Conclusion
The Free Online Image Depth Map Generator is a lightning-fast, privacy-first utility for creating faux depth maps. By bridging the gap between flat 2D photography and interactive 3D media, it empowers creators, marketers, and editors to generate displacement maps and social media 3D photos effortlessly, directly from their browser.