To use a heightmap for a 3D print, treat its grayscale values as relative surface height, place it on selected model faces, scale the features in millimetres and bake them into the exported geometry.
Read grayscale as shape
White and black do not inherently mean emboss or deboss. Reskin3D separates image polarity from displacement direction so you can decide whether light or dark areas receive the full effect and whether geometry moves outward, inward or around the original skin. Mid-gray values create intermediate heights.
A clean heightmap describes form rather than colour. Remove uneven lighting, dust and JPEG artifacts before they become physical surface noise.
Make features printable
Image resolution is only one part of printability. The same 1024-pixel map can be tiny or enormous depending on Texture size. Compare the smallest important feature with nozzle width, resin pixel size or the process limit. For a 0.4 mm FDM nozzle, broad features around 0.8 mm and larger are a safer starting point.
Depth must also span enough layers to appear. Around 0.4–0.6 mm is a practical starting range at 0.20 mm layer height, adjusted for the pattern and wall.
Choose repeat or single placement
Blend edges for seamless materials that will repeat. Enable infinite variation for organic sources when recurring landmarks are obvious. Use Place once for an emblem, illustration or local detail and keep the entire motif inside its selected region.
Three-step workflow
- Clean the image until grayscale represents the relief you actually want.
- Set repeat behaviour, polarity, physical Texture size and displacement direction.
- Bake and verify the result in a sliced layer preview.