Depth Map Generator: Turn 2D Photos Into Grayscale Depth
Musely Depth Map Generator converts any 2D image into a 16-bit grayscale depth map for 3D printing, parallax, and VFX, in about 40 seconds.
This is where amazing happens
Musely Depth Map Generator is a browser-based tool that turns flat JPG, PNG, or WebP photos into 16-bit grayscale depth maps. Unlike open-source MiDaS, which needs Python and a CUDA GPU, Musely runs in any browser with no install. It ships 4 use-case presets covering 3D printing, laser engraving, parallax animation, and VFX compositing. Detail-level and depth-contrast sliders refine each map without re-uploading. Average render time is about 40 seconds, with 88% user-rated depth accuracy across 14,200 evaluated images and output up to 2048x2048.
Inputs, outputs, and depth controls at a glance
🤖AI Models
Inputs & Output
From flat photo to depth map in three steps
Upload your 2D image
Drop a JPG, PNG, or WebP up to 10 MB. The Depth Map Generator works best on sharp subjects with clear foreground-background separation and good lighting.
Pick a use-case preset
Choose 3D printing, laser engraving, parallax, or VFX, then refine detail level and depth contrast. Each preset shapes the grayscale curve for that downstream pipeline.
Generate and download
Click Generate. In about 40 seconds Musely returns a 16-bit grayscale depth-map PNG ready for slicers, Photoshop displacement, or Unity and Unreal import.
Who builds with Musely Depth Map Generator
Lithophanes and relief prints from photos
I drop family photos into Musely Depth Map Generator with the 3D-printing preset, drop the PNG into Chitubox, and have a lithophane STL in 10 minutes instead of an evening of hand-tuning in Blender.
Z-depth passes for After Effects
When a client sends archive footage with no depth pass, I run the keyframe through Musely Depth Map Generator and use the 16-bit PNG as a Z channel in After Effects. Saves a roto pass every time.
Parallax photo animations
I run my Instagram stills through Musely's parallax preset and use the depth map in CapCut for a 3D camera move. My engagement on parallax reels is about 2.5x my flat-photo posts.
Grayscale depth for relief engraving
My xTool needs a clean grayscale to dither relief depth on hardwood. Musely's laser-engraving preset gives me a usable engraving file from a portrait in 40 seconds, no Photoshop curves work.
Displacement maps for terrain mockups
I sketch a hand-drawn terrain pass, then push it through Musely Depth Map Generator to get a 16-bit displacement PNG. Drops straight into Unity terrain and skips an afternoon of sculpting.
Depth-shaded hero images for storefronts
I pair Musely's depth map with a Shopify parallax theme so product hero shots get a subtle 3D shift on scroll. Add-to-cart rate moved up 7% in the first two weeks after the swap.
Musely vs. LeiaPix, MiDaS, Photoshop Depth
| Feature | Musely | LeiaPix | MiDaS | Photoshop Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Access channel | ✓ Browser, no install, Browser | ✓ account required | ✗ Local Python + GPU | ✗ Desktop install + plugin |
| Output type | ✓ 16-bit grayscale PNG depth map | ⚠ Animated parallax video only | ⚠ 16-bit depth tensor (manual export) | ⚠ 8-bit grayscale via Neural Filter |
| Use-case presets | ✓ 4 presets (print, engraving, parallax, VFX), 1 preset (parallax) | ✗ Manual | ✗ no presets | ✗ 1 preset (default) |
| Average render time | ✓ About 40 seconds | ⚠ About 60 seconds | ✓ 10-30 seconds on GPU | ⚠ About 90 seconds on Adobe servers |
| Skill required | ✓ None, upload and click, None | ✓ upload and click | ✗ Python and ML setup | ⚠ Photoshop plus Neural Filters |
| Starting paid plan | ✓ Creator Plan from $19.9/mo, Pro from $7/mo (watermarked free tier) | ⚠ Open-source | ✓ GPU costs your own | ⚠ Photoshop from $22.99/mo |
What 9,214 creators say about Musely Depth Map Generator
4.8/5 average from 9,214 verified reviews
“Lithophane night-light orders used to eat my Sunday because I hand-rolled the depth pass in GIMP. Musely Depth Map Generator drops a clean 16-bit PNG into Chitubox in 40 seconds and shaved about 4 hours off my weekly batch.”
“I composite weekly broadcast packages and Musely's depth map subs in as a Z channel for the After Effects camera. It replaced a 25-minute roto pass per shot, which is about 2 hours saved on a normal week.”
“The laser-engraving preset gave me a usable relief grayscale on hardwood with zero Photoshop curves work. I scaled from about 12 to 30 custom plaques per week without adding prep time.”
Frequently asked questions about Musely Depth Map Generator
Musely Depth Map Generator is among the leading browser-based picks in 2026, with 4 use-case presets, detail and contrast sliders, and a 16-bit grayscale PNG output up to 2048x2048 in about 40 seconds. It avoids the Python and GPU setup MiDaS requires and skips LeiaPix's video-only export.
Musely Depth Map Generator exports a 16-bit grayscale PNG depth map ready for 3D printing slicers, Photoshop displacement, and game engines. LeiaPix only exports an animated parallax video. Musely renders in about 40 seconds against LeiaPix's roughly 60 and ships 4 use-case presets versus LeiaPix's single parallax style.
Musely Depth Map Generator handles portraits, product photos, landscapes, sketches, and architectural shots. The pipeline reports 88% user-rated depth accuracy across 14,200 evaluated images, and the detail and contrast sliders let users refine each scene before downloading.
Musely Depth Map Generator accepts JPG, PNG, and WebP inputs up to 10 MB and 4096px on the long edge. Output is a 16-bit grayscale PNG up to 2048x2048, suitable for Chitubox, Lychee, Cura, Photoshop displacement maps, and Unity or Unreal heightfield import.
Yes, the 3D-printing preset in Musely Depth Map Generator shapes the grayscale curve for clean lithophane and relief prints. The 16-bit PNG imports directly into Chitubox, Lychee, and Cura. Always preview the slice and run a test layer before committing to a full print.
Musely Depth Map Generator runs each upload through a monocular depth-estimation model that reads perspective, occlusion, and shading cues. The pipeline reports 88% user-rated depth accuracy across 14,200 evaluated images, and a detail-level slider plus depth-contrast control lets users tune the grayscale result.
Yes, paid Musely plans grant commercial-use rights on generated depth maps, subject to the Terms of Service. The Creator Plan starts at $19.9/mo. Verify outputs do not unintentionally reproduce third-party trademarks, characters, or copyrighted source photos before publishing or selling derivative prints.