I would like to understand more about depth maps..
I understand I can create depth maps by using AI type sites etc.. but I want to be able to really control my design/art. Hopefully, using graphics, design software and 3d cad.
I believe software like lightburn will engrave using greyscale to work out the different levels to create the 3d engraving and it uses the 256 levels offered in grey scale.
so do I needan ai depth map?
What is the depth map, is it just a grey scale image? or does it hold more information for the engraving to be better?
if I have to use a depth map instead of grey scale, and I want to use a mix of vector artwork and grey scale / depth map.
I.e say on a coin where part of the design wil be a 3d type engraving and part wil be line art and part wil be text etc..
is this possible to mix up in lightburn?
can I run a depth map to get depth and then run an image or text over the top to make it look cleaner or more crisp?
Do you own a machine that we can relate your questions to the machine and material?
If you have a visible light laser, then 3dslice is not available for anything other than a galvo. So we need to know the machine type you’re using.
I’m not sure what you mean and without a type of machine, the answer depends. Generally speaking, you can do both.. what kind of results you have may be questionable.
Thank you for your reply. I do own some machines, including a mopa fibre, a uv fibre and a co2 laser, and particularly to this question, I would be using it on a 200watt mopa galvo, but my question is not about the machines, it’s about the processes to get the artwork ready for engraving.
if possible, I want to try to understand what a depth map is and how I can create them without using online AI generators.
Mainly because if I understand them fully and could create them in design software, I will have better / full control on the output required to get what I want from the process.
