Generate grayscale height maps with AI

The AI workflow in one minute

CoinDesign turns a grayscale height map into challenge-coin surface detail: brighter means higher, darker means lower, and black is the base plane. An AI image tool can create the first technical grayscale map quickly when it is given the exact face design as its reference image.

The loop is straightforward: download the exact face design from Model, use an image-to-image AI tool with the prompt below, verify alignment and value separation, then click Upload Depth. Surface height, local brushes, and materials remain editable after import.

The key is consistency, not complexity. A simple, clean map with three intentional levels usually reads better than a complicated map full of barely visible gray variation.

Step 1: Download your design

Enter the Model step and use Download Design in the toolbar to save the front (or back) artwork as a PNG. The downloaded image matches the challenge coin design frame exactly, so a correctly prepared depth map will line up without manual aligning.

Repeat for the other face if your design has depth on both sides.

Step 2: Generate the grayscale map with AI

Use an AI image tool that accepts a reference image or image-to-image generation. Upload the downloaded face design as the only visual reference, use the prompt in this article, and ask for a technical grayscale height map rather than a rendered coin.

Generate a few candidates rather than trying to repair a heavily altered result. Choose the version that preserves the original lettering, borders, silhouette, and spacing most faithfully; AI is useful for establishing smooth height regions, not for redesigning the artwork.

Export the selected result at the same canvas size as the downloaded design. It must be grayscale with a pure-black background. Do not accept perspective, shadows, reflections, material texture, edge glow, or any changed text.

Treat the provided original image as the sole reference and convert this flat 2D artwork into a technical grayscale depth map / displacement height map suitable for CNC engraving, relief carving, and 3D modeling.

Strictly preserve the original composition, proportions, positions, orientation, borders, contours, symbols, graphics, decorative elements, and all text exactly as-is. It is forbidden to redesign, simplify, redraw, replace, translate, correct, exaggerate, or alter the shape of any element.

Text is a hard constraint: keep the original content, glyph shapes, font appearance, letter spacing, size, arc baselines, direction, position, and arrangement of all text; text must never be pure black; text height must rise above the base plane of the motif; no black outlines, dark shadows, black halos, double contours, or ringing around letters; never generate, rewrite, omit, merge, or invent any letters.

Use a straight-on, orthographic, perspective-free view and keep the original aspect ratio and centered composition. The background must be pure black.

Grayscale height rules: pure black = lowest height / background; dark gray = lower raised areas; light gray = higher raised areas; white = the highest raised areas. All regions must use continuous, smooth, monotonic height transitions forming soft rounded slopes suitable for displacement. Rebuild all borders as continuous, clean, vector-like curves that remove pixel staircase artifacts from low-resolution input without changing the original shapes.

Forbidden: jagged edges; pixel staircases; white outlines; black outlines; dark halos; double edges; overshoot or ringing; sharpening artifacts; unnatural grooves; perspective; camera lighting; cast shadows; highlights; reflections; material textures; metallic, stone, or plastic looks; extra bevel lines; extra objects; altered or invented text.

The final result must be a clean, smooth, front-facing, black-background technical grayscale height map — not a 3D render with realistic lighting, materials, and shadows. Accuracy of the original artwork, text, and geometry outline takes priority over everything else.

Step 3: Check and upload

Before uploading, check the result: pure black background (not dark gray), grayscale only (no color tint), all letters intact, and the silhouette identical to your design. Minor gray-level issues are fine — the editor lets you tune the height limits.

Back in the Model step, click Upload Depth, pick the saved image, and the coin surface updates in the 3D preview instantly. Use the brushes to deepen grooves or flatten plateaus; use the sliders for global strength.

Troubleshooting

Colored result or white background? Correct it in the external tool: convert to grayscale, make the background pure black, and preserve the original outline. Warped letters mean the source layout has changed; restore it from the downloaded design image before exporting again.

Surface detail looks melted? The gray levels are too close together; increase the contrast between height levels. Any image editor can paint a depth map by hand — plain grayscale brush work is enough.