A free depth map generator with controls you can actually use

A depth map is a single-channel image in which brightness represents relative distance. It is not a photograph converted to ordinary grayscale: useful depth estimation separates the foreground, subject, and background according to scene structure. DepthCarve sends a compressed copy of the image to a depth model only after you press Generate, then returns a preview that you can compare directly with the source.

The first download is an 8-bit grayscale PNG for quick compositing, masks, and testing. The optional 16-bit PNG is a compatibility container for software that expects that file format; because it is derived from the preview, it does not pretend to add precision that was not present. Relief users can turn the adjusted field into a closed STL with a real width, relief height, and backing thickness.

Automatic estimates often contain a narrow useful range surrounded by flat gray. Black point and white point let you stretch the part of the map that matters. Contrast separates nearby levels, while Invert switches which end of the field becomes high. The comparison slider makes halos, background mistakes, and reversed depth obvious before you export.

For carving, a good map usually needs a quiet background and gradual transitions across the subject. For VFX, clean object boundaries may matter more than a flat border. The controls are deliberately simple and reversible. DepthCarve preserves the original output and applies adjustments during download, so experiments do not repeatedly call the model or consume extra inference time.

PNG works when another application will interpret brightness: LightBurn, image editors, compositors, displacement tools, and custom pipelines. STL works when the next step expects geometry. The relief exporter builds a top surface, side walls, and a bottom face, producing a watertight mesh instead of a paper-thin height surface. It still needs slicing or CAM setup; it is not unreviewed G-code.

The geometry bundle is for users who need more than a preview. It can return depth, normals, a point cloud, GLB geometry, and camera information through the MoGe2 provider. Those links are temporary, so the interface asks you to download every required file immediately. For automated production, the API page documents a server-to-server path with API keys and bounded rate limits.

A failed social-media effect costs a few seconds. A bad carve can cost a hardwood blank, a long machine slot, and a customer deadline. DepthCarve therefore keeps preview generation free, grants new accounts enough credits to test professional exports, and returns credits when a paid model job fails. The database records job status and ledger entries, not the uploaded source image itself.

No depth model can infer hidden geometry perfectly from one picture. Hair, glass, repeating patterns, shallow relief, and disconnected objects can confuse any estimator. Treat the result as prepared production input, not ground truth. Inspect edges at full size, verify the intended foreground direction, set dimensions deliberately, and run a small scrap test before committing valuable material.