FreeAI3D Photo & Depth Map
Make a depth map or a 3D photo from any image
A depth map, a 3D motion GIF or a stereo pair from one photo.
Drop an image here, or .
Free AI that runs on your device. Nothing is uploaded. Only edit photos you own or have permission to edit; see our Acceptable Use Policy.
3D Photo & Depth Map: how to use it
- Drop in a photo with a clear subject in front of a background.
- Choose what to make: a 3D motion GIF, a depth map in grey or colour, or a side-by-side stereo pair. For the GIF, pick the motion and the depth effect.
- Press Make it 3D. The first run downloads the depth model once; then download the result.
Tips
- Subtle depth looks most natural on portraits; Strong suits landscapes with a near foreground.
- The greyscale depth map loads straight into Blender or After Effects as a displacement map.
3D Photo & Depth Map: what it does and when to use it
The 3D Photo & Depth Map tool runs Depth Anything V2, an open-source depth estimation model, in your browser. From one ordinary photo it works out what is near the camera and what is far away, and turns that into a depth map: a greyscale image where brighter means closer. The model downloads once, about 50 MB, and the photo is never uploaded.
The depth map is useful on its own for 3D artists, video editors and game makers, who load it as a displacement or fog map in Blender, After Effects or a game engine. The tool also uses it to build a 3D motion photo: a looping GIF in which near things move more than far ones, the parallax effect phone galleries call a "3D photo". A side-by-side stereo pair is there for cross-eyed viewing.
The depth is relative, not measured: the model judges what is in front of what, the way you do looking at a picture, so it gives no distances in metres. Glass, mirrors, water and night skies confuse it. Photos with a clear subject in front of a background, such as a person, a pet or a building against the sky, give the strongest 3D effect. To blur the background instead, use Portrait Blur.
3D Photo & Depth Map: frequently asked questions
What is a depth map?
A greyscale picture of distance: brighter areas are nearer the camera, darker ones further away. 3D software uses it to fake depth, add fog, blur the background or move a flat photo in 3D. This tool makes one from any photo with the Depth Anything V2 model.
How do I make a 3D photo from a normal picture?
Choose 3D motion photo, pick a motion such as a gentle circle, and press Make it 3D. The tool shifts near and far parts of the photo by different amounts in every frame and saves a looping GIF you can post or send. Related tool: Portrait Blur.
Is the depth accurate?
It is relative, not measured. The model judges what is in front of what, but it does not know real distances, and glass, mirrors, water and night skies can fool it. It is good for effects; it is not for measuring a room.
Can I use the depth map in Blender?
Yes. Download the greyscale depth map and use it as a displacement texture on a subdivided plane with the original photo as the colour. Brighter is nearer, so no inverting is needed. Related tool: Photo Relighter.