ZImage4Texture¶

Generates a grayscale PNG image, seen from above, from the height (Z) of the selected objects. Black is the lowest point and white the highest. Use it as a heightmap for textures.

Toolbar button:

When to use¶

When you need a height map of a part or area, for example to texture or engrave it. You get a .png file whose resolution you choose (each pixel corresponds to the sampling step), with the correct DPI already saved in the file.

Before you start¶

• Works with meshes, surfaces and polysurfaces (solids included). You can select the objects before running the command.
• Only the X and Y extent of the rectangle matters. Draw it in the Top view.

Steps¶

1. Run ZImage4Texture.
2. When prompted Select base objects (mesh, surface, polysurface), select the objects and press Enter.
3. Draw the rectangle that defines the area to capture. Rhino asks for the First corner of rectangle and then the Other corner or length. The usual rectangle options (3Point, Vertical, Center, AroundCurve) are available.
4. When prompted Sampling step in mm (0.005 – 1), type a value or press Enter to accept the default (0.02).
5. In the Save dialog, choose the name and folder of the PNG file.
6. Ztools processes the image and prints a summary in the command line.

Options¶

Result¶

• A PNG file (grayscale, 24 bit) in the location you chose.
• The original objects are kept unchanged.

The image can be used as the displacement map in ZTexture.