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Hi All,

I am trying to achieve a certain look on a greyscale/height map image for a cnc project I am working on.

Im new to gimp so Ill try to be explicit as Im not sure of exact terms.

I started with an image that only has two colors to my knowledge (or at least doesnt have a lot of colors so that if you looked at a height map of the image it would be mostly 0s and 1s.  I switched to greyscale mode and played with contrast and brightness to get the greyscale sharper.

This is where I am.

I am trying to figure out how to basically apply a filter (or modify the values of the pixels in some way ) over that grey scale image I created so that it becomes a height map where the highest point is in the center and as we move towards the edges of the image it gradually falls off in height.  so that you get a domed look but still retain details of the image.  Is this even a thing that makes sense? Is gimp the right program for this sort of thing?

Appreciate it!

Yes GIMP is a good tool for that, it has plenty map functions and options.
I don't really "see" what you want to achieve, but I'll try to give some options (if you find an image/video showing what you want to achieve, please feel free to post a link to it)

To draw a map (there are plenty ways to do it, just give you one way):
Gradient tool (foreground/background are B&W), use "shape something" in tool options (or any other options you like) this will allow also to have a "sharper" map depending your gradient
[attachment=6920]

This "shape..." option works only in selection, so to work on a full layer with the "Shape ..." option activated ➤ just Ctrl+A (to select all) then use the gradient
[attachment=6921]

you can add as many nodes in the middle of the line while drawing your gradient and move it to sharpen your gradient
[attachment=6922]

Once you've made your gradient which is your map... use one of the many GIMP's tools to bump your map, displace (even generate a new one)
On those tools you will see some time 1 or 2 Aux Input ➤ this were you put your map If you see only 1 Aux Input it will use the map fully, if you see 2 Aux Input one is for horizontal, the second one is for vertical (use both if needed)

For example select your image (not the map, but the image you want to give a "3D" bump of effect)
Then chose your tool below I did Filters ➤ Map ➤ Displace... on a blue layer and selected the map in the Aux Input (Note: you can use a Channel as a map as well)
Then play with the tool's sliders itself

[attachment=6923]

A list of few tools which use a map or might want to try out
Filters ➤ Map ➤ Bump Map... https://docs.gimp.org/2.10/en/gimp-filter-bump-map.html
Filters ➤ Map ➤ Displace... https://docs.gimp.org/2.10/en/gimp-filter-displace.html
Filters ➤ Generic ➤ Distance map (generate a map) https://docs.gimp.org/2.10/en/gimp-filte...e-map.html
Filters ➤ Generic ➤ Normal map (generate a map) https://docs.gimp.org/2.10/en/gimp-filte...l-map.html
Filters ➤ Distorts ➤ Emboss... (does not need a map, but very sharp emboss effect, result can be use as a map)

few more tips
to smooth out a map Filters ➤ Blur ➤ Gaussian blur...
to invert a map after you see it's wrong way Colors ➤ Invert

Sorry for not answering in a way you would like, but I would like to see an example of what you would like to achieve, in all case I hope it will help ... a bit

Hi!

Thanks for the detailed write up.

Ive done some playing around with the suggestions you provided. I definitely think its in the right direction. It seems like bump map is the closest tool to what I want.

I dont have a great example but I am basically trying to get the greyscale values for a height map to start to fall off as you move away from the center.

I can try posting an image once I have once I want if not I will try t obe more clear later

Thanks!