Image to Surface

Overview

The entry node for converting an ordinary image into a Surface. It combines the visible image with height, normals, emission, roughness, material IDs, face IDs, and other maps.

You can start by connecting only albedo. Add a height map or emission map later to inspect the lighting in Surface Light Preview.

Usage tips

• This is the door from 2D assets into lighting. Even without 3D Solid or Model nodes, hand-drawn art plus a height map can use the Surface lighting path.
• The go-to setup is image_load(絵) → albedo + height_from_image(同じ絵) → height → surface_light_preview, adding light and shadow to hand-drawn art after the fact.
• For emission from a lamp or magic effect, connect an image containing only the luminous area to emission_map.
• For isometric assets, add face_id so downstream lighting can vary by face.

Common pitfalls

• Lighting makes no difference: only albedo is connected, with no height or normals, so the Surface is flat. A height map connected to height is the minimum needed for depth.
• It is unclear which map has an effect: as with surface_composite, switch the downstream preview between H/N and other submaps and inspect them one at a time.

Examples

• Connect a brick image to albedo and set material_id=core:brick.
• Add a height map so only the recessed mortar receives low lighting.
• Connect an image containing only luminous areas to emission_map for a Surface with lamp or magic emission.
• For an isometric floor asset, use write_face_ids=ON and face_id=iso:top so later face-based lighting and inspection treat it as a floor.

Related nodes

• height_from_image — estimates the height map and is the most important companion
• surface_light_preview — lights the converted Surface
• quick_shade — beginner-friendly one-node version of this path
• surface_export — exports a map set for an engine