Depth and normal maps
Depth map generator for images and video
Root makes a depth map and a normal map from any image or video, in the Root app. On a video the depth stays steady from frame to frame. An image is about $0.15; a ten-second clip is about $0.17.
Updated
First month free on the Beginner plan, with 650 credits to try any model.
Made and edited in Root
What you get
- From an image: a depth map and a normal map, as PNG images the same size as your picture.
- From a video: a depth clip and a normal clip, plus a zip of PNG frames for each, one image per frame.
- Depth that holds steady across a shot. It is worked out for the whole clip at once, so it does not flicker from frame to frame.
- A normal map worked out from the depth, so the two always agree.
Depth map prices
What one depth pass costs in the Root app, in dollars. You get the depth map and the normal map from the same run. 100 credits is $1.
| Source | Price |
|---|---|
| An image | about $0.15 |
| A 5-second video | about $0.15 |
| A 10-second video | about $0.17 |
| A 30-second video | about $0.51 |
Prices marked “about” are for work that runs on Root's own machines: the price shown before the run is an estimate, and the bill is set by how long the run really takes.
What depth and normal maps are for
- Fog, haze and smoke that get thicker with distance.
- A shallow focus added after the shot, with the blur growing away from the subject.
- Putting titles, graphics or effects between things in the shot, in front of the background and behind the actor.
- Relighting in compositing: the normal map says which way each surface faces, so new light can fall on it.
- A guide for other tools that take a depth map or a normal map as an input.
How to make a depth map in Root
- Open the image or clip. Open a project and pick the image or clip, or add an Edit Video node and wire in a file you upload.
- Choose Depth Pass. Stable is the default and holds the depth steadiest across a shot. Fast is quicker.
- Check the price and run. The price shows before you run it.
- Download the maps. The depth and normal maps land in your project. For a video, download the PNG frames for compositing.
Related guides
Depth map questions
How much does a depth map cost?
On Root, a depth map of an image is about $0.15, and the normal map comes with it. A ten-second video is about $0.17. These run on Root's own machines, so the price before the run is an estimate and the bill is set by how long the run takes.
Can I make a normal map from an image?
Yes. Every depth pass on Root makes a normal map from the same image, as a PNG the same size as the picture.
Does the depth map flicker on video?
No. The depth is worked out for the whole clip at once rather than one frame at a time, so it holds steady across the shot.
What file formats do I get?
For an image, two PNGs: depth and normal. For a video, an MP4 of each, and a zip of PNG frames of each for compositing.
Can I make a depth map of my own footage?
Yes. Upload the image or clip to a project and run a depth pass on it, the same as on something you made in Root.
Where do depth passes run?
In the Root app, on Root's own machines. You run them in your browser, with nothing to install.
Try Root free for a month
The first month of the Beginner plan is free and comes with 650 credits to spend on any model. After that it's $9 a month, and you can cancel whenever you like.