Hi, everyone!
I was experimenting with images for the last two weeks trying to create perfect depth maps.
It's not that easy to do when you have to deal with a single image.
For now I think I have figured out how to create a depth map from a text (it's a pure cheating with text, I know, but the results are promising).
Creating a depth map expands the possibility to create interesting 3D effects in GIMP.
Today I made this GC-logo depth map using just GIMP (displace map filter) See Stereogram below



Then I created a quick Gimp Chat logo (same thing as my new Signature - I used different font, hence, different depth map here)



Then I went further and with the help of Stereogram program and the same depth map (Range Image, in terms of stereogram making)
created this Stereogram (Magic Eye image)
hey, hey, tell me what you see in there!


Range Image is inferior to AutoCAD-like images (DFX) at SG-creating. And it's possible to create meshed objects in Blender but it's been a while since I made something useful in Blender (some day I'll get back to it, though).

Just another, more illustrative, example of text Range Image here



My jasper gemstone text

Big fan of stereograms Kite. Depth maps are a pain to create and when needed, I usually fake or or get help with some of the work the Tom did with G'MIC. Like your contour mapping text effects too. Maybe you will share your flow on them later I hope.

I was going to do so, but it's such a time consuming thing. Will do it this weekend. Promise.

I'm a little confused by the term 'depth map'. What exactly are we talking about? It looks like you took a black text layer and placed a duplicate white text layer blurred about 10 above it. I'm lost after that. You said you used Displacement? What settings? I can't see how you got from your first pic to the second pic.

Depth maps are created from at least two images. Then software algorithm calculations translated into monochromatic image that is called Depth Map by some Stereogram-making programs or Range Image by others. In my original post I said about cheating with texts, because, of course, we can't call it a true depth map by the way it was made. It does not matter, if we created, say, b&w image that serves perfectly as a Range image - it's good enough for me, terminology strictness aside. You can paint it by hand - it would be pain in the butt, but still a valid Depth map.

As I mentioned earlier I was working on DMs lately with a single image and got some results. It looks clumsy so far with complicated objects, but I think I'm on the right path.

As for a workflow I used, due to the lack of time I will do it in a few days.

English, after all, isn't my first or even second language, beside the general fact that I suck at explaining things clearly even in my mother tongue, LOL. So it would take more time for me than for an average person. I think fast enough, tho.