I like the angular blend option alot to make heightmaps from 2d pics, except that it isn't very performant, it takes a long time to process and it returns weird blend lines that are at only at 45degrees.

Are there some better versions than the default angular blend parameter?

For example, if i knew how to i would write a blend version that searches in a raycast or in a radius around every pixel to see where the border is, and shades the pixel by the distance from the nearest border, it would make very round and pretty heightmaps that actually reflect the borders.

do you mean something like this?

I just selected a shape and manually shrink by 1 pixel then fill with a greyscale that is 5 values lower and repeat didn't quite get to black but the idea is the same i think.

If this is what you want, it can be scripted (or maybe it already has been scripted I just don't know what it's called if it exists).

I am sure a script already exists for this... i vaguely remember coming across it.
But just in case it doesn't exists, I created one (I was bored too and this one is easy so).

you can change default white transitional to black to any starting/ending colors so you can get something like this


Here's the script.

It'll be available under Script-Fu/Blend Selection...
Here's a preview of what options/settings you can change.

Before running the script, you must have an active selection.

Also if you create some cool 3D looking thing please share... I vaguely remember these height maps are used for bump mapping or something like that but i forgot its actual use, would love to see more of that.

@Tin:
Is this the one you were thinking of ?
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=8030&start=10#p104222

I just tried that script it seems to create darken layers progressively rather than shrinking selection at each step and create blending effect. I must be thinking of some other script (maybe written by Greachan).

Rob-A to the rescue again:
http://registry.gimp.org/node/26195
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=4066

getting warmer but i don't think that's the one i am thinking of either

Maybe that's the one i was thinking of.
As I was so sure there's a script that does selection shrinking in steps by now.

Angular blend lines at 45 degrees means that when viewed as a 3D image it looks just like straight tapered angles. What the guy wants to do is have rounded or peaked angles (I think). This can be achieved either by creating custom gradients or by using the curves dialog on the blends after creating them.

Here's some of the stuff I created using gimp and a little Illustrator:

Wow, that's amazing? in gimp? I don't even have a clue as how you even got to the finished product...Just wow. No 3D programs at all?
I'd be happy if I could make a cross looked that good.

Couldn't something like this be accomplished with the light to height plug-in?
http://www.gimpchat.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=4725

With a select radial gradient.

Cool script

used script then used bump map.

Is there a 64bit version of l2h?
I get this error when I run the Blue Ice script.

I installed the l2height-0.7 plugin that was in the folder named l2height-0.7-win32 and it worked.

Yes thank you, I replaced it with the 64bit version you posted.