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Working with Heightmaps

Terrain tools that affect height, such as Raise or Lower Terrain and Set Height, use a grayscale texture called a__ heightmap__A greyscale Texture that stores height data for an object. Each pixel stores the height difference perpendicular to the face that pixel represents.
See in Glossary. Unity represents the height of each point on the TerrainThe landscape in your scene. A Terrain GameObject adds a large flat plane to your scene and you can use the Terrain’s Inspector window to create a detailed landscape. More info
See in Glossary as a value in a rectangular array. It represents this array using a grayscale heightmap. Heightmaps are built into the Terrain, and the values stored in a heightmap define the height of each point or vertex on the Terrain.

Example heightmap
Example heightmap

Importing and exporting heightmaps

You can import and export heightmaps into the Unity Editor. This is useful when you want to use real world height data to replicate a landmark such as Mount Everest, or work on a heightmap image in an external editor like Photoshop. You can also use 3D modelling applications, such as Houdini and World Machine, to generate Terrain, then import your Terrain into Unity as a heightmap.

It’s good practice to store heightmaps as RAW files. A RAW file uses a 16-bit grayscale format that is compatible with most image and landscape editors. The Unity Editor enables you to import and export RAW heightmap files for a Terrain.

To access the import and export settings into the Editor, select the Terrain component in the InspectorA Unity window that displays information about the currently selected GameObject, Asset or Project Settings, alowing you to inspect and edit the values. More info
See in Glossary, and click the Terrain Settings button (gear icon in the toolbar).

Import Raw and Export Raw buttons in the Terrain Settings Inspector
Import Raw and Export Raw buttons in the Terrain Settings Inspector

Under Texture Resolutions (On Terrain Data), there are two buttons labelled Import Raw and Export Raw.

  • Import Raw allows Unity to read a heightmap from the RAW file format, and generate it in the Editor.

    Import Heightmap window

  • Export Raw allows Unity to write a heightmap from the Editor to the RAW file format.

    Export Heightmap window

Import and export options

PropertyA generic term for the editable fields, buttons, checkboxes, or menus that comprise a component. An editable property is also referred to as a field. More info
See in Glossary		 Description
Depth Determines how many bits Unity uses per pixel in the imported or exported heightmap.
• Bit 16: Uses 16 bits (2 bytes)
• Bit 8: Uses 8 bits (1 byte)
Width The width of the imported heightmap in pixelsThe smallest unit in a computer image. Pixel size depends on your screen resolution. Pixel lighting is calculated at every screen pixel. More info
See in Glossary.
Height The height of the imported heightmap in pixels.
Byte Order Determines how Unity orders the bytes for each pixel in the imported or exported heightmap. This mainly applies to bit–16 depth heightmaps, and is platform-dependent.
Flip Vertically Determines whether Unity flips the exported heightmap vertically across the x-axis.
Terrain Size The size of Terrain that Unity will apply the imported heightmap to.

  • 2019–04–19 Page amended with editorial review

  • Added more detailed information and screenshots

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