How Heightmaps Work in Foxel

A Heightmap in Foxel is not just a flat painted image.

It is a pixel-based asset where each pixel can store height information. That height information can later be used as relief, converted into voxel data, or reused in deeper surface workflows.

Why This Matters

If you only think of a Heightmap as a flat painted image, you miss the most important part of the workflow.

In Foxel, pixel editing can store more than color. It can also store height.

That means a Heightmap can be used for:

• Painted surface detail
• Relief-like shapes
• Height-based voxel generation
• Environment details
• Panels, grooves, ridges, and carved forms

Pixel Editing Starts With A Pixel Grid

Before you can edit pixels, the pixel grid of a Pixel Layer must be active.

Once the pixel grid is active, you can edit its content directly.

Pixel editing in Foxel follows the same general logic as voxel editing:

• The tool defines the action.
• The tool mode defines how the action is applied.

That means you can draw, erase, paint, assign materials, or select pixels in different ways.

Height Is What Makes It Different

The key difference from ordinary 2D painting is height.

Each pixel can store a height value.

That stored value is used when pixel data is converted into voxel form or interpreted as relief.

So even though pixel modeling is still based on a 2D grid, the stored height values make it more than simple texture editing.

A pixel can represent more than a flat color sample. It can also describe how high that part of the surface should be.

How Height Is Changed

A simple way to change height is:

1. Select the pixels you want to change.
2. Use the height controls on the Action Bar.

The basic height controls are:

• Lower decreases height by 1.
• Raise increases height by 1.

For more controlled changes, Foxel also provides:

• Assign Height
• Adjust Height
• Flatten

Assign Height

Assign Height sets the selected pixels to a specific height value.

Use this when the selected area should have an exact height.

Adjust Height

Adjust Height changes selected pixels relative to their current height.

Use this when you want to raise or lower existing height variation without replacing it completely.

Flatten

Flatten levels selected pixels to a consistent height.

Use this when an area should become even or when you want to clean up unwanted height variation.

3D Preview Helps You Judge The Result

Pixel data can also be viewed in 3D.

This is useful when you want to judge relief and material response under lighting.

To toggle the 3D view, use View 3D Model or press Shift + Tab.

Use the 3D preview when height values are hard to judge from the flat pixel view alone.

What To Remember

• Heightmaps in Foxel use pixel grids.
• A Pixel Layer must be active before you can edit its pixel grid.
• Each pixel can store height.
• Height is what makes the workflow more than flat 2D editing.
• Pixel editing and voxel editing share the same tool and mode logic.
• Lower and Raise adjust height by 1.
• Assign Height, Adjust Height, and Flatten provide more controlled height editing.
• 3D preview helps you judge relief.