Adobe Photoshop (latest versions like CC 2024) is a top choice for creating displacement maps for 3D models, as it has built-in tools to generate and edit height/normal maps from 2D images. Its "Generate Displacement Map" filter (under Filter > 3D) converts grayscale textures into displacement maps, while brushes and adjustment layers (levels, curves) let you refine detail intensity—key for adding surface depth (e.g., wood grain, fabric folds) that works with 3D software like Blender or Maya. For beginners, start with a simple grayscale image (e.g., brick), use the filter to set scale, and test the map in Blender to see how it adds texture depth to basic 3D shapes.

