For beginners, rendering a depth map from a 3D model uses user-friendly software like Blender—enable the depth pass, use a simple shape, and export the grayscale map with your render.
Depth maps are grayscale: lighter areas are closer to the camera. In Blender, toggle the depth pass via View Layers > Passes > Enable Depth to capture this distance data.
Start with a basic model (e.g., Blender’s default cube), add a camera, then render. Export both the final image and depth map. Use tools like GIMP to practice depth of field—this helps you learn how depth data interacts with 3D models without complexity.