Abstract: The single 2D image is taken as the research object. Firstly color image is converted into a gray image. And then a relationship between the information of the missing third dimension and gray value is found directly. Finally the missing third dimension of surface is found through the relationship. The entire process is simple, clear, and very fast, and the results of simulation show the efficiency of the new approach.

Key words: shaping from shading, Phone lighting model, image transform