diff --git a/stl/geometry/text.go b/stl/geometry/text.go
index 65e83d0..acd360c 100644
--- a/stl/geometry/text.go
+++ b/stl/geometry/text.go
@@ -135,7 +135,8 @@ func renderText(config textRenderConfig) ([]types.Triangle, error) {
 
 	for y := 0; y < config.contextHeight; y++ {
 		for x := 0; x < config.contextWidth; x++ {
-			if isPixelActive(dc, x, y) {
+			intensity := calculatePixelIntensity(dc, x, y)
+			if intensity > 0 {
 				xPos := config.startX + float64(x)*config.voxelScale/8
 				zPos := config.startZ - float64(y)*config.voxelScale/8
 
@@ -144,7 +145,7 @@ func renderText(config textRenderConfig) ([]types.Triangle, error) {
 					config.startY,
 					zPos,
 					config.voxelScale/2,
-					config.depth,
+					config.depth*intensity,
 					config.voxelScale/2,
 				)
 				if err != nil {
@@ -216,7 +217,8 @@ func renderImage(config imageRenderConfig) ([]types.Triangle, error) {
 	for y := height - 1; y >= 0; y-- {
 		for x := 0; x < width; x++ {
 			r, _, _, a := img.At(x, y).RGBA()
-			if a > 32768 && r > 32768 {
+			intensity := float64(r) / 65535.0
+			if a > 32768 && intensity > 0 {
 				xPos := config.startX + float64(x)*config.voxelScale*scale
 				zPos := config.startZ + float64(height-1-y)*config.voxelScale*scale
 
@@ -225,7 +227,7 @@ func renderImage(config imageRenderConfig) ([]types.Triangle, error) {
 					config.startY,
 					zPos,
 					config.voxelScale*scale,
-					config.depth,
+					config.depth*intensity,
 					config.voxelScale*scale,
 				)
 
@@ -241,8 +243,17 @@ func renderImage(config imageRenderConfig) ([]types.Triangle, error) {
 	return triangles, nil
 }
 
-// isPixelActive checks if a pixel is active (white) in the given context.
-func isPixelActive(dc *gg.Context, x, y int) bool {
-	r, _, _, _ := dc.Image().At(x, y).RGBA()
-	return r > 32768
+// calculatePixelIntensity returns the intensity of a pixel at the given coordinates
+// as a float64 value between 0.0 (black) and 1.0 (white).
+func calculatePixelIntensity(dc *gg.Context, x, y int) float64 {
+	// Get RGB values from pixel
+	r, g, b, _ := dc.Image().At(x, y).RGBA()
+
+	// Convert to grayscale
+	gray := 0.299*float64(r) + 0.587*float64(g) + 0.114*float64(b)
+
+	// Normalize to 0-1 range (RGBA values are in 0-65535 range)
+	intensity := gray / 65535.0
+
+	return intensity
 }
diff --git a/stl/geometry/text_test.go b/stl/geometry/text_test.go
index c1500a7..598cd97 100644
--- a/stl/geometry/text_test.go
+++ b/stl/geometry/text_test.go
@@ -110,25 +110,77 @@ func TestRenderImage(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
-// TestIsPixelActive verifies pixel activity detection
-func TestIsPixelActive(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Run("verify white pixel detection", func(t *testing.T) {
+// TestCalculatePixelIntensity verifies pixel intensity calculation
+func TestCalculatePixelIntensity(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("verify white pixel intensity", func(t *testing.T) {
 		dc := gg.NewContext(1, 1)
 		dc.SetRGB(1, 1, 1) // White
 		dc.Clear()
 
-		if !isPixelActive(dc, 0, 0) {
-			t.Error("Expected white pixel to be active")
+		if calculatePixelIntensity(dc, 0, 0) <= 0 {
+			t.Error("Expected white pixel to have positive intensity")
 		}
 	})
 
-	t.Run("verify black pixel detection", func(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("verify black pixel intensity", func(t *testing.T) {
 		dc := gg.NewContext(1, 1)
 		dc.SetRGB(0, 0, 0) // Black
 		dc.Clear()
 
-		if isPixelActive(dc, 0, 0) {
-			t.Error("Expected black pixel to be inactive")
+		if calculatePixelIntensity(dc, 0, 0) > 0 {
+			t.Error("Expected black pixel to have zero intensity")
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("verify grayscale pixel intensity", func(t *testing.T) {
+		dc := gg.NewContext(1, 1)
+		dc.SetRGB(0.5, 0.5, 0.5) // Gray
+		dc.Clear()
+
+		intensity := calculatePixelIntensity(dc, 0, 0)
+		if intensity <= 0 || intensity >= 1 {
+			t.Errorf("Expected grayscale pixel to have intensity between 0 and 1, got %f", intensity)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("verify gradient circle intensity", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Create a 100x100 image with a radial gradient circle
+		size := 100
+		dc := gg.NewContext(size, size)
+		dc.SetRGB(0, 0, 0)
+		dc.Clear()
+
+		// Draw a single circle with gradient
+		centerX, centerY := float64(size/2), float64(size/2)
+		radius := float64(size / 2)
+
+		// Create radial gradient
+		gradient := gg.NewRadialGradient(centerX, centerY, 0, centerX, centerY, radius)
+		gradient.AddColorStop(0, color.White)
+		gradient.AddColorStop(1, color.Black)
+
+		dc.SetFillStyle(gradient)
+		dc.DrawCircle(centerX, centerY, radius)
+		dc.Fill()
+
+		// Test points at different distances from center
+		testPoints := []struct {
+			x, y     int
+			minRange float64
+			maxRange float64
+		}{
+			{size / 2, size / 2, 0.9, 1.0}, // Center (highest intensity)
+			{size / 4, size / 4, 0.3, 0.7}, // Quarter way (medium intensity)
+			{size - 1, size - 1, 0.0, 0.1}, // Corner (lowest intensity)
+		}
+
+		for _, pt := range testPoints {
+			intensity := calculatePixelIntensity(dc, pt.x, pt.y)
+			t.Logf("Pixel at (%d,%d) has intensity %f", pt.x, pt.y, intensity)
+			if intensity < pt.minRange || intensity > pt.maxRange {
+				t.Errorf("Pixel at (%d,%d) has intensity %f, expected between %f and %f",
+					pt.x, pt.y, intensity, pt.minRange, pt.maxRange)
+			}
 		}
 	})
 }