diff --git a/plugins/ImageReader/ConfigUI.qml b/plugins/ImageReader/ConfigUI.qml
index b9ff2e4453..47ba10778c 100644
--- a/plugins/ImageReader/ConfigUI.qml
+++ b/plugins/ImageReader/ConfigUI.qml
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ UM.Dialog
         UM.TooltipArea {
             Layout.fillWidth:true
             height: childrenRect.height
-            text: catalog.i18nc("@info:tooltip","By default, white pixels represent high points on the mesh and black pixels represent low points on the mesh. Change this option to reverse the behavior such that black pixels represent high points on the mesh and white pixels represent low points on the mesh.")
+            text: catalog.i18nc("@info:tooltip","For lithophanes dark pixels should correspond to thicker locations in order to block more light coming through. For height maps lighter pixels signify higher terrain, so lighter pixels should correspond to thicker locations in the generated 3D model.")
             Row {
                 width: parent.width
 
@@ -134,9 +134,9 @@ UM.Dialog
                     anchors.verticalCenter: parent.verticalCenter
                 }
                 ComboBox {
-                    id: image_color_invert
-                    objectName: "Image_Color_Invert"
-                    model: [ catalog.i18nc("@item:inlistbox","Lighter is higher"), catalog.i18nc("@item:inlistbox","Darker is higher") ]
+                    id: lighter_is_higher
+                    objectName: "Lighter_Is_Higher"
+                    model: [ catalog.i18nc("@item:inlistbox","Darker is higher"), catalog.i18nc("@item:inlistbox","Lighter is higher") ]
                     width: 180 * screenScaleFactor
                     onCurrentIndexChanged: { manager.onImageColorInvertChanged(currentIndex) }
                 }
diff --git a/plugins/ImageReader/ImageReader.py b/plugins/ImageReader/ImageReader.py
index 5195b61595..e720ce4854 100644
--- a/plugins/ImageReader/ImageReader.py
+++ b/plugins/ImageReader/ImageReader.py
@@ -46,9 +46,9 @@ class ImageReader(MeshReader):
 
     def _read(self, file_name):
         size = max(self._ui.getWidth(), self._ui.getDepth())
-        return self._generateSceneNode(file_name, size, self._ui.peak_height, self._ui.base_height, self._ui.smoothing, 512, self._ui.image_color_invert)
+        return self._generateSceneNode(file_name, size, self._ui.peak_height, self._ui.base_height, self._ui.smoothing, 512, self._ui.lighter_is_higher)
 
-    def _generateSceneNode(self, file_name, xz_size, peak_height, base_height, blur_iterations, max_size, image_color_invert):
+    def _generateSceneNode(self, file_name, xz_size, peak_height, base_height, blur_iterations, max_size, lighter_is_higher):
         scene_node = SceneNode()
 
         mesh = MeshBuilder()
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ class ImageReader(MeshReader):
 
         Job.yieldThread()
 
-        if image_color_invert:
+        if not lighter_is_higher:
             height_data = 1 - height_data
 
         for _ in range(0, blur_iterations):
diff --git a/plugins/ImageReader/ImageReaderUI.py b/plugins/ImageReader/ImageReaderUI.py
index cb45afa4ad..213468a2ab 100644
--- a/plugins/ImageReader/ImageReaderUI.py
+++ b/plugins/ImageReader/ImageReaderUI.py
@@ -30,10 +30,10 @@ class ImageReaderUI(QObject):
         self._width = self.default_width
         self._depth = self.default_depth
 
-        self.base_height = 1
-        self.peak_height = 10
+        self.base_height = 0.4
+        self.peak_height = 2.5
         self.smoothing = 1
-        self.image_color_invert = False;
+        self.lighter_is_higher = False;
 
         self._ui_lock = threading.Lock()
         self._cancelled = False
@@ -143,4 +143,4 @@ class ImageReaderUI(QObject):
 
     @pyqtSlot(int)
     def onImageColorInvertChanged(self, value):
-        self.image_color_invert = (value == 1)
+        self.lighter_is_higher = (value == 1)