There are several ways to think about converting raster data in ArcGIS. You may want to convert nonraster data into raster data or vice versa, such as converting a point file into a raster dataset. You may want to convert raster data into another type of raster data, such as changing the file format from .img to .tif, or you may want to change how it's managed, such as converting from a raster catalog to a mosaic dataset.
The majority of the time, you will be using geoprocessing tools to perform your conversion. Sometimes you might be able to interact with the user interface through shortcut menus to access these geoprocessing tools or other menus. For example, you can export raster data from the ArcMap table of contents to another format using the Export dialog box presented via the raster layer's shortcut menu, whereas, in the Catalog window, you can right-click a raster and choose to export it to another format and this will open the Copy Raster tool.
Converting to and from non-raster data
There are a number of core geoprocessing tools that allow you to convert to and from raster data, which are shown in the table below.
Converting data to a raster dataset
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
Converts an ASCII file representing raster data to a raster dataset. | |
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Converts features to a raster dataset. | |
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Converts a file of binary floating-point values representing raster data to a raster dataset. | |
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Converts point features to a raster dataset. | |
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Converts polygon features to a raster dataset. | |
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Converts polyline features to a raster dataset. |
Converting a raster dataset to a vector dataset
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
|
Converts a raster dataset to point features. | |
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Converts a raster dataset to polygon features. | |
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Converts a raster to polyline features. |
Converting a raster dataset to a file
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
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Converts a raster dataset to an ASCII text file representing raster data. | |
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Converts a raster dataset to a file of binary floating-point values representing raster data. |
Using ArcScan for ArcGIS, you can convert scanned images into vector-based feature layers.
- Learn about creating line and polygon features using the Vectorization Trace tool
- Learn about vectorization settings
- Learn about batch vectorization
You can also use interpolation to convert data to a raster dataset. This requires the ArcGIS Spatial Analyst extension (or the ArcGIS 3D Analyst extension). To learn more about interpolation, see Understanding interpolation analysis.
There are also a number of ArcGIS 3D Analyst extension raster conversion tools. To use these tools, you need to have the ArcGIS 3D Analyst extension.
Raster conversion tools in ArcGIS 3D Analyst extension
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
Imports one or more files in LAS format, the industry standard for lidar data, into a new multipoint feature class. | |
Converts a raster into a new multipoint feature class. | |
Converts a raster to a triangulated irregular network (TIN). | |
Converts a terrain dataset to a raster dataset. | |
Converts a TIN to a raster. |
Converting to other raster data file formats
ArcGIS has many supported raster formats. When you are processing your data, you might find some formats perform better than others. For example, MrSID data may have a very small file size, but due to the compression, it is not performing as quickly as an uncompressed TIFF file. Or you have multiple rasters stored within the HDF format, but to perform any processing, you need to extract the rasters you're interested in working with.
Converting from a raster dataset format to another format
| Toolset | Tool | Description |
|---|---|---|
Saves a copy of a raster dataset or converts a mosaic dataset into a single raster dataset. | ||
Converts a digital elevation model (DEM) in a United States Geological Survey (USGS) format to a raster dataset. | ||
Converts a raster dataset from one format to another. | ||
Loads multiple raster datasets into a geodatabase or raster catalog. | ||
Splits a raster dataset into separate files based on the DTED tiling structure. | ||
Creates a new raster dataset from a selection of an HDF or NITF dataset. |
Converting how the raster is stored
There are three ways to store raster data in ArcGIS: as a raster dataset, within a mosaic dataset, or within a raster catalog. All raster data is essentially a raster dataset, whereas the mosaic dataset and raster catalog are storage mechanisms that allow you to store and manage collections of raster data. Depending on how you intend to use your data, you can use any one of these options for storing your raster data. To understand the distinctions and considerations for each, see Raster data organization.
There are several geoprocessing tools allowing you to convert from each of these options.
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
Merges all of the raster datasets in a folder into one raster dataset. | |
Mosaics the contents of a raster catalog into a new raster dataset. | |
Loads all the raster datasets stored in the same workspace into an existing raster catalog. | |
Creates a new mosaic dataset from an existing raster catalog, a selection set from a raster catalog, or a mosaic dataset. Alternatively, you can create a mosaic dataset and load the raster catalog into it, using the table raster type. |