Raster to Polygon

Summary

Converts a raster dataset to polygon features.

Usage

• The input raster can have any cell size and must be a valid integer raster dataset.

• The Field parameter allows you to choose which attribute field of the input raster dataset will become an attribute in the output feature class. If a field is not specified, the cell values of the input raster (the VALUE field) will become a column with the heading Gridcode in the attribute table of the output feature class.

• The following graphic illustrates how the input raster is vectorized when it is converted to a polygon feature output. The result is presented for both the settings of the Simplify parameter.

  

  Comparing the output with different simplify options

• If Extent is specified in the environment setting, and the lower-left corner of the output extent does not match with any cell corner of the input raster, in the processing, a shift of the cell alignment of the input raster will be performed to match the specified extent. This shift will trigger a resampling of the input raster using the Nearest Neighbor method. Consequently, the output features will be shifted as well, and as a result, the output features may not overlay the original input raster exactly. You can avoid this shift by using the input raster as the Snap Raster in the environment.

Syntax

RasterToPolygon_conversion (in_raster, out_polygon_features, {simplify}, {raster_field})

Parameter	Explanation	Data Type
in_raster	The input raster dataset. The raster must be integer type.	Raster Layer
out_polygon_features	The output feature class that will contain the converted polygons.	Feature Class
simplify (Optional)	Determines if the output polygons will be smoothed into simpler shapes or conform to the input raster's cell edges. SIMPLIFY —The polygons will be smoothed into simpler shapes. The smoothing is done in such a way that the polygons contain a minimum number of segments while remaining as close as possible the original raster cell edges. This is the default. NO_SIMPLIFY —The edge of the polygons will conform exactly to the input raster's cell edges. With this option, converting the resulting polygon feature class back to a raster would produce a raster the same as the original.	Boolean
raster_field (Optional)	The field used to assign values from the cells in the input raster to the polygons in the output dataset. It can be an integer or a string field.	Field

Code sample

RasterToPolygon example (Python window)

Converts a raster dataset to polygon features.

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/data"
arcpy.RasterToPolygon_conversion("zone", "c:/output/zones.shp", "NO_SIMPLIFY",
                                  "VALUE")

RasterToPolygon example (stand-alone script)

Converts a raster dataset to polygon features.

# Name: RasterToPolygon_Ex_02.py
# Description: Converts a raster dataset to polygon features.
# Requirements: None

# Import system modules
import arcpy
from arcpy import env

# Set environment settings
env.workspace = "C:/data"

# Set local variables
inRaster = "zone"
outPolygons = "c:/output/zones.shp"
field = "VALUE"

# Execute RasterToPolygon
arcpy.RasterToPolygon_conversion(inRaster, outPolygons, "NO_SIMPLIFY", field)

Environments

• Auto Commit
• Current Workspace
• Default Output Z Value
• Extent
• Geographic Transformations
• M Resolution
• M Tolerance
• Maintain Spatial Index
• Output CONFIG Keyword
• Output Coordinate System
• Output has M values
• Output has Z values
• Output M Domain
• Output XY Domain
• Output Z Domain
• Scratch Workspace
• Snap Raster
• XY Resolution
• XY Tolerance
• Z Resolution
• Z Tolerance

Licensing information

• ArcGIS Desktop Basic: Yes
• ArcGIS Desktop Standard: Yes
• ArcGIS Desktop Advanced: Yes