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Band rendering

The imagery data that can be ingested in gIQ, referring to panchromatic, multispectral, hyperspectral and SAR imagery can have a single band, or layer (a measure of a single characteristic) while others can have multiple bands. A band is represented by a single matrix of pixel values, and a raster with multiple bands contains multiple spatially coincident matrices of pixel values representing the same spatial area. Majority of satellite and airborne imagery have multiple bands, typically containing values within a range or band of the electromagnetic spectrum.

There are three main ways to render single-band raster datasets:

  • As two colors: in a binary image, each pixel has a value of 0 or 1 and is often displayed using black and white.
  • Grayscale: in a grayscale image, each pixel has a value from 0 to another number depending on data type, or pixel depth, such as 255 (8 bit) or 65,535 (integer). This display type is often used for panchromatic satellite images or aerial images.
  • Color map: with a color map, a set of values is coded to match a defined set of red, green, and blue (RGB) values. The defined set RGB values can be individually changed.

1. To start the band-rendering process

Select the desired image from exploration or your workspace & make it visible

Step 1 screenshot

2. In top left corner click on properties & click on Bands Rendering.

Step 2 screenshot

3. Select the Bands Rendering type

In this example we are using a Multispectral image with a total of 4 bands. You can choose Multiband/ Singleband grey/ Singleband Pseudocolor

Step 3 screenshot

4. First option is to select Multiband

A histogram with the different color values will open. You can fill in the values for Red, Green, Blue and Alpha channel.

Step 4 screenshot

5. For each band you can change the value

You can choose from: None, Red, Green, Blue and NIR.

Step 5 screenshot

6. You can choose underneath the histogram from 3 buttons:

  1. Load current view port histogram
  2. 95%
  3. Sharpen

Step 6 screenshot

7. The individual bands can also be set manually

Either changing the min-max values or the slider for each channel. NoData Value can be applied

Step 7 screenshot

8. After the bands are set click on "Apply"

Step 8 screenshot

9. Check the output layer

The values can be checked in the histogram

Step 9 screenshot

10. Same actions can be applied for Singleband Gray

The layer will be displayed in WhiteBlack values

Step 10 screenshot

11. The values can be customized as desired.

In this example 95% is applied. After ready click on apply

Step 11 screenshot

12. Check the output layer

The values can be checked in the histogram

Step 12 screenshot

13. Click on Singleband Pseudocolor

A menu is displayed with the different color ramps

Step 13 screenshot

14. In this example Turbo has been selected

Step 14 screenshot

15. The layer can be either customized by using the different buttons or manually adapted

After the settings are set click on "Apply"

Step 15 screenshot

16. Check the output layer

Individual changes can be made, like sharpen the image. To save the settings click on "Apply"

Step 16 screenshot