Label | Explanation | Data Type |
Input raster | The input raster dataset. The raster must be integer type. | Raster Layer |
Output polygon features | The output feature class that will contain the converted polygons. | Feature Class |
Simplify polygons (Optional) | Determines if the output polygons will be smoothed into simpler shapes or conform to the input raster's cell edges.
| Boolean |
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 |
Create multipart features (Optional) | Specifies whether the output polygons will consist of single-part or multipart features.
| Boolean |
Maximum vertices per polygon feature (Optional) | The vertex limit used to subdivide a polygon into smaller polygons. This parameter produces similar output as created by the Dice tool. If left empty, the output polygons will not be split. The default is empty. | Long |
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.
If the Create multipart features parameter is checked (MULTIPLE_OUTER_PART in Python), the output will be a multipart feature class and, on average, process faster. However, if the output feature class contains a very large number of features, it may cause an out of memory error. The grouping process is similar to what is used in the Dissolve tool.
The Maximum vertices per polygon parameter can be used to subdivide a polygon into smaller polygons based on a specified vertex limit. This is particularly useful when output features contain a very large number of vertices. This parameter produces similar output as created by the Dice tool.
If Extent is specified in the environment setting and the lower-left corner of the output extent does not match any cell corner of the input raster, during processing, a shift of the cell alignment of the input raster will occur 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 shift as well, and the resultant 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.
Parameters
arcpy.conversion.RasterToPolygon(in_raster, out_polygon_features, {simplify}, {raster_field}, {create_multipart_features}, {max_vertices_per_feature})
Name | 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.
| 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 |
create_multipart_features (Optional) | Specifies whether the output polygons will consist of single-part or multipart features.
| Boolean |
max_vertices_per_feature (Optional) | The vertex limit used to subdivide a polygon into smaller polygons. This parameter produces similar output as created by the Dice tool. If left empty, the output polygons will not be split. The default is empty. | Long |
Code sample
Converts a raster dataset to polygon features.
import arcpy
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/data"
arcpy.conversion.RasterToPolygon("zone", "c:/output/zones.shp", "NO_SIMPLIFY",
"VALUE")
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
# Set environment settings
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/data"
# Set local variables
inRaster = "zone"
outPolygons = "c:/output/zones.shp"
field = "VALUE"
# Run RasterToPolygon
arcpy.conversion.RasterToPolygon(inRaster, outPolygons, "NO_SIMPLIFY", field)