Apply processing templates

Imagery layers sometimes have associated processing templates that allow you to process and render imagery layers on the fly without creating a new layer. A processing template is a raster function template configured for use with an imagery layer. You can use processing templates for visualization, as input to analysis, or both.

When you apply a processing template to render an imagery layer in a web map, the template dynamically processes the pixels in the layer, and the layer's display updates to reflect the results of the process. For example, a colorized NDVI processing template applied to a multispectral imagery layer allows you to visualize NDVI data as you roam and zoom the layer.

You can create a processing template in Raster Function Editor, which allows you to combine raster functions into a processing chain and save it as an item in your organization. The owner of a dynamic imagery layer can attach processing templates to the layer on the Settings tab of the layer's item details page.

As a user working with an imagery layer in Map Viewer, you can view and apply processing templates to it. If the layer has associated processing templates, you can choose one to apply in the Processing templates pane. Alternatively, you can import and apply a different processing template.

Use a processing template

Dynamic imagery layers that are generated from image services are often created with one or more custom processing templates. Processing templates are preset display settings or raster function chains associated with imagery layers. For example, the Seafloor Temperature (°C) imagery layer in ArcGIS Living Atlas is published with a cartographic renderer as well as a renderer that converts Celsius to Fahrenheit, and one that converts Celsius to Kelvin. These are not separate imagery layers; rather, it is one imagery layer that can be displayed with different custom processing templates. You can display the imagery layer with any of the predefined processing templates.

To use a predefined processing template to display an imagery layer, complete the following steps:

1. Confirm that you are signed in and, if you want to save your changes, that you have privileges to create, update, and delete content.

   Note:

   You can explore maps, add and configure layers, and more without signing in. To save your work, sign in before creating a map.

2. In Map Viewer, open the map containing the layer, or add the layer directly.
3. On the Settings (light) toolbar, click Processing templates .

   The Processing templates pane appears, listing all the processing templates associated with the image layer.

Note:

For tiled imagery layers, processing templates cannot be added to the imagery layer, so this list will only contain a processing template called None.

4. Optionally, click Import user defined template to add in a raster function template not added to the imagery layer.
5. Click Add to add the selected raster function template to the list to be applied to the imagery layer.
The Choose raster function template pane opens to My content in your organization and any raster function templates you created are listed as options. You can also click the drop-down menu and select a different location, including ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World and ArcGIS Online. You can also search within each section for the specific raster function template.
6. Choose the predefined processing template to use to render the imagery layer.
7. Click Done to close the Processing templates pane.

Beta:

Processing templates can also be added to tiled imagery layers using the same process as dynamic imagery layers. Once it's added to a tiled imagery layer, the processing template can be used to visualize the imagery layer in the web map.

Manage processing templates

When editing a web map in Map Viewer, any processing templates applied to imagery layers appear in the Processing templates pane in the Settings toolbar. By default, the processing template for imagery layers is listed as None. Once a processing template has been added, it appears in the list. After it is added to the list, you can choose between the imported processing templates to display the imagery layer in the map.

Once you have applied a raster function template as a processing template and saved the web map, that processing template appears as an option for that imagery layer in the Processing templates list. For dynamic imagery layers, any processing templates added to the imagery layer also appear there.

You can attach and manage processing templates for dynamic imagery layers on the Settings tab of the layer's item page.