Raster file settings
🕐 Read time: 4 min
Written By Clark Yuan
Last updated 12 days ago
Overview
Every raster file in Stitch3D has its own file settings that control how it is displayed in the viewer. These settings are global: any change you make applies to that file for all users viewing the Project.
Stitch3D currently supports RGB GeoTIFF raster files. This includes orthomosaics and aerial imagery exported from drone processing software such as DJI Terra, Metashape, Pix4D, and RealityCapture.
Raster file settings open in the File Information Panel, which extends from the right side of the viewer.
ℹ️ Note: Single-band rasters, DEMs, thermal imagery, and multispectral files are not currently supported. RGB GeoTIFF only.
How to open the File Information Panel
Open a Project and enter the viewer.
Locate the Layers Panel on the left side of the viewer.
Click on a raster file name in the Layers Panel.
✅ The File Information Panel opens on the right side of the viewer with all settings for that file.
Display settings
Stitch3D provides four sliders for adjusting how your raster is displayed in the viewer. All adjustments are visual only; the underlying file data is never modified.
Opacity
Controls how transparent or opaque the raster layer appears in the viewer. Reducing opacity makes the raster partially see-through, allowing you to view layers beneath it.
💡 Tip: Reducing opacity is useful when comparing a raster overlay against other raster layers beneath it. Try setting opacity to around 50% to see both datasets simultaneously and check alignment.
Brightness
Controls the overall lightness or darkness of the raster image.
💡 Tip: If your orthomosaic was captured under heavy cloud cover or in low light, increasing brightness can improve visibility of surface features without affecting the underlying data. Avoid pushing brightness too high; it washes out color detail and makes the image harder to interpret.
Contrast
Controls the difference between the light and dark areas of the raster image. Increasing contrast makes bright areas brighter and dark areas darker, making surface features stand out more clearly.
💡 Tip: Increasing contrast is particularly effective for orthomosaics where shadows or similarly colored terrain make it difficult to distinguish surface features. It can also make infrastructure such as roads, paths, and building edges easier to see.
Saturation
Controls the intensity of the colors in the raster image. Increasing saturation makes colors more vivid; decreasing it moves the image toward grayscale.
💡 Tip: Reducing saturation can make it easier to interpret terrain features and subtle surface variations that compete visually with strong color contrast. A grayscale orthomosaic can be easier to read for boundary mapping, feature extraction, and measurement work.
💡 Tip: Increasing saturation before a client presentation makes the orthomosaic more visually impactful. Just be aware that heavily saturated imagery may not accurately represent the real-world colors of the site.
Layer order
When a Project contains multiple raster files, you can control which layer appears on top in the viewer using the Layer Order button in the Layers Panel.
The Layer Order button is located to the left of the visibility toggle for the entire panel. Click to open the menu and then drag your raster file to reorder your raster layers.
💡 Tip: Layer order is especially useful when comparing orthomosaics of the same site captured at different points in time. Stack them in chronological order and adjust the opacity of the top layer to compare surface changes between captures.
ℹ️ Note: Layer order is a global setting. Reordering layers affects how the Project appears for all users.
Layer Info
At the bottom of the File Information Panel, the Layer Info section displays metadata about the raster file:
Attaching reports
You can attach an accuracy report or supporting document directly to a raster layer. Once attached, it is available for download to any user with access to the Project, subject to their permission level.
In the File Information Panel, scroll to the Reports section.
Click Attach report.
Select a PDF or document file from your computer.
💡 Tip: Attaching a report directly to the raster layer keeps documentation tied to the specific file it describes. Users reviewing the layer can access the report without having to search through the Project file list.