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 an 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

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 templates 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.

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.

4. Optionally, click the Import user defined template to add in a raster function template not added to the imagery layer.

5. Click to add the selected raster function template to the list to be applied to the imagery layer.

   The Choose raster function template pane, it will open to the My content in your organization and any raster function templates you created will be listed as options. You can also click the dropdown and select a different location, including the ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World. 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.

Managing processing templates

When in a web map in Map Viewer, any processing templates applied to imagery layers in a web map will appear in the Processing templates tab in the Settings toolbar. By default, the processing template for imagery layers will be listed as None and once a processing template has been added it will appear 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 successfully applied a raster function template as a processing template and saved the web map that processing template will appear as an option for that imagery layer in the Processing templates list. For imagery layers, any processing templates added to the imagery layer will also appear there.

Adding processing templates to an imagery layer

Raster function templates added to imagery layers will appear as processing template options when the imagery layer is added to a web map. These added raster function templates can be accessed within the Processing templates tab as described above. To add a raster function template to your imagery layer, follow these steps:

1. Sign into your organization and open the item page for the imagery layer.

2. Select the Settings tab and navigate to the Imagery Layer (hosted) section.

3. Within the Imagery Layer (hosted) section, click the Choose Raster Function Template button.

   All of the raster function templates created within your My Content tab will be visible by default.

4. Navigate to the raster function template that you want to add to the imagery layer and click Select.

   Any added raster function templates will appear in the list of Raster functions and will be available to choose from when added to a map.

5. Click Save to save any changes to the list of available processing templates.