Setting the default bands to display multiband rasters

A raster dataset with multiple bands can be displayed using either one band or three bands. When you preview a multiband raster dataset, three of its bands are combined to form a composite image in which each band supplies either the red, green, or blue display value. When a raster dataset has more than three bands, only three can be combined in the display at one time. From the Raster tab on the Options dialog box, you can assign a band to each red, green, and blue (R,G,B) display value.

You can specify a different set of defaults, mapping bands to R,G,B display values for datasets with three bands and those with four or more bands. For example, depending on the data you use most often, you may specify that bands 3,2,1 be used for the R,G,B rather than 1,2,3. Or if you prefer to see a particular band combination when using data with more than 3 bands, you could specify 6,4,3 or 4,3,2 for the default R,G,B combination.

Setting this default display option is the same for ArcMap, ArcCatalog, ArcScene, and ArcGlobe.

Raster products do not follow the default band combinations set on the Options dialog box. Each raster product is represented by a unique icon: . A raster product contains templates for one or more derived raster datasets that you can add to your map. Each will display according to settings within the software.

Steps:

1. Click the Customize menu and click ArcMap Options.
2. Click the Raster tab.
3. Click the Raster Layer tab.
4. Under 3 band data source, enter the number for each band to provide the red, green, and blue display values.
5. Under 4 or more band data source enter the number for each band to provide the red, green, and blue display values.
6. Click OK.