Build Seamlines (Data Management)

Summary

Automatically generates seamlines for your mosaic dataset.

Usage

• The seamlines are generated so that there is one seamline per footprint.

• You cannot build seamlines for a referenced mosaic dataset.

• If you plan on color correcting your mosaic dataset, it is recommended that you do so before building seamlines. Color correction is especially important if the Computation Method is set to RADIOMETRY, as color is taken into account when seamlines are built.

• To remove seamlines, right-click the mosaic dataset in ArcCatalog or the Catalog window and click Remove > Remove Seamlines.

Syntax

BuildSeamlines_management (in_mosaic_dataset, {cell_size}, {sort_method}, {sort_order}, {order_by_attribute}, {order_by_base_value}, {view_point}, {computation_method}, {blend_width}, {blend_type}, {request_size}, {request_size_type}, {blend_width_units})

Parameter	Explanation	Data Type
in_mosaic_dataset	The input mosaic dataset.	Image Service; Mosaic Layer; String
cell_size (Optional)	The cell size is used to determine the rasters for which seamlines are generated. This is often used when there are various resolutions of data in a mosaic dataset and you want seamlines generated for only one level. For example, if you mix a high-resolution data source with a low-resolution data source you can specify a cell size that fits within the range of one of these data sources. If you have multiple LOWPS (low pixel size) values, or if you are not sure what cell size to specify, leave this parameter empty. The tool will automatically create seamlines at the appropriate levels. The units for this parameter is in the same units as the spatial reference of the mosaic dataset.	Double
sort_method (Optional)	The sort method is similar to the mosaic method in that it defines the order in which the rasters will be fused together to generate the image used to create the seamlines. NORTH_WEST —Orders rasters in a view-independent way where rasters with their centers most northwest are displayed on top. This is the default. CLOSEST_TO_VIEWPOINT —Orders rasters based on a user-defined location and nadir location for the rasters using the Viewpoint tool. BY_ATTRIBUTE —Orders rasters based on an attribute and its difference from a base value.	String
sort_order (Optional)	Choose whether to sort the rasters in ascending order or descending order. ASCENDING — The rasters will be sorted in ascending order. This is the default. DESCENDING — The rasters will be sorted in descending order.	Boolean
order_by_attribute (Optional)	The attribute field to order rasters when the sort method is BY_ATTRIBUTE. The default attribute is ObjectID.	Field
order_by_base_value (Optional)	The rasters are sorted based on the difference between their value and the value from the order_by_attribute field.	Variant
view_point (Optional)	The coordinate location to use when sort_method is CLOSEST_TO_VIEWPOINT.	Point
computation_method (Optional)	Choose which computation method to use while building the seamlines. GEOMETRY —Generates seamlines from the footprints, taking the Sort Method into account. This is the default. RADIOMETRY —Examines the values and patterns within the intersecting areas to compute the seamlines. COPY_FOOTPRINT —Generates seamlines from the footprints. COPY_TO_SIBLING —Copies an existing seamline of a raster item to its siblings which share the same group name.This is commonly used with satellite imagery when the panchromatic band does not always share the same extent as the multispectral band. This option makes sure they share the same seamline. EDGE_DETECTION —Applies an edge detection filter on the intersecting areas to determine edges of features in the area. The seamlines are then created along the detected edges. The Sort Order applies to each method.	String
blend_width (Optional)	Blending (feathering) occurs along a seamline between pixels where there are overlapping rasters. The blend width defines how many pixels will be blended. If the blend width value is 10, and you use BOTH as the blend type, then 5 pixels will be blended on the inside and outside of the seamline. If the value is 10, and the blend type is INSIDE, then 10 pixels will be blended on the inside of the seamline.	Double
blend_type (Optional)	Blending (feathering) occurs along a seamline between pixels where there are overlapping rasters. The blend type defines where the blending will occur along the seamline. BOTH — The pixels will be blended on the inside and outside of the seamline. For example, if the blend width value is 10, and you use BOTH, then 5 pixels will be blended on the inside and outside of the seamline.This is the default. INSIDE —The pixels will be blended on the inside of the seamline. OUTSIDE —The pixels will be blended on the outside of the seamline.	String
request_size (Optional)	The size to which the raster will be resampled when it is examined using this process. The value (such as 1,000) defines the dimension of rows and columns. The maximum value is 5,000. The default values for the Request Size changes based on the option selected in the Request Size Type. The default values are 1,000 for PIXELS and 5 for the PIXELSIZE_FACTOR. You can increase or decrease this value based on the complexity of your raster data. Greater image resolution provides more detail in the raster dataset and thereby increases the processing time.	Long
request_size_type (Optional)	The Request Size Type will modify the request size based on the pixel or the pixel size factor selected. Based on the selected request size type, the default values for the Request Size changes using the raster that will be resampled. PIXELS — The request size will be modified based on the pixel size.This is the default option and resamples the closest image based on the raster pixel size. PIXELSIZE_FACTOR —The request size will be modified based on the pixel size factor.This option resamples the closest image by multiplying the raster pixel size (from cell size level table) with the pixel size factor.	String
blend_width_units (Optional)	The type of unit to use to measure the blend width of the mosaic dataset seamline. PIXELS —The unit for the blend width is measured in pixels. This is the default. GROUND_UNITS —The unit for the blend width will be in the same units as the mosaic dataset.	String

Code Sample

BuildSeamlines example 1 (Python window)

This is a Python sample for BuildSeamlines.

import arcpy
arcpy.BuildSeamlines_management("c:/data/Seamlines.gdb/md", "40",
                                "NORTH_WEST", "#", "#", "#", "#",
                                "RADIOMETRY", "5", "INSIDE", "#", 
                                "#", "GROUND_UNITS")

BuildSeamlines example 2 (stand-alone window)

This is a Python script sample for BuildSeamlines.

# Build seamlines using the  NORTH_WEST sort method

import arcpy
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/Workspace"

mdname = "Seamlines.gdb/md"
cellsize = "40"
sortmethod = "NORTH_WEST"
sortorder = "#"
orderattribute = "#"
orderbase = "#"
viewpnt = "#"
computemethod = "RADIOMETRY"
blendwidth = "5"
blendtype = "INSIDE"
requestsize = "#"

arcpy.BuildSeamlines_management(
    mdname, cellsize, sortmethod, sortorder, orderattribute, 
    orderbase, viewpnt, computemethod, blendwidth, blendtype, 
    requestsize)

Environments

Extent, Parallel Processing Factor

Licensing Information

ArcGIS for Desktop Basic: No

ArcGIS for Desktop Standard: Yes

ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced: Yes