ProRaster

Welcome to the ProRaster family product page!

ProRaster Scientific, ProRaster Premium, and ProRaster Essential are now available to download from the Microsoft Store.

All our applications offer a 1-day free trial period! Make the most of this opportunity and make sure the data you want to experiment and test with is to hand before you install the application and start your free trial. After the trial period expires you will have to purchase the product to continue using it.

For help, please visit the ProRaster help page. For the latest updates, visit the ProRaster Updates page. To see what is coming and to contribute ideas, visit the roadmap page.

The ProRaster Family

The ProRaster family are advanced software applications for Windows that enable amateurs, GIS users, geospatial professionals, and scientists to render, explore, process, and analyse raster data.

The goals are to –

• Provide the highest quality pixel-perfect raster rendering at any scale.
• Provide a high-performance rendering engine for exploring raster datasets.
• Provide advanced raster processing including multispectral satellite imagery rendering, processing, and analysis.

Three product tiers are available – ProRaster Essential, ProRaster Premium, and ProRaster Scientific. The core functionality in each tier is to create and edit rendering algorithms, which are stored in an MRD file (a simple text file containing XML commands). A rendering algorithm is a recipe for rendering one or more rasters in a wide variety of ways. A high-performance rendering engine provides a real-time map preview of the algorithm as you build and edit it.

ProRaster Essential is exclusively designed for users of MapInfo Pro 2021 (or later). You will be able to develop rendering algorithms and publish them in MapInfo. Essential presents and streamlined user interface with a restricted set of capabilities to provide an easy way for business users to render rasters in MapInfo Pro.

ProRaster Premium takes the shackles off and provides a full set of rendering algorithm editing tools. You can export rendered imagery to standard file formats like GeoTIFF for display in a wide variety of GIS and scientific applications. Premium is designed for all GIS users.

ProRaster Scientific is our flagship product. In addition to all the functionality of ProRaster Premium, it includes a multispectral satellite imagery tool suite and a raster processing tool suite. Both are designed to take full advantage of our powerful virtual raster technology to maximise performance whilst minimising cost. 

This playlist of four videos will introduce you to the rendering algorithm concept in ProRaster. They will give you an understanding of the fundamental capabilities of the software and help you get started operating the software.

For more training videos, detailed information, and other resources like demonstration video playlists, head to the ProRaster Help page.

Core Raster Features

• A rendering algorithm consists of one or more layers, and each layer contains one or more enabled components that are linked to a raster source. Save your algorithms to an MRD file for viewing and editing in ProRaster, exporting to located imagery^{^}, and for displaying in MapInfo Pro 2021.
• The LUT Color layer uses a data-color transform and a color lookup table to determine the color of each pixel, which can then be modified by Intensity and Opacity components.
• The RGB Color layer uses a data-color transform for each of each of the Red, Green, and Blue components to determine the color of each pixel, which can then be modified by Intensity and Opacity components. 
• The Image layer acquires color from a color data band in a raster to faithfully reproduce the color of each pixel, which can then be modified by Intensity and Opacity components.
• Intensity (hill-shading) is integrated directly into the rendering pipeline for high-saturation, vividly rendered raster layers.
• Opacity (transparency) modulation allows the transparency of every pixel to be algorithmically determined based on a data-opacity transform.
• Masking provides a mechanism to use one raster to decide whether pixels in a target raster will be rendered. 
• Create reusable resources for inclusion in any algorithm. These include raster sources, data conditioning filters, color lookup tables, and data transforms.
• Preview the current rendering algorithm in an attached and collapsible map window.
• Publish the MRD to MapInfo Pro 2021.
• Export the rendered MRD to a located image^{^} raster in MRR or GeoTIFF format.
• Supports a wide variety of raster formats. For a complete list of the supported formats, please visit this help page.

^{^} not available in ProRaster Essential

Algorithm creation and editing features

• Open multiple MRD rendering algorithms for editing and exploration simultaneously.
• Create new default rendering algorithms for a raster or raster source.
• Use an existing MRD as a raster source in a new algorithm.
• Add, delete, and reorder layers^{^}.
• Undo and redo edits.
• All edits are immediately reflected in the preview map window.

^{^} not available in ProRaster Essential

Algorithm rendering features

• Preview the current rendering algorithm in an attached and collapsible map window.
• View the current rendering algorithm in multiple resizable, external map windows^{^}.
• Smoothly zoom and pan the view, and zoom to the algorithm extents.
• Report the raster value at the cursor location in a tooltip.
• Double click for a complete raster value report at the cursor location^{^}.

^{^} not available in ProRaster Essential

Algorithm and layer properties

• Control Color, Red & Green & Blue, Image, plus Intensity and Opacity components for each layer and turn on or off layers and components as required.
• Render the algorithm in any specified coordinate system or projection and specify or override the coordinate system of rasters. Use the Projection Explorer dialog to select coordinate systems.
• Control or override raster interpolation settings at all levels of the algorithm.
• Intensity components integrate hill-shading into any layer. Control the shadow and specular highlight, and the intensity of shadow by layer or for all layers.
• Set blending modes to control the application of alpha bands and opacity. Control layer transparency and modulate pixel transparency via data transforms^{^}.
• Balance color and intensity (hill-shading) for any layer for visual effect.
• Apply the Valid cell by Component rule to determine whether pixels will be rendered based on the validity of data in the contributing components.
• Control the buffer background color and opacity and the invalid pixel color.

^{^} not available in ProRaster Essential

Component properties

• Link a component to a raster source, field, band, and event range.
• Apply a data conditioning filter to any component^{^}.
• Choose from a wide variety of data-color transforms for Color, Red, Green, Blue, and Opacity components, or select a prepared user defined transform.
• Select a color table for Color components.
• Base the data-color transform on the statistics of a different raster source^{^}.

^{^} not available in ProRaster Essential

Algorithm Publishing

• Publish the MRD to MapInfo Pro 2021. This will open a new map window in MapInfo Pro and load the MRD into that map where it is displayed as a located image raster.
• Publish the MRD, clipped to a complex polygon set, to MapInfo Pro 2021. 

Image Exporting

• Export the rendered algorithm to a located image raster at any resolution^{^}.
• Export the full extent, manually defined extent, map extent or clip to a polygon^{^}.

^{^} not available in ProRaster Essential

Raster Source Editor

• Group one or more rasters together into a raster source which can then be used by a layer component. Save the raster source for reuse at any time in any algorithm.
• Validate, clean, and prepare overview pyramids and statistics for raster sources.
• View raster information and statistics in a comprehensive text report.
• Define load-time raster preferences for raster sources to modify the way the raster engine mounts and interprets the raster.

Color Table Editor

• Choose from a wide variety of color tables shipped with ProRaster.
• Use simple color tables, color tables that are combined with a data mapping, or color legends that link data, data ranges, or strings to color definitions.
• Link to other color tables installed with other software.
• Build your own collection of user-defined color tables.
• Create new color tables and edit existing color tables.

Data Conditioning Editor^{^}

• Define, store, and edit data conditioning filters that you can use in any algorithm. Data conditioning filters modify and clean raster data before it is rendered.
• Reject individually specified values.
• Reject (or only accept) ranges of values.
• Reject (or only accept) colors or ranges of colors specified in RGB space.
• Convert invalid values to a specified background value.
• Cap values to a minimum and/or maximum value.

^{^} not available in ProRaster Essential

Data Transform Editor^{^}

• Define, store, and edit data transforms that you can use in any algorithm.
• Data transforms can be based on the statistics of the raster they are applied to, or they can use static key values that ensure they act in the same way on any raster.
• Choose from a wide variety of transforms or manually define transform tables.
• Preview the effect of the transform on a selected raster.
• For a selected raster, view statistics and histograms as graphs and tables.

^{^} not available in ProRaster Essential

Multispectral Satellite Scene Database

• In ProRaster Scientific, the MSSSDB tools provide you with mechanisms to create and manage scene databases. You will select scenes from these databases from which to create products.

Multispectral Satellite Product Database

• In ProRaster Scientific, the MSSPDB tools provide you with mechanisms to create and manage product databases.
• Open a product into the product editor, and you can build a processing cascade for your multispectral imagery.

Raster Processing Operations

• In ProRaster Scientific, the raster processing operations enable you to export raster data and run processing operations on rasters.

Raster format support

ProRaster supports a wide variety of raster formats. For a complete list of the supported formats, please visit this help page.

What is raster data?

A raster dataset is a matrix of cells (or pixels) that are geolocated using a coordinate system, where each cell is associated with one or more values that represent some measurement made at that location or some other kind of derived data. Measurements can be continuous, meaning they vary continuously from cell to cell, or discrete, meaning the cell is assigned a value by some analytical process. Discrete data is sometimes called classified, categorical, or thematic data.

Raster data includes aerial imagery (drone, aircraft, or satellite), multi-spectral and hyper-spectral imagery (aircraft or satellite), land use or built environment classifications, terrain and bathymetry, topographic maps, geophysical measurements like the Earth’s gravitational or magnetic fields, meteorological measurements like surface temperature, business analytics like traffic movements or population density, and just about anything else that can be observed, gridded, and presented in a raster form.

For further reading, here are a couple of links to Data Carpentry and ESRI ArcGIS documentation.

What are the key rendering capabilities of ProRaster?

ProRaster takes your raster datasets and transforms them into raster imagery of superior quality which you can publish in any GIS application of your choice. Before you publish your data, you can explore it using the built-in high-performance render engine in a map preview window. The speed, interactivity, and quality of the rendering will help you gain new insights into your raster datasets.

• Render huge rasters of unlimited size at any scale.
• Combine raster data of any scale or coordinate system from any combination of sources – there are no restrictions.
• Use the LUT Color layer to color modulate raster data in a myriad of ways.
• Use the RGB Color layer to combine color modulated red, green, and blue components.
• Use the Image layer to render color data faithfully without color modification.
• Apply hill-shading (draping) to every layer with unrivaled image quality.
• Control transparency between layers and harness the power of opacity modulation.
• Keep a library of resources including raster sources, data transforms, color tables, and data conditioning filters, for use and re-use in any algorithm.
• Publish simple MRD algorithms to MapInfo Pro 2021.
• Export your MRD algorithm to a located image at any resolution in a variety of industry-standard formats.

Why does data rendered in ProRaster look so good?

Whether you are using free GIS software, or you have invested in a comprehensive geospatial data visualisation and processing software suite, ProRaster rendering will look and feel better.

• Draped presentations (imagery or modulated color data combined with hill-shading) with superior color saturation and contrast.
• Shaded relief, with automated and manual control over the ‘depth’ of shadow, automated adjustment as you zoom in and out, specular highlights and color-balance control.
• Rendering quality, with two interpolation phases to provide the highest quality rendering at any scale, and a multi-threaded hardware-accelerated rendering engine.
• Data-color transforms, with a rich variety of transforms and a high level of customisability.
• Blending, with per layer and per-pixel transparency control, and light table simulation mode.
• Persistent resource storage and reuse, including raster sources, color tables, data transforms and data conditioning filters.
• Advanced capabilities like real-time panchromatic sharpening and pixel masking.
• Ease of use with a responsive user interface.
• Simple layer types help you to achieve exactly what you need to.

Why do you need ProRaster?

You need ProRaster Essential to overcome the limitations in the MapInfo Pro Advanced raster module and take your raster rendering in MapInfo Pro to the next level.

You need ProRaster Premium to take your raster rendering capability to the next level and, through high-quality and high-performance immersive rendering, improve your ability to make discoveries in your raster data. The speed that it renders rasters of virtually unlimited size on modest hardware will open your eyes and provide you with new pathways for data discovery, understanding, and interpretation.

You need ProRaster Scientific to take your multispectral satellite imagery rendering, processing, and analysis to a new level. ProRaster Scientific is simply easier, faster, and more efficient than any other software for multispectral imagery analysis. You will save time and money, and produce superior imagery analysis with ProRaster Scientific.

Download a free one-day trial version and give it a go!

What version of ProRaster is best for you?

ProRaster Scientific is our most advanced offering and is highly recommended. If you wish to work with multispectral satellite imagery, particularly imagery collected by any of the Landsat birds or Sentinel2 birds, then ProRaster Scientific is the application you need. You may also find that the raster processing operations available in ProRaster Scientific provide a compelling reason to acquire the software.

If you have a subscription to MapInfo Pro 2021 (or later version) or you have purchased a license to the latest version of MapInfo Pro, then you can consider ProRaster Essential. The latest version of MapInfo Pro can load an MRD file published by ProRaster Essential and render it in a map window. It does this by exploiting capabilities that are in the “MapInfo Pro Advanced” raster plug-in. This raster plug-in provides industry-leading raster rendering and processing capabilities. If you have purchased a MapInfo Pro subscription you will have the “Advanced” raster plug-in included. If not, you can purchase it separately. However, even if you do not have the Advanced raster plug-in, the latest version of MapInfo Pro can still render the MRD files you publish from ProRaster Essential.

ProRaster Essential is designed for business users who want an inexpensive, easy, and fast solution for rendering rasters in the highest possible quality in MapInfo Pro. It has a streamlined user interface, and restricted functionality, and can only publish to the latest version of MapInfo Pro.

For all other users, ProRaster Premium is recommended. It is a complete solution for creating high-resolution, high-quality raster imagery.

How can you evaluate ProRaster?

All our applications offer a 1-day free trial period! Make the most of this opportunity and make sure the data you want to experiment and test with is to hand before you install the application and start your free trial. After the trial period expires you will have to purchase the product to continue using it.

How can you purchase ProRaster?

You can purchase any ProRaster product application tier from the Microsoft Windows Store. ProRaster is available for purchase all over the world. To make a purchase on the Windows Store you will need to have a Microsoft account. Depending on your country of residence, you may be able to pay with a credit card, debit card, bank account, PayPal account, or mobile phone.

What languages does ProRaster ship in?

ProRaster uses English exclusively. All user interface elements, help, documentation, and support videos are in English.

How does rendering in ProRaster compare to other applications?

The core of ProRaster is its raster rendering capability. ProRaster Essential and ProRaster Premium are designed – and priced – to be used in conjunction with other GIS or scientific analysis applications that you currently use. They provide a complementary set of capabilities that focus on high-quality and accurate raster rendering. We can make some comparisons of the ProRaster rendering functionality with other applications.