Rasters shift after georeferencing

Description

After clicking on 'update georeferencing', and performing another operation in ArcMap, the newly georeferenced image shifts.

Note:
This article applies to retired ArcGIS versions 9.x. Later versions of ArcGIS may contain different functionality, as well as different names and locations for menus, commands and geoprocessing tools.

Cause

This issue occurs when a 'double transformation' is applied to an image. For example: An image with a world file that is georeferenced a second time.

If the file has an associated world file, the image does not transform properly when the georeferencing is updated.

If the file does not have an associated world file, it transforms properly when the georeferencing is updated.

Workaround

Select one of the options below:

• From the georeferencing toolbar, select the rectify option rather than 'update georeferencing'.
• Delete all associated files such as .rrd, .aux, .xml, that are external to the file being georeferenced, before executing the georeferencing process.