How To: Extract a Single Band from a Multiple Band Raster

Summary

A raster with multiple bands contains multiple spatially coincident matrices of cell values representing the same spatial area. Each band consists of an array of pixels (cells), and each pixel has a value. An example of a multiple band raster is a true color orthophoto in which there are three bands, each representing red, green, or blue light.

The instructions provided describe how to extract a single band from a multiple band raster.

Procedure

This article provides five ways to extract a single band from a multiband raster in ArcMap. Use one of the following options:

Option A and Option B do not require any tool. Option C and Option E can also be used to extract more than one band to a single composite raster. Different tools are used in Option C, Option D, and Option E.

Option A - Extract a single band to a .lyr file

In the Catalog window, expand the composite image layer to view the raster bands.
Right-click the desired band, and click Create Layer.

Specify the name and location of the output layer, and click Save. The single band is saved as a layer file.

Option B - Export a single band to a single raster

From the Catalog window, drag the single band to the map.
Right-click the raster layer in the Table Of Contents and export the single band to a new raster.

Option C - Use the Make Raster Layer tool

Note:
The new raster layer created is temporary, hence export the layer to a new permanent raster. Selecting more than one band combines the bands into a single raster layer.

In the Catalog window, navigate to System Toolboxes > Data Management Tools > Layers and Table Views > Make Raster Layer.
Select an input raster.
Specify the name of the output raster layer.
Click the Bands (optional) drop-down arrow and select a band to create the raster layer.
Click OK.

For more information on the Make Raster Layer tool, refer to the following ArcGIS Web Help page: Make Raster Layer.

Option D - Use the Copy Raster tool

Note:
This extracts all individual bands to a single raster for each band.

In the Catalog window, navigate to System Toolboxes > Data Management Tools > Raster > Raster Dataset > Copy Raster.
Select an input raster.
Specify the name of the output raster dataset.
Click OK.

For more information on the Copy Raster tool, refer to the following ArcGIS Web Help page: Copy Raster.

Option E - Use the Composite Bands tool

Note:
The new raster layer created is permanent. Selecting more than one band combines the bands into a single raster layer.

In the Catalog window, navigate to System Toolboxes > Data Management Tools > Raster > Raster Processing > Composite Bands.
Click the Browse button to select a raster image.
Double-click the raster image to view the individual bands.