Exporting Image Data to a File

You can export the pixel data from an image selected in an iTool window into a single image file using the File → Export Image menu option. Using this option exports only the image data — no annotations, axes, or other visual items shown in the iTool window are included.

Tip
It is important to know that the data you modify in an iTool is not changed in the IDL main scope. Any data variables remain in IDL unchanged. To save the changes you make to data in an iTool, export the data to IDL. See Exporting Data to the IDL Session for more information.

This may be useful if you have modified your image data using the items from the Operations menu, and would like to save the modified image data in its own file.

By default, you can save image data in the following formats:

  • Windows Bitmap (BMP)
  • Macintosh PICT
  • Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPG)
  • Portable Network Graphics (PNG)
  • JPEG2000 (JP2)
  • Tag Image File Format (TIFF)
  • Graphics Interchange Format (GIF)

For example, to export an image:

  1. In the iTool, make sure that the image you want to export is selected.
  2. Select File → Export Image.
    export_image.gif

    3. The Save As dialog appears.

  3. In the File name field, enter the file name you want.
  4. In the Save as type field, click the down arrow to select the type of file you want for the file.
    export_image_types.gif
  5. Click Save.

Exporting via the Context Menu

An alternate way to export a variable to IDL is to select the visualization within the iTool and right-click to choose Export to Image or Export to IDL.