Orthos + Rasters: Viewing and Sharing Made Simple
Raster data powers some of the most important insights we have about the world—so why is it still so hard to share online?
From elevation models and land-cover classifications to temperature maps and surface analysis, raster data sits at the heart of modern geospatial work. Yet anyone who has tried to publish raster datasets to the web knows the frustration: massive file sizes, slow load times, broken uploads, lost metadata, and viewers that simply don’t perform.
Unlike vector data, rasters weren’t built with the web in mind. They’re heavy, less interactive, and notoriously difficult to scale smoothly across zoom levels. Add in inconsistent coordinate systems, unsupported color formats, and compression quirks, and “just sharing your work” quickly turns into hours of troubleshooting.
This is exactly the gap Stitch3D set out to close.
Stitch3D – Rasters on the Web
Stitch3D makes delivering raster data on the web simple, reliable, and fast so geospatial professionals can spend less time managing files and more time communicating insights.
Everything starts with a project. By organizing rasters within a dedicated project space and defining coordinate reference systems upfront (using standard EPSG codes), data stays consistent and ready for visualization from the moment it’s uploaded. From there, uploading is straightforward. GeoTIFF files (up to 25 GB with .tif or .tiff extensions) can be added directly to a project, with clear progress indicators along the way.
Once uploaded, Stitch3D automatically processes each raster, optimizing it for smooth, responsive viewing in the browser. While processing is underway, a status badge appears next to the file name. Most files are ready in minutes, not hours, and users are notified as soon as processing is complete. Once processing is finished, users receive an email notification and can immediately begin exploring the raster right on the web.
File Compatibility for Streamlined Processing
A few smart export choices go a long way. Stitch3D requires rasters to use standard coordinate reference systems defined by EPSG codes; custom or engineering coordinate systems without a geodetic datum are not supported. For full-color imagery, files must be exported in RGB or RGBA color space. Rasters using YCBCR color formatting will fail during processing and single-band DEM/DSM files that are not coded to RGB values will not work.
Compression and resolution choices also influence upload reliability. Sticking with reliable compression methods like DEFLATE help ensure trouble-free uploads. In cases where resolution is exceptionally high, minor downsampling often makes all the difference.
2D Views on the Go
The result? Raster data like orthomosaics and DEMs that loads quickly, displays cleanly, and can be explored in context with basemaps and other project layers directly in any web browser.
As web-based geospatial workflows continue to evolve, the ability to share raster data easily is no longer a “nice to have.” It’s essential. Stitch3D is built to meet that need today, while continuing to expand support for new formats and workflows tomorrow.
If raster data has ever slowed you down, broken your workflow, or limited how you share your work, Stitch3D provides a better way forward.
Learn More: Stitch3D
