Pixels to Points Input Image Files

The loaded images will be sorted based on the time stamp of the images. During the initial processing, all images are converted to JPG and copied to a temporary system file.

The input image file list will display information about each input image based on the metadata and EXIF tags (or imported positions) associated with the input files.

  • Filename - input image file name, including the folder if it is stored in a subdirectory.
  • Latitude, Longitude, Elevation - this information is obtained from the image metadata. The derivation of the elevation values can vary depending on the camera and collection platform.
  • Relative Altitude - Relative Altitude may be used instead of elevation values using the Relative Altitude option. This attribute will only display for some imagery (DJI) .
  • Fit Error- These statistics are reported once the tool has been run. This is the calculated minimum and maximum positioning error of the given image based on the auto-detected features in the image.
  • # Observations - Once the tool has been run, each input image will display the number of identified matching features in each input image. These are the key points used in constructing the model.
  • Image Size - The pixel dimensions of the input images
  • Camera - The name of the camera used to collect the imagery. This value comes from the image metadata.

The Input images may appear blue or green when using Ground Control Points. See Ground Control Points with Pixels-to-Points™ for more information.

File Menu

The below options are available from the File Menu at the top of the Pixels to Points Tool dialog, or by right-clicking on the Input Image Files area. Image files may also be dragged and dropped into the Input Image Files area of the Pixels to Points tool from Windows.

Add Image File(s)... — Select image files to add to the input image files list. This list automatically filters to show just JPG, PNG and TIFF files. Use the SHIFT and CTRL keys to select multiple files to load from the file browser.

Add Folder... — Choose Add Folder to add all files from a directory.

Add Loaded Picture Points... — If the image files are already loaded into the main map view as picture points, use the the Add Loaded option to add them to the input image files list. If a subset of the picture points has been selected with the digitizer tool, an option will appear to add only the selected points. Press Yes to add only the pictures selected with the digitizer tool to the Input Image Files list. Press No to add all loaded picture points to the Input Image Files list.

Load P2P Workspace File... — Select this option to load a saved Pixels to Points tool setup from a *.gmp2p or *.gmi2c file.

Save P2P Workspace File... — This option will save the Pixels-to-Points settings, input image references, and any added ground control points to a *.gmp2p file.

A *.gmp2p file is an ASCII based Global Mapper file that stores the settings, entered control points, and referenced image links specific to the Pixels to Points tool. The *.gmi2c file contains the same information and was exported from Global Mapper prior to v21.0; this format is also supported (only the extension is different).

Map Menu

The Map Menu contains various outputs that will load in the main Global Mapper map window.

Load Image(s) as Picture Point(s)

This option will add the images to the main map display as picture points. This will also display directional arrows indicating the orientation of the image, and a Flight Path line feature connecting the images in the order they were captured.

ClosedPicture Points example

Load Ground Coverage Polygons for Selected Image(s)...

This tool will generate polygons approximately bounding the projected ground coverage of the selected input images. This allows you to approximate the alignment and overlap of the collected images.

Note: The ground coverage polygons will be different when generated before Pixels to Points has been run compared to those generated after the reconstruction has finished. This is because the Pixels to Points reconstruction process will refine the camera parameters and position.

Choose to generate coverage polygons for all images loaded in the Pixels to Points tool by choosing YES, or choose NO to only load the highlighted image(s).

Specify the style of the ground coverage polygons. For more information on style options see Area Symbology.

ClosedGround Coverage Polygon example

Load Selected Image(s) as Orthoimage...

Automatically ortho-rectify the selected images. This tool works best after the Pixels to Points tool has been run, which creates a detailed surface model from the point cloud and also adjusts the camera position to fit the reconstructed scene.

For more information see Ortho-rectify Individual Images

Right-click Context Menu

These additional options are available by right-clicking on the Input Images Files list.

Load Image Positions from External File

This option can be used to add or update the positions of images based on an external text file.

Specify an external file that contains the camera position information. This should be a text format such as TXT or CSV.

ClosedExternal Positions Text File Format

The text file should contain the values of Filename/Index, Latitude, Longitude, Elevation. The values can be in this order, or the text file can contain a header row that uses recognized header labels to identify the appropriate columns:

Values Recognized Header Label (case insensitive)
Filename, Filepath or index number (starting at 1 or 0 for the first image in the Pixels to Points list which is sorted by the timestamp of the images) Filename, FNAME, IMAGE, NR, Index, IDX
Latitude Longitude, Lon, X, Easting
Longitude Latitude, Lat, Y, Northing
Elevation Z, Elev, Elevation

When the operation succeeds you will see the following dialog.

Remove Selected Images

Highlight images in the Input Image Files list, then press the Remove Selected button to delete the highlighted images from the input list. Use the SHIFT and CTRL keys to highlight multiple images.

Delete Disabled (Unchecked) Image Files...

This action will delete the original source image files that currently unchecked in the Input Image Files list. This can be used to clean out invalid images, such as blurry or close to the ground images, but should be used with caution.

Remove All Masks from Selected Images

When masks have been added, this operation will remove all masks and reset the Pixels to Points workspace back to using the full extent of all selected input images. See New Mask... for more information on image masks.

Camera Sensor Width

When loading images, if the image metadata indicates a camera not in the built in camera database or previously added, a dialog will appear asking for the sensor width. Check the manufacturer information for the appropriate value. The user added camera sensor width data is stored in the user data folder in a sensor_width_camera_database.txt file.