GeoTIFF Viewer — View Elevation Rasters and Imagery Online

Upload a GeoTIFF raster to see elevation data or imagery plotted on a map, switch between color ramps, adjust opacity, then export a PNG preview. Open in full screen ↗

What Is a GeoTIFF?

A GeoTIFF is an ordinary TIFF image file with georeferencing information built in: the exact real-world location, scale and coordinate system of every pixel. That makes it the standard way to store and share raster data like elevation models (DEMs), satellite imagery, aerial orthophotos and land-cover classifications, since any program that understands the format knows exactly where on Earth the image belongs without a separate metadata file.

Why GeoTIFF Exists

Before GeoTIFF was created in the mid-1990s, georeferencing information for a raster image usually lived in a separate "world file" alongside a plain image, an approach that broke easily whenever the two files were separated or renamed. GeoTIFF folded that georeferencing directly into the TIFF file itself using a set of standardized tags, so the location and projection travel with the image no matter where it's copied. It's now the default output format for satellite imagery providers, elevation datasets like SRTM and USGS DEMs, and most GIS and remote sensing software.

Step by Step

Step 1

Open the tool

Go to the GeoTIFF Viewer and you'll see an upload area ready for your file.

Step 2

Upload your GeoTIFF

Drag and drop a .tif or .tiff file onto the tool, or click Try Sample GeoTIFF to load a ready-made example.

Step 3

Check the file info

See the pixel dimensions, band count, bit depth and detected projection at a glance.

Step 4

View it on the map

The raster is plotted on the map automatically and the view zooms to fit its extent.

Step 5

Switch the color ramp

For single-band data like elevation, choose between a terrain color ramp and grayscale.

Step 6

Adjust the opacity

Drag the opacity slider to blend the raster with the basemap underneath it.

Step 7

Export as PNG

Click PNG to download a flattened image of the raster exactly as it's currently styled.

Step 8

Try another file

Click Clear and upload a different GeoTIFF whenever you're ready.

Common Questions

What does the PNG export contain?

A flattened image of the raster exactly as currently styled: the same color ramp and pixel data shown on the map, but without the basemap or any UI elements.

Can I view multi-band color imagery, not just elevation?

Yes. Files with three or more bands are rendered as color imagery directly, using each band's actual data range to produce a natural-looking preview.

What happens to NoData pixels?

Pixels matching the file's NoData value are rendered fully transparent, so they don't cover the basemap underneath with a solid color.

What is a GeoTIFF?

A GeoTIFF is a standard TIFF image file with georeferencing tags built in, recording the real-world location, pixel scale and coordinate system of the raster. It's widely used for elevation models, satellite imagery and aerial photography.

Is there a file size limit?

Yes, files up to 100 MB are supported. Larger files may take a moment longer to read since the whole file has to be decoded in your browser.

Can I open a Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF (COG)?

Yes, COGs are regular GeoTIFFs internally and open the same way. This tool always reads the full file locally rather than streaming remote tiles.

How does this viewer color single-band data like elevation?

It calculates the actual minimum and maximum value in the file, excluding any NoData pixels, then maps that range onto either a terrain color ramp or grayscale, which you can switch between at any time.

Does it show the raster at full resolution?

Large rasters are automatically downsampled to a preview resolution so the file stays fast and light to render in a browser tab. This is a preview, not a full-resolution export.

Which projections are supported?

WGS84 (EPSG:4326), Web Mercator (EPSG:3857), and any UTM zone (EPSG:326xx or EPSG:327xx). Files in other projections will still show their file info, but without a map preview — reproject them to one of these first.

Is my file uploaded to a server?

No. The GeoTIFF is decoded and rendered entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Nothing is ever sent anywhere, which makes this safe for proprietary imagery or survey data.

Real-World Use Cases

🌊

Flood & Hydrology Studies

Get a fast visual read on elevation gradients relevant to drainage and flood-risk analysis.

🛰️

Satellite & Aerial Imagery

Quickly check what a satellite scene or drone orthophoto actually shows before downloading the full file.

🏔️

Elevation & Terrain Models

Preview a DEM's shape and elevation range before importing it into GIS or modeling software.

🎓

Learning Remote Sensing

Explore what different band counts, bit depths and projections look like in real GeoTIFF files.

🌲

Forestry & Land Cover

Preview classified land-cover or canopy-height rasters without opening desktop GIS software.

🏗️

Survey & Construction

Check a site's elevation raster from a drone survey right after it's exported.

Your Raster Stays on Your Device

This viewer decodes and renders your GeoTIFF entirely inside your browser using JavaScript. The file is never uploaded to a server, which matters for proprietary aerial survey imagery, unpublished elevation data, or any other raster you'd rather not send anywhere.

Watch: GeoTIFF Viewer in Under a Minute

Prefer to watch instead of read? This short walkthrough covers uploading a GeoTIFF file, viewing it rendered on the map, and reading pixel values by hovering.

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GeoTIFF decoding powered by geotiff.js, with projection support from proj4js. Every file you upload is read and rendered entirely in your browser — no file is ever sent to a server.