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Rasterize
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Rasterize

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Rasterize[expr]

returns a rasterized version of the displayed form of expr.

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Rasterize[expr,elem]

gives the element elem associated with the rasterized form of expr.

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Rasterize[expr,{elem1,elem2,…}]

gives a list of the specified elemi.

Details and Options

  • The expression expr can be graphics, text, a cell, a notebook object or any other expression.
  • Rasterize[nb] gives a rasterized version of the complete content associated with the notebook object nb.
  • Possible basic elements that can be returned by Rasterize include:
  • "BoundingBox"bounding box information for the raster
    "Data"the array of pixel values in the raster
    "Graphics"a graphics object representing the raster
    "Image"an image object representing the raster
    "RasterSize"pixel width and height of the raster
    "Regions"regions specified by Annotation constructs
  • Rasterize[expr] is equivalent to Rasterize[expr,"Image"] and displays in a notebook in a way that approximates the unrasterized display of expr, with the same image size.
  • An expression displayed at a given size at the default screen resolution res will result in a raster of dimension .
  • The following options for Rasterize can be given:
  • Background Automaticbackground to use
    BaselinePositionAutomatichow to align with a surrounding text baseline
    ImageFormattingWidth $ImageFormattingWidthwrapping width for expressions to be rasterized
    ImageResolution $ImageResolutionimage resolution in dpi for rasterization
    ImageSize Automaticfinal displayed image size in printer's points
    RasterSize Automaticraster size in pixels for rasterization
  • RasterSize and ImageResolution determine the coarseness of rasterization; ImageSize determines the size at which the final image will be displayed.
  • If there is an explicit setting for RasterSize, it overrides any explicit setting for ImageResolution.
  • When the settings for RasterSize or ImageResolution are small, the graphic will appear coarse, and text may be illegible. There may also be artifacts associated with aliasing.
  • Settings for ImageSize and Background in Rasterize override any settings for those options in expr.
  • Background->None yields a raster with a transparent background.
  • If no explicit size or resolution option settings are given, Rasterize[expr,…] will rasterize expr at the size and resolution it would normally be displayed in a notebook.
  • Rasterize[expr,"RasterSize"] yields {w,h}, where w is the overall width in pixels of the raster, and h is its overall height.
  • Rasterize[expr,"BoundingBox"] yields {w,h,dh}, where w is the overall width, h is the overall height, and dh is the offset of the baseline of the contents of expr from the bottom of its bounding box.
  • Images generated by Rasterize can vary slightly from one computer system to another, mainly as a result of different fonts and anti-aliasing procedures.
  • The results from Rasterize[expr,"BoundingBox"] can depend on details of font metrics, which generally differ between different computer systems.
  • Rasterize[expr,"Regions"] gives a list of rules of the form {{a1,type1}->reg1,{a2,type2}->reg2,…}, where each rule {ai,typei}->regi is associated with an annotation of the form Annotation[expr,ai,typei] in expr, or with an object that is automatically recognized as an annotation, such as a Hyperlink or Tooltip. The regi give pixel positions in the form {{xmin,ymin},{xmax,ymax}}, where y coordinates run from top to bottom, mirroring the coords attribute of HTML.

Examples

open allclose all

Basic Examples  (3)Summary of the most common use cases

Make a 15-pixel-wide rasterization of an image of a disk:

In[10]:=10
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-g9h71z
Out[10]=10

Make a 75-pixel-wide rasterization of text, and display it 200 pixels wide:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-glmp4t
Out[1]=1

Make a 36 dpi rasterization of a 3D graphic with light yellow background:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-fuqd7a
Out[1]=1

Scope  (11)Survey of the scope of standard use cases

Convert any Wolfram Language expression into a raster graphic:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-b0hxtp
Out[1]=1

The default output is a raster graphic:

In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-ddom0r

Get the bounding box information:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-60rfr
Out[1]=1

Get the array of pixel values for the raster:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-ia3cs
In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-bxrreb
Out[2]=2

Get the raster graphic:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-cm7kd9
Out[1]=1

Get the pixel dimensions of the raster:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-cgl3wn
Out[1]=1

Get both the raster graphic and its pixel dimensions:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-3pnuf5
Out[1]=1

Define regions using Annotation:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-n9nzkp
Out[1]=1

Get the defined regions:

In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-eu3kg4
Out[2]=2

Display the regions using rectangles:

In[3]:=3
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-geyxxn
Out[3]=3

Set background color:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-hezlv8
Out[1]=1

Set image resolution:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-pwond
Out[1]=1

Set raster size in pixels:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-bjzuzt
Out[1]=1

RasterSize overrides ImageResolution:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-dpxsw4
Out[1]=1

Options  (12)Common values & functionality for each option

Background  (2)

Set background color:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-9mhsy
Out[1]=1

By default, the background is opaque white:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-hhh5x
Out[1]=1

Make the background transparent by setting Background->None:

In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-luifgj
Out[2]=2

ImageFormattingWidth  (2)

Line wrap at different widths:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-es25j9
Out[1]=1

Do not line wrap:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-xvpfkc
Out[1]=1

ImageResolution  (3)

The default resolution is determined by the current display settings:

In[31]:=31
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-jcg32m
Out[31]=31
Out[32]=32

Use ImageResolution to specify the desired resolution:

In[33]:=33
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-vn2xjr
Out[33]=33
Out[34]=34

Use a low resolution:

In[3]:=3
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-4uct2b
Out[3]=3

Image resolution affects the raster size but not the display size of the expression:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-l2x0ds
Out[1]=1

Raster size at different resolutions:

In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-bw12i7
Out[2]=2

Display size at different resolutions:

In[3]:=3
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-tg5zle
Out[3]=3

RasterSize overrides ImageResolution:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-srula7
Out[1]=1

Low-resolution rasterization with the automatic raster size:

In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-je9vh7
Out[2]=2

ImageSize  (2)

By default, rasterized expressions are returned at their original display size:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-sth23n
Out[1]=1
In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-bvqkop
Out[2]=2

Use the ImageSize option to set a specific display size:

In[3]:=3
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-6wr68v
Out[3]=3

The ImageSize option overrides any previous settings in the expression being rasterized:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-j39ir4
Out[1]=1
In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-kq0gpu
Out[2]=2
In[3]:=3
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-32j9e5
Out[3]=3

If an expression does not have a scalable display size, ImageSize is only setting the final display size:

In[4]:=4
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-uez3ng
Out[4]=4
In[5]:=5
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-46lqbr
Out[5]=5

RasterSize  (3)

The default raster size is determined by the display size of the expression and the resolution settings:

In[3]:=3
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-b6ze4u
Out[3]=3
Out[4]=4

Use RasterSizew to specify an explicit image width:

In[5]:=5
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-1grzgu
Out[5]=5
Out[6]=6

Use RasterSize{w,h} to specify both width and height:

In[7]:=7
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-w26v4j
Out[7]=7
Out[8]=8

Set different raster sizes in pixels:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-f69dsk
Out[1]=1

RasterSize overrides ImageResolution. Use the default RasterSize:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-1glw0x
Out[1]=1

Check the size of the raster:

In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-bt7846
Out[2]=2

Specify the RasterSize:

In[3]:=3
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-p6v5q3
Out[3]=3
In[4]:=4
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-523miv
Out[4]=4

Applications  (3)Sample problems that can be solved with this function

Image of the first 1000 letters from the US Constitution:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-dzmeli
In[2]:=2
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-dp7pxx
Out[2]=2

Thumbnail of a Wolfram System notebook:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-b9b2p4
In[2]:=2
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-jd4
Out[2]=2

Rasterize a line segment with grid lines:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-bxalxl

With antialiasing:

In[2]:=2
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-ylizg
Out[2]=2

Without antialiasing:

In[3]:=3
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-kdl042
Out[3]=3

Properties & Relations  (2)Properties of the function, and connections to other functions

Rasterizing a graphic with a custom ImageSize option works by changing the graphic's ImageSize, not by magnifying the graphic:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-d5a9v
In[2]:=2
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-bwpfam
Out[2]=2

A graphic embedded in a non-graphical construct will magnify instead:

In[3]:=3
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-jd9am
Out[3]=3

Rasterizing a Cell expression displays the cell's contents as the Wolfram System front end would:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-5l9hqb
Out[1]=1

Properties of the cell that affect the contents will be displayed:

In[2]:=2
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-12hmpq
Out[2]=2

Properties that only affect margins or cell-level decorations will not be displayed:

In[3]:=3
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-o0tbrx
Out[3]=3

Possible Issues  (1)Common pitfalls and unexpected behavior

Because ImageSize is in points, it may not correspond to the pixel dimensions of the resulting image:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-hxsk2h
Out[1]=1

To specify the pixel dimensions, use RasterSize:

In[2]:=2
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-pwbszz
Out[2]=2

Interactive Examples  (1)Examples with interactive outputs

Interactively change the rasterization parameters:

In[2]:=2
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-vtvqns
Out[2]=2

Neat Examples  (1)Surprising or curious use cases

Pages from the US Constitution:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-c318vb
In[2]:=2
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0bim62ru-fu5rkk
Out[2]=2
Wolfram Research (2007), Rasterize, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Rasterize.html (updated 2020).
✖
Wolfram Research (2007), Rasterize, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Rasterize.html (updated 2020).

Text

Wolfram Research (2007), Rasterize, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Rasterize.html (updated 2020).

✖
Wolfram Research (2007), Rasterize, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Rasterize.html (updated 2020).

CMS

Wolfram Language. 2007. "Rasterize." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2020. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Rasterize.html.

✖
Wolfram Language. 2007. "Rasterize." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2020. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Rasterize.html.

APA

Wolfram Language. (2007). Rasterize. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Rasterize.html

✖
Wolfram Language. (2007). Rasterize. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Rasterize.html

BibTeX

@misc{reference.wolfram_2025_rasterize, author="Wolfram Research", title="{Rasterize}", year="2020", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Rasterize.html}", note=[Accessed: 08-June-2025 ]}

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@misc{reference.wolfram_2025_rasterize, author="Wolfram Research", title="{Rasterize}", year="2020", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Rasterize.html}", note=[Accessed: 08-June-2025 ]}

BibLaTeX

@online{reference.wolfram_2025_rasterize, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={Rasterize}, year={2020}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Rasterize.html}, note=[Accessed: 08-June-2025 ]}

✖
@online{reference.wolfram_2025_rasterize, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={Rasterize}, year={2020}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Rasterize.html}, note=[Accessed: 08-June-2025 ]}