Abs (Spatial Analyst)

Available with Spatial Analyst license.

Available with Image Analyst license.

Summary

Calculates the absolute value of the cells in a raster.

Illustration

Abs illustration
OutRas = Abs(InRas1)

Usage

  • Input values can be positive or negative and can be either integer or floating point.

  • If the input is integer, the output raster will be integer type. If the input is floating point, the output raster will be floating point.

  • If the input is a multiband raster, the output will be a multiband raster. The tool will perform the operation on each band in the input.

  • See Analysis environments and Spatial Analyst for additional details on the geoprocessing environments that apply to this tool.

Syntax

Abs(in_raster_or_constant)
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_raster_or_constant

The input raster for which to calculate the absolute values.

To use a number as an input for this parameter, the cell size and extent must first be set in the environment.

Raster Layer; Constant

Return Value

NameExplanationData Type
out_raster

The output raster.

The cell values are the absolute value of the cells of the input raster.

Raster

Code sample

Abs example 1 (Python window)

This example returns a Grid raster with the absolute value of the input values.

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
from arcpy.sa import *
env.workspace = "C:/sapyexamples/data"
outAbs = Abs("negs")
outAbs.save("C:/sapyexamples/output/abs2")
Abs example 2 (stand-alone script)

This example returns a TIFF raster with the absolute value of the input values.

# Name: Abs_Ex_02.py
# Description: Calculates the absolute value of cells in a raster 
# Requirements: Spatial Analyst Extension

# Import system modules
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
from arcpy.sa import *

# Set environment settings
env.workspace = "C:/sapyexamples/data"

# Set local variables
inRaster = "negs"

# Execute Abs
outAbs = Abs(inRaster)

# Save the output 
outAbs.save("C:/sapyexamples/output/outabs.tif")

Licensing information

  • Basic: Requires Spatial Analyst or Image Analyst
  • Standard: Requires Spatial Analyst or Image Analyst
  • Advanced: Requires Spatial Analyst or Image Analyst

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