ArcGISTM allows users to display two dimensional raster images in 3D by draping them over surface models of the same area.

Draping a TIFF image
     
  1. Obtain a georeferenced TIFF image of the area of interest.
  2. Obtain a georeferenced elevation data set (DEM, DOQ) for the area of interest.
  3. Start ArcSceneTM.
  4. Click the Add Data icon or select File->Add Data... and add the georeferenced TIFF image.
  5. Click the Add Data icon or select File->Add Data... and add the georeferenced elevation data set to the scene. (Note that there may be some display artifacts, but these will be fixed.)
  6. Select View->Toolbars and check 3D Effects to display the 3D Effects toolbar.
  7. Click the dropdown arrow on the right side of the Layer text box on the 3D effects toolbar and select the TIFF image layer.
  8. Click the Change Depth Priority icon on the 3D effects toolbar (rightmost icon) and set the priority to High.
  9. Click the Layer Transparency icon on the 3D effects toolbar (leftmost icon) and set the transparency to 30%.
  10. Uncheck the elevation data set layer in the table of contents. (This will remove the elevation layer from the display, but not from ArcScene.)
  11. Right-click the TIFF image layer in the table of contents and choose Properties from the pop-up menu to open the Layer Properties dialog box.
  12. Select the Base Heights tab.
  13. Check the Obtain heights for layer from surface: radio button, and choose the elevation data set from the dropdown menu.
  14. Click OK.

Hint...
      To create an even more dramatic 3D image, also drape a hillshade for the area of interest over the elevation data. To do this, perform the following steps in the same ArcSceneTM session that you executed the steps above.
  1. Click the Add Data icon or select File->Add Data... and add the hillshade. (To create a hillshade for the area of interest, see the Hillshade ArcGISTM tips page.)
  2. Click the dropdown arrow on the right side of the Layer text box on the 3D effects toolbar and select the hillshade layer.
  3. Click the Change Depth Priority icon on the 3D effects toolbar (rightmost icon) and set the priority to Low.
  4. Click the Layer Transparency icon on the 3D effects toolbar (leftmost icon) and set the transparency to 30%.
  5. Right-click the hillshade layer in the table of contents and choose Properties from the pop-up menu to open the Layer Properties dialog box.
  6. Select the Base Heights tab.
  7. Check the Obtain heights for layer from surface: radio button, and choose the elevation data set from the dropdown menu.
  8. Click OK.