NAME

       gdal_create - Create a raster file (without source dataset)

SYNOPSIS

          Usage: gdal_create [--help] [--long-usage] [--help-general]
                             [-ot Byte|Int8|[U]Int{16|32|64}|CInt{16|32}|[C]Float{32|64}]
                             [-of <output_format>] [-outsize <xsize> <ysize>]
                             [-bands <count>] [-burn <value>]... [-a_srs <srs_def>]
                             [-a_ullr <ulx> <uly> <lrx> <lry>] [-a_nodata <value>]
                             [-mo <NAME>=<VALUE>]... [-co <NAME>=<VALUE>]... [--quiet]
                             [-if <input_dataset>]
                             <out_dataset>

DESCRIPTION

       The  gdal_create utility can be used to initialize a new raster file, from its dimensions, band count and
       set various parameters, such as CRS, geotransform, nodata value, metadata. It can be used also in special
       cases, like creating a PDF file from a XML composition file.

       --help Show this help message and exit

       --help-general
              Gives a brief usage message for the generic GDAL commandline options and exit.

       -ot <type>
              Force the output image bands to have a specific data type supported by the driver,  which  may  be
              one  of  the following: Byte, Int8, UInt16, Int16, UInt32, Int32, UInt64, Int64, Float32, Float64,
              CInt16, CInt32, CFloat32 or CFloat64.

       -of <format>
              Select the output format. If not specified, the format is guessed  from  the  extension.  Use  the
              short format name.

       -outsize <xsize> <ysize>
              Set the size of the output file in pixels. First value is width. Second one is height.

       -bands <count>
              Number of bands. Defaults to 1 if -outsize is specified, or 0 otherwise.

       -burn <value>
              A  fixed  value  to  burn  into a band. A list of -burn options can be supplied, one per band (the
              first value will apply to the first band, the second one to the second band, etc.).  If  a  single
              value is specified, it will apply to all bands.

       -a_srs <srs_def>
              Override the projection for the output file.  The<srs_def> may be any of the usual GDAL/OGR forms,
              complete WKT, PROJ.4, EPSG:n or a file containing the WKT. No reprojection is done.

       -a_ullr <ulx> <uly> <lrx> <lry>
              Assign the georeferenced bounds of the output file.

       -a_nodata <value>
              Assign a specified nodata value to output bands.

       -mo <META-TAG>=<VALUE>
              Passes a metadata key and value to set on the output dataset if possible.

       -co <NAME>=<VALUE>
              Many  formats  have  one or more optional creation options that can be used to control particulars
              about the file created. For instance, the GeoTIFF driver  supports  creation  options  to  control
              compression, and whether the file should be tiled.

              The  creation  options  available  vary by format driver, and some simple formats have no creation
              options at all. A list of options supported for a format can be listed with the  --format  command
              line option but the documentation for the format is the definitive source of information on driver
              creation options.  See Raster drivers format specific documentation for legal creation options for
              each format.

       -q     Suppress progress monitor and other non-error output.

       -if <input_dataset>
              Added in version 3.3.

              Name  of  GDAL  input  dataset  that  serves as a template for default values of options -outsize,
              -bands, -ot, -a_srs, -a_ullr and -a_nodata.  Note that the pixel values will not be copied.

       <out_dataset>
              The destination file name.

EXAMPLES

   Example 1: Initialize a new GeoTIFF file with a uniform value of 10
          gdal_create -outsize 20 20 -a_srs EPSG:4326 -a_ullr 2 50 3 49 -burn 10 out.tif

   Example 2: Create a PDF file from a XML composition file
          gdal_create -co COMPOSITION_FILE=composition.xml out.pdf

   Example 3: Initialize a blank GeoTIFF file from an input one
          gdal_create -if prototype.tif output.tif

AUTHOR

       Even Rouault <even.rouault@spatialys.com>

COPYRIGHT

       1998-2025

                                                  Nov 07, 2025                                    GDAL_CREATE(1)