Grid
The Grid tool overlays a terrain-oriented reference grid on the video. Use it when geospatial metadata is available and you need visual context for ground orientation, scale, and north direction inside the image frame.
Open the tool from Tools > Grid in the transport controls. STView projects a ground-plane grid and north arrow into the video overlay when the current packet has enough frame georeferencing.
Terrain Grid
The terrain grid is a geo-aware overlay. STView uses frame georeferencing from the active KLV packet to project a ground-plane reference into image space. As playback moves through the source, the grid updates with the current metadata so it follows changes in platform position, sensor orientation, zoom, and frame geometry.
The grid is read-only. It is intended as a situational reference layer, not an editable overlay object. It helps you understand how the camera view relates to the ground and which direction the scene is oriented relative to north.
Basic Workflow
- Open a video source with KLV geospatial metadata.
- Make sure overlays are enabled.
- Open Tools > Grid.
- Review the projected grid and north arrow over the video.
- Seek or step through the source to see how the terrain reference changes with the packet metadata.
The grid can be used together with the Ruler tool. The grid provides terrain orientation and visual scale context, while the ruler gives a focused distance measurement between two selected points.
Metadata Requirements
The grid needs frame georeferencing before it can draw. STView can use either:
| Metadata | Meaning |
|---|---|
ST 0601 Tags 82-89 | Full-frame corner georeferencing. |
ST 0601 Tags 23 and 24 plus 26-33 | Frame center latitude/longitude with offset-corner metadata. |
When the active packet carries ST 0601 Tag 101 Amend Local Set data, the
Player LS selector controls which metadata branch is used for the grid. The
selected branch also affects other KLV-driven overlay reads, including the
ruler and marker projection.
When The Grid Is Empty
If the Grid tool is enabled but the overlay remains empty, the current packet probably does not contain usable frame georeferencing. Check the KLV window for the required ST 0601 fields, then seek to a section where those fields are present.
The grid may also be temporarily unavailable when the video and metadata cannot be matched at the current playback position.
Notes and Limitations
- The terrain grid is an analysis overlay; it is not burned into recordings or cut exports.
- Grid placement and orientation depend on source metadata quality.
- The grid is most useful for ground or terrain-oriented scenes. It may be less meaningful when frame georeferencing is incomplete, stale, or not aligned with the visible scene.
- Use the Ruler tool when you need a specific distance measurement rather than general terrain orientation.