# Read 3D TIFF files as voxel-centered
**URL:** https://discourse.paraview.org/t/read-3d-tiff-files-as-voxel-centered/17337
**Category:** ParaView Support
**Created:** [November 30, 2025, 6:30pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/read-3d-tiff-files-as-voxel-centered/17337 "2025-11-30T18:30:32Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@usiu5555](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/usiu5555)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2025, 6:30pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/read-3d-tiff-files-as-voxel-centered/17337/1 "2025-11-30T18:30:32Z")
When reading a tiff stack, Paraview reads it as point data and the voxel values are interpolated based on vertices’ values. When reading categorical data, such convention leads to visual artifacts. Is it possible to read the tiff file directly into cell data, assuming that the values are voxel-centered?
So when I have a tiff file with dimensions 10x20x30, bounds would be 0-10, 0-20 and 0-30 (instead of 0-9,0-19,0-29), and each voxel would have value assigned from the corresponding tiff pixel.
Point Data to Cell Data filter with “Categorical Data” option does not solve the problem.
Below the difference when the same data is read from binary file (with xdmf) and from the tiff file without and with PD to CD filter.
Binary:
Tiff:
Tiff + Point Data to Cell Data (Categorical)
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### Author:  [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2025, 8:26am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/read-3d-tiff-files-as-voxel-centered/17337/2 "2025-12-01T08:26:33Z")
Please share your data.
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### Author:  [@usiu5555](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/usiu5555)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2025, 10:32am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/read-3d-tiff-files-as-voxel-centered/17337/3 "2025-12-01T10:32:46Z")
Of course, here is a test I am using:
[test.tiff](https://discourse.paraview.org/uploads/short-url/7vRxDGRsGRgjjsBv9gjiMLkFquh.tiff) (143.2 KB)
The problem can be replicated on data available online as well, e.g. [https://www.nrel.gov/media/docs/libraries/tsdc/caebat/nmc-1-cal-withcbd-w099-binarized.tif](https://www.nrel.gov/media/docs/libraries/tsdc/caebat/nmc-1-cal-withcbd-w099-binarized.tif)
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### Author:  [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2025, 2:21pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/read-3d-tiff-files-as-voxel-centered/17337/4 "2025-12-01T14:21:33Z")
I confirm the tiff reader reads data at the points, which lead to interpolation between cells. You may be able to convert to cell centers but this require some coding.
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### Author:  [@usiu5555](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/usiu5555)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2025, 4:25pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/read-3d-tiff-files-as-voxel-centered/17337/5 "2025-12-01T16:25:13Z")
Thank you for the confirmation.
I think for now a good option is to convert the file into .vti for the visualization purpose. Here is a simple Python script for anyone who will end up here with the same problem.
[TiffToVTK.py](https://discourse.paraview.org/uploads/short-url/8ESN2pfqjY1XJS4SQqSy9Cf9DCv.py) (696 Bytes)