Choose radiometric image export if you'll need to check temperatures after the inspection. A screenshot can show where a hot spot was. A supported radiometric original can let you open the image later and place a measurement point elsewhere in the frame.
What are you actually saving?
| File | What it's useful for | Can you measure a new spot later? |
|---|---|---|
| Screenshot or standard JPEG | Showing what you saw, including any readings printed on the picture. | No, if it only contains the rendered image. |
| Radiometric original | Reopening the thermal data in compatible software and reviewing different locations in the frame. | Yes, if the file retains the measurement data and your software can interpret it. |
| PDF report | Sharing findings, annotated images and selected readings with a customer. | Keep the original thermal file separately if you need to reanalyse the image. |
A file ending in .jpg can be either kind. HIKMICRO, for example, documents a radiometric JPEG that stores temperature data for later analysis. Don't decide from the filename or the colors of the image.
When is live temperature enough?
- Finding a warm component during a repair: a live image may be all you need if you're tracing the heat source and won't revisit the results.
- Documenting a finding for someone else: keep a visible photo and the radiometric original when you need to defend or revisit the reading. The exported report is what you share; the original is what you can review.
- Doing repeat inspections: preserve the original and the capture conditions. Changing distance, emissivity or the part of the image being compared can change the interpretation.
A five-minute check before you buy
- Ask for a sample original from the exact model and the name of the software that opens it. For a phone attachment, ask about your phone and operating system too.
- Open it on the computer or phone you'll use. Add a measurement point somewhere that had no reading displayed in the original picture.
- Check whether you can change the palette and, if your work requires it, review measurement settings. Confirm whether you need a subscription, account or separate desktop application.
- Export a JPEG or a PDF for sharing. Make sure you still have the original after sending or exporting a copy.
What a radiometric file cannot fix
It doesn't recover details that never reached the detector. A badly focused image, a target smaller than the measurable spot or a reading dominated by a shiny surface may still be misleading. See how focus and spot size limit close-up readings and why surface emissivity affects temperature.
If later analysis matters, turn on Full radiometry in the comparator, or start with the selector set to radiometric images for computer analysis. Then verify the supported export format on the model page or in the manufacturer's manual.
Sources
- HIKMICRO handheld thermography FAQ — how its documented radiometric JPEG stores and retains temperature data.
- HIKMICRO Analyzer manual — example of reviewing thermal files and preparing reports.
This guide is based on the documentation above. The cover illustration is not a field measurement. The Thermogram did not conduct a hands-on test for this article.