Rasterize in QGIS using point as centroid (not vertex)

Question

I'm attempting to make the full switch from ArcGIS to QGIS, but there are a few snags I'm hitting along the way, one of which is in the GDAL "Rasterize" function. My process goes like this: I have a raster which I convert to point file using SAGA "Raster values to points" which creates a point at the centroid of each pixel (with XY coordinates as attributes). I then run a function on this dbf outside of QGIS (in R). Then I want to convert the point file back into a raster. I use the GDAL "Rasterize", but this uses the points as vertices, effectively shifting the raster by half a pixel down and to the right. By comparison, ArcGIS views the point as the centroid, and using the "point to raster" returns a raster that lines up with the original. How can I tell QGIS that the point is the centroid?

I have tried the roundabout way of making a VRT, but as the pixels are shifted exactly half a pixel, the resultant raster is shifted an additional half-pixel down and to the right (so now the pixel vertices line up, but are shifted a complete pixel diagonally down and to the right).

Answer 1

I haven't tested it, but I would use the following methods:

Are the X and Y coordinates exported to your table? If not, add the coordinates to the attribute table before you start your calculations.

During your transformation to points, the pixel size became the horizontal and vertical distance between adjacent points. Measure this distance value and divide by half. Then use this new value to subtract it from your x coordinates (moving the point half a pixel to the left) and add it to your y coordinates (moving the point half a pixel upwards). You can use the Field Calculator for these changes.

Now your data is ready to be rasterized.