Finish and export a layout

A layout includes a map, along with surrounding information such as a title, legend, scale bar, or credit text. These elements—called map surrounds—help to explain the map. It is important that the layout be well designed so the map is easy to interpret. It should be balanced, consistent, uncluttered, and have a clear visual hierarchy.

You have been hired to create a printed map of a marine estuary for a small museum in South Australia. It should show the different land cover types and tidal class areas in the estuary, which are described in other displays in the museum. In this tutorial series, you'll use ArcGIS Pro to design a layout for the client.

This tutorial is the last in the series Design a layout in ArcGIS Pro:

• Make a layout with two maps
• Arrange a layout
• Finish and export a layout

It is recommended that you complete the previous tutorials in this series before this one. In this tutorial, you'll assess a layout design for consistency, visual hierarchy, and unnecessary items. You'll learn how to make changes to a map to solve problems in a layout, add a north arrow, resize a layout, and export a PDF.

This lesson was last tested on February 22, 2024, using ArcGIS Pro 3.2 and ArcGIS Enterprise 11.2. If you're using a different version of ArcGIS Pro or ArcGIS Enterprise, you may encounter different functionality and results.

View final result

Requirements

• ArcGIS Pro (see options for software access)
• ArcGIS organizational account: ArcGIS Online (see options for software access) or ArcGIS Enterprise (learn more)

Finish and export a layout

Remove items

Before you decide that a layout is complete, it's important to pause and assess what you have made. You’ll begin by asking if anything can be removed from the layout.

Sometimes, information that is interesting can distract from information that is important. In this case, you already removed all extra information from the legends and were careful not to crowd the design with too many text blocks or the maps with too much data. The question of what information is essential and what is extraneous is one you should ask yourself throughout the map and layout design process. If you had not, you would need to remove many things at this stage.

In this case, you’ll remove one unnecessary label from the layout.

1. If you completed the earlier tutorial Arrange a layout, reopen AmericanRiver.aprx. Otherwise, download AmericanRiver3.ppkx. Double-click the file to open it in ArcGIS Pro.

   Note:

   A .ppkx file is an ArcGIS Pro project package and may contain maps, data, and other files that you can open in ArcGIS Pro. Learn more about managing .ppkx files in this guide.

2. If prompted, sign in to ArcGIS Pro using your licensed ArcGIS account.

   Note:

   If you don't have access to ArcGIS Pro or an ArcGIS organizational account, see options for software access.

3. On the Cover Type map, locate the Estuary Mouth label, which is partially hidden by the inset map.

   

   Text that is cut off in this way appears messy and unintentional. In this case, you are unable to read the label. It would be difficult to place this label elsewhere without moving the inset map. Fortunately, the Estuary Mouth label is repeated on the other map, so you can remove the one that is cut off.

4. In the Contents pane, expand the Cover Type map frame. If necessary, also expand the Cover Type map.

   

   The labels in this map are actually annotation features, which can be individually edited and positioned. The properties of annotation features are stored as attributes.

   Note:

   To learn more about annotation, including how to create and edit it, see Pro Map Text II: Annotation.

   You’ll use a definition query to remove this label from the map.

5. Right-click the Annotation layer and click Properties.
6. In the Layer Properties window, click Definition Query.

   There’s already a definition query on this layer.

7. Click the Edit button.

   

   The existing query filters the layer to remove another label. You’ll add a second clause to the query to additionally remove the Estuary Mouth label.

8. Click Add Clause.
9. Ensure the first menu is set to And. For the next three menus, choose Text String, is not equal to, and Estuary Mouth.

   

10. Click Apply. Click OK.

    The Estuary Mouth label disappears from Cover Type map. It is still present on the Tidal Class map.

    

11. In the Contents pane, collapse the Cover Type map frame.

Assess the layout’s consistency

Next, you’ll look for inconsistencies in your layout design. Are there any text elements that use a different font than the others? Are all the black and turquoise elements using the same black and the same turquoise? Are the two maps set to the same scale and position? Consistency is an important element of layout design. It’s okay to make things inconsistent, but only if you can justify why.

In this layout, there is an inconsistency in the text formatting of the two legends. The Cover Type legend uses title case, with each word capitalized, while the Tidal class legend uses sentence case, with only the first word of each line capitalized. This inconsistency will appear as a distracting typo to some map readers. It doesn’t matter which formatting you choose, only that you use it consistently. The labels on the map use title case, so you’ll stick with this formatting for the legends as well.

1. In the Contents pane, expand the Tidal Class map frame. If necessary, also expand the Tidal Class map.
2. Rename the Tidal class layer to Tidal Class, with a capital C.

   

   Tip:

   To rename an item, click it once in the Contents pane to select, and click it again or press F2 to make the name editable.

3. If necessary, expand the Tidal Class layer. Rename the Stranded tidal symbol class to Stranded Tidal, with a capital T.

   The spelling changes are reflected on the layout.

   

4. In the Contents pane, collapse the Tidal Class map frame.

Assess the layout’s visual hierarchy

Visual hierarchy refers to a ranked order of map elements. When designing a layout, you should use visual hierarchy principles to ensure that important information—like the map—is noticed first, while secondary information—like credit text—is noticed last. The primary way to establish visual hierarchy is with contrast. Things with a high contrast with the background will appear to be in the foreground of the image, and will be noticed first, while things with low contrast will appear in the background and will be noticed last.

1. Right-click the ruler surrounding the layout and uncheck Guides.

   

   Now you have a clearer view of the layout.

2. List all of the layout’s elements in the order that you want viewers to notice them.
3. Review the layout and list all of its items in the order that you think they will be noticed.

   Your lists might look like the following:

   Order	Desired visual hierarchy	Actual visual hierarchy
   1	Maps	Title
   2	Title	Maps
   3	Legends	Inset map
   4	Descriptive text	Legends
   5	Inset map	Descriptive text
   6	Scale bar	Scale bar
   7	Credit text	Credit text

   The estuary maps are the largest things on the page. They have closed forms, saturated colors, and detailed lines and textures. All of these properties help to give them a high visual hierarchy. However, the title competes for first place because it is also large, has familiar shapes (words), and has a very high contrast with both itself (white letters on a black background) and the rest of the layout (a black box on a light background).

   For the most part, the two lists are close enough. The title and the two large maps are noticed first, the credit text and scale bar are noticed last. The one element that you’ll change to improve the map’s visual hierarchy is the inset map.

   

   Currently, the inset map looks like a sticker attached to the layout—it appears closer to the viewer than the other items, which means it has a high visual hierarchy. This is due to its black border, which has a high contrast with the background and emphasizes its closed shape. You’ll change the border’s color to decrease this effect.

4. Click the inset map. In the Element pane, click the Display button.

   

   Often, an inset map will not need any border. But in this case, a border is necessary to ensure the landforms in the inset map don’t appear to be part of the Cover Type map.

5. For Border, change the color to white and width to 4 pt.

   

   White has a low contrast with both the inset map and its background. It has such a low contrast that it might be hard to see, especially if the map is printed on poor quality paper or projected on a screen. The extra width helps to ensure it will be visible.

6. Click outside the layout to deselect the inset map.

   

   You fixed your visual hierarchy problem but created a consistency problem: The two large maps have thin black borders while the inset map has a thick white one.

7. In the Contents pane, hold the Shift key and select both the Tidal Class and Cover Type map frames.

   

   You can’t select them on the layout view because they are locked.

8. In the Element pane, for Border, change the color to white and the width to 4 pt.

   The border looks good in the middle of the layout, separating the two maps, but it is distracting around the edge, especially where it contrasts with the gray ocean of the Tidal Class map.

   

9. In the Element pane, change the width to 0 pt.

   

   You’ll add a white line to the layout to separate the two maps instead of using a border.

10. On the ribbon, click the Insert tab. In the Graphics and Text group, click the Line button.

    

11. On the layout, click to draw a line along the center guide, stretching from the title to the bottom edge of the layout.

    You can still snap to the guides, even though they are not visible.

    

12. In the Element pane, click the Symbol tab.
13. For Color, choose white. For Line width, choose 4 pt.

    

14. In the Contents pane, drag the Line element to place it above the map frames but below the title.

    

    The line now separates the two maps without hiding any other elements.

    

Export the layout

Your layout is ready to export. You'll export it as a .pdf file, which your client can print or share online.

1. On the ribbon, click the Share tab. In the Output group, click the lower half of the Export Layout button.
2. In the menu that appears, click Flattened PDF.

   

3. In the Export pane, for Name, click the Browse button. Choose a location you can easily access and name the file AmericanRiver_Draft1.pdf. Click Save.

   

4. Ensure that Output as image is checked.

   This option will flatten all of the vector (for example, text) and raster (for example, imagery) elements into one raster image. This may make your layout less crisp, but it will also reduce the file size.

5. Change Vector resolution to 300 DPI.

   

   The standard resolution for print graphics is 300 DPI (dots per inch). At this resolution, vector graphics will appear crisp, even though they have been converted to images.

6. Under PDF Settings, uncheck Export georeferenced information.
7. Click Export. Do not close the Export Layout pane.

Seek reviews and address feedback

The PDF you exported is not the final product,;it is only a draft. Next, you’ll seek reviews. You should show the exported layout to a few friends and colleagues and ask them to explain the map to you. If they don’t know what a feature represents, you may need to add more information—for example, a legend item, text block, label, an illustration, or a diagram. If they get distracted by something that you believe isn’t important, you may need to remove that element or de-emphasize its appearance.

You also sent your draft to your client for a review. They were pleased with the map, but they said that it needs a north arrow. They also changed their mind about the size: they now want it to be larger.

You are not sure that the map needs a north arrow. North is at the top of the page, where map readers assume it will be. However, you’re also not sure it is worth arguing with your client on this point. Adding a north arrow will not harm the layout so long as it is small and has a low contrast with the rest of the design.

1. On the ribbon, click the Insert tab. In the Map Surrounds group, click the bottom half of the North Arrow button.

   

2. In the menu that appears, click the second-last option: Simple Filled North Arrow.
3. Draw a small box above the credit text to place the north arrow.

   

4. On the ribbon, click the North Arrow tab. In the Symbol group, for Fill, choose the turquoise Estuary color.

   

Change the size of the layout

Next, you’ll address your client’s request to change the size of the layout from A3 to A1. The size and extent of a layout is something you should confirm with a client early in the process, since it determines so many other design choices and can be difficult to change later. However, A-size papers all have the same ratio, so scaling between them is not difficult.

1. On the ribbon, click the Layout tab. In the Page Setup group, click the Size button.

   

2. Under ISO Sizes, click A1.

   It may take a few minutes for the maps to refresh. When they do, the layout looks almost the same as before. The text and symbols have updated to suit the new page size. Only a few items need to be adjusted: the legends and the scale bar.

   

3. Right-click one of the legends (either on the map or in the Contents pane) and click Properties to reopen the Element pane.
4. Click the Show properties button.
5. Under Sizing, for Patch width, type 48 pt. For Patch height, type 24 pt.

   

   The legend patches double in size, better suiting the sizes of the other layout elements.

   

6. Select the other legend. In the Element pane, click Show properties.
7. Change Patch width to 48 pt and Patch height to 24 pt.

   Next, you’ll increase the gaps between elements within the legends.

8. Hold the Shift key and select both legends. In the Element pane, click the Legend Arrangement Options button.

   

9. Expand the Spacing section. Type 10 pt for the following properties:
   • Classes
   • Layer name sand items below
   • Patches and text

   

   The size and spacing of the legends are now better suited to the layout.

   

   You’ll also increase the size of the scale bar.

10. Select the scale bar. In the Element pane, click the Properties button.

    

11. Expand the Bar section. For Height, type 12 pt.

    

    You are ready to export your final draft.

    

12. On the Quick Access Toolbar, click the Save button.
13. Close the Element pane and reopen the Export Layout pane.

    Tip:

    If you can’t find the Export Layout pane, follow the steps in the previous section to reopen it and reset its properties.

14. In the Name field, change the file name to AmericanRiver_Draft2.pdf.

    

15. Click Export.
16. Click View exported file to open the finished map.

    

In this tutorial, you applied the finishing touches to a layout. You assessed the design for unnecessary items, consistency, and visual hierarchy. You removed map labels, changed map borders, and added a north arrow. You requested feedback and changed the size of the layout.

In this tutorial series, you made a layout that combines three maps, two legends, and text. You learned how to do the following:

• Create a layout with guides and map frames.
• Add and style legends, scale bars, north arrows, inset maps, and layout text.
• Use dynamic text.
• Save colors, text symbols, and legends to a style.
• Align, distribute, and group layout items.
• Rename and reorder layout items.
• Change the size of a layout.
• Export a layout to a .pdf file.

Good design requires iteration and experimentation. Several versions of this layout were designed before one was chosen for this tutorial. You are encouraged to make a copy of this layout in the Catalog pane and create your own design. You may, for example, make a vertical layout, choose a different font or different colors, or stagger the maps and arrange the map surrounds differently. Consider this example of an alternate design.

You can find all of the tutorials in this series at Design a layout in ArcGIS Pro. You can find more cartography tutorials on the Introduction to Cartography page.

Acknowledgements

• The Cover Type, Outlines, Tidal Class, Annotation, and Imagery Mask layers are derived from Estuarine Habitats of South Australia, provided by the Government of South Australia, Department for Environment and Water. Accessed May 2023.
• The Imagery layer is derived from the World Imagery layer available from ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World, sourced from Maxar. Accessed February 2024.
• The Pelican Lagoon Sanctuary Boundary, Graphics Layer, Annotation Halos, Point Locations, and American River layers were created by Esri for this tutorial.
• The Human Geography Dark Detail layer is from Esri. Its sources are Esri, TomTom, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community.
• The World Hillshade layer is from Esri. Its sources are Esri, Airbus DS, USGS, NGA, NASA, CGIAR, N Robinson, NCEAS, NLS, OS, NMA, Geodatastyrelsen, Rijkswaterstaat, GSA, Geoland, FEMA, Intermap, and the GIS user community.