After applying cartographic techniques to various layers, the next step involves preparing the map for publication through a “Layout”. To begin, go to the “Insert” tab and select “New Layout”. Choose the desired map orientation and paper size. For this tutorial, the “ISO – Landscape: A4” option is selected. Multiple layouts can be created and displayed in separate tabs. When working in a layout, the ribbon tools adapt to suit the layout-specific options.
Creating a new “Layout” in ArcGIS Pro.
The layout displays exactly what will be printed or published, so every detail must be addressed carefully. The following sections describe how to add and configure each component of a complete layout.
Title
To add a title, go to the “Insert” tab under “Graphics and Text” and choose “Straight Text”. Draw a text box where the title will appear and enter the desired text, such as “My first map in ArcGIS Pro”. Text formatting options, including font size (e.g., 18 pt) and bold styling, are accessible from the “Text” tab or the “Text Symbol” tab within the “Text” panel.
Map Body
The map body is the central element of any map, as it displays all the geographical layers that are meant to be represented.
To add the map body in ArcGIS Pro, go to the Insert tab. Within the Map Frames group, click on Map Frame. This action allows the user to select the map that has been previously worked on. Once selected, draw a rectangle on the layout page to define the area where the map will be displayed.
The dimensions of the map body can be adjusted by clicking on the rectangle and resizing its borders. The map’s position within this area can also be modified. To do this, right-click on the created Map Frame and select Activate. Then, use the layout tools to reposition the map as needed.
Inserting the map body (Map Frame) in ArcGIS Pro.
It is essential to configure the print scale appropriately. This can be done from the bottom bar of the layout interface. For demonstration purposes, a scale of 1:5000 is commonly applied in basic projects.
Graticules
Adding one or multiple grids to a map is possible depending on the desired spatial representation. In this example, a UTM planar coordinate grid is required. To begin, the user must select the “Map Frame” layer in the “Contents” panel.
Next, navigate to the “Insert” tab. In the “Map Frames” group, click on “Grid”. Several grid formats are available, including measured grids and graticules. For this case, the “Blue Vertical Label Grid” from the “Measured Grid” section is selected. If needed, geographical coordinate grids can be added by choosing the “Graticule” option.
Adding a grid in ArcGIS Pro.
Once the grid is added, it can be customized using the “Element” panel. This panel appears by double-clicking on the selected grid in the “Contents” panel. If it does not appear, right-click on the grid layer and select “Properties”.
By default, the grid intervals are automatically adjusted. To set custom values, uncheck the “Automatically adjust” box in the “Options” section. Then, click the “Components” button to configure each component of the grid individually.
For instance, horizontal and vertical gridlines (referred to as “Gridlines”) may be unnecessary and can be removed using the “x” button in the “Components” section. Conversely, additional components such as “Intersection Points” can be added. Each component allows further customization, including changes to symbol style, color, and labels.
Grid configuration in the “Element” panel.
North Arrow
A north arrow is used to indicate the orientation of the map. This is a key element that helps readers understand the directional context of the data displayed.
To insert a north arrow in ArcGIS Pro, navigate to the Insert tab and select the North Arrow option located in the Map Surrounds group. A selection of symbols will be available. Choose the desired design (for instance, ArcGIS North 1) and draw a box on the page to place the arrow.
Once placed, the north arrow can be customized. Its size, color, and style can be adjusted according to the layout requirements. The arrow can also be repositioned at any time by simply selecting and dragging it to a new location within the layout frame.
Incorporating a north arrow is essential in ensuring that map readers can easily interpret the orientation and spatial relationships represented in the visual data.
Location Map
A location map is helpful for situating the study area within a broader spatial context. ArcGIS Pro allows the use of location indicators to connect different “Map Frames”, enhancing the map’s overall readability.
To begin, a new map must be created. Navigate to Insert > New Map > Map to add a new map to the project. In the new map, use the Add Data button on the “Map” tab to include one or more layers that outline the broader region encompassing the study area. For instance, all shapefiles from the folder titled “09_5_5_location_map” may be used. When the map represents a department or province, consider adding the corresponding country or regional boundary as a reference layer.
After adding the data, apply standard cartographic design techniques to style and configure the symbology of the map layers. Once complete, return to the “Layout” tab to continue editing the print layout.
Use the Map Frame button to insert the newly created map (e.g., Map1) into the layout. Draw the new frame and adjust its position, size, and scale accordingly. This smaller map will serve as the location reference within the layout.
Next, select the main “Map Frame” (usually containing the detailed study area). In the Map Frames group, click on the Extent Indicator option and choose the name of the new reference map. This creates a visual indicator on the location map to show the extent of the main map.
To customize the appearance of the extent indicator, go to the Element panel and adjust the symbol settings, color, line type, and other visual properties to ensure clarity and visibility.
To provide context for the viewer, add a title such as “Location Map”. This can be done by selecting Insert > Graphics and Text > Straight Text and placing the label on the layout where appropriate.
Setting up location indicators.
Multiple “Map Frames” may be added depending on the needs of the project. Each frame can be modified by right-clicking on it and selecting “Properties”. When working with numerous frames, it is important to maintain clarity by ensuring the primary study area remains clearly visible within the geographic context provided.
Legend
A legend is an essential component of a map as it helps readers interpret the symbols and colors used in the representation of spatial data. In ArcGIS Pro, legends can be added and customized through the layout interface.
To begin, navigate to the Insert tab and locate the Map Surrounds group. Click on Legend and draw a box in the layout area where the legend should appear. This will insert a default legend based on the active layers in the map.
Once the legend has been added, it can be configured using the Element panel. Here, the legend title can be changed, and settings such as font size, font type, columns, border style, and background shading can be customized to meet specific design requirements.
The Contents panel allows for the inclusion or exclusion of individual map layers within the legend. If a particular layer, such as “HillSha_DEM31,” is not required in the legend, it can be deactivated or removed from the list.
Further customization is available by right-clicking on any item in the legend within the Contents panel and selecting Properties. This opens the Element panel, where options related to specific legend items can be accessed. For example, to hide the title of a field in the “Buildings” layer, the Heading checkbox can be unchecked. Similarly, to omit the name of a layer from the legend, the Layer name checkbox can be disabled.
Inserting a legend in ArcGIS Pro.
Numerical Scale
A numerical scale is used to indicate the relationship between the distances shown on the map and the actual distances on the ground. It is important to ensure the correct scale value is set in the layout’s bottom bar before adding this element. For example, a scale of 1:5000 might be used.
To insert the numerical scale, go to the Insert tab and select Dynamic Text from the Graphics and Text group. From the available options, choose Scale and draw a box on the page where the scale text will be placed.
Once inserted, the scale text can be customized. In the Elements panel, the text format can be edited, including font type and size. A recommended size is 12 pt. The text label “Scale:” can also be modified as needed. Since this is a dynamic text element, it will automatically update if the map’s scale changes.
Graphic Scale
A graphic scale is a visual reference, resembling a miniature ruler, that helps users estimate distances directly on the map. This element can be placed either inside or outside the map frame, depending on the layout design.
To add a graphic scale, go to the Insert tab and click on Scale Bar in the Map Surrounds group. Choose a style from the available options, such as Scale Line 2 Metric, and draw it at the desired location in the layout.
After inserting the scale bar, use the Elements panel to adjust its appearance. It is possible to define the unit of measurement (for example, “Meters”) and change the label text to a shorter format such as “m”.
Adding a graphic scale in ArcGIS Pro.
To define exact divisions, right-click on the scale bar and select Properties to open the Elements panel. Under the Fitting Strategy tab, select Adjust width. For example, to create a total length of 200 meters, set the Division Value to 100, Divisions to 2, and Subdivisions to 4. This approach provides precise and readable distance markers on the map.
Adjusting the divisions of the graphic scale.
Geodetic Reference Parameters
Add geodetic reference details via “Insert > Graphics and Text > Straight Text”. Include information such as:
- Universal Transverse Mercator Projection.
- Ellipsoid and Horizontal Datum WGS 84 Zone 17 South.
Cards or Boxes
Information cards or boxes are useful for including supplementary details in the map layout. These may contain the names of the individuals responsible for the map’s creation, the name of the project or program, institutional logos, the source of spatial data, the date of map creation, the working scale, and more.
There are different ways to add this information: through a table from a vector layer, a table created in a word processor, or by inserting an image. Each method is outlined below.
To insert a table from a vector layer:
Begin by verifying that the layer includes all required fields and that aliases are correctly set. This can be done by opening the attribute table of the layer, right-clicking a field, and choosing Field to assign an alias. Once prepared, go to Insert > Map Surrounds > Table Frame, draw the frame on the layout, and select the relevant layer (e.g., “Control points”) in the Elements panel. Customize the table’s appearance as needed.
To insert a table from Microsoft Word:
Copy the table directly from Word (Ctrl + C) and paste it into the ArcGIS Pro layout (Ctrl + V). Adjust the position and size as necessary. However, aligning this type of table may prove difficult. For better control, consider exporting the table as an image. This can be done by pasting it into an image editor like Paint and saving it as a PNG or JPG file.
Information Card
To insert a logo or image:
Go to Insert > Graphics and Text > Graphic, select the desired image, and place it in the appropriate area of the layout. Resize and reposition the image as needed to match the design of the map.
For a polished result, carefully organize each layout element. Select multiple objects and right-click to use alignment, grouping, or distribution tools. This ensures a clean and professional map layout. Additionally, exploring further tools within ArcGIS Pro—such as graphic elements, styles, reports, and legacy .MXD files—can help improve design skills and expand the possibilities for map presentation.