10.3 Map Export & Printing

10.3 Map Export & Printing

The final phase of the cartographic workflow is delivering the completed map layout to end users in an appropriate medium. Whether producing a high-resolution PDF for publication, an image file for web distribution, or physical hardcopy prints for a public hearing, GIS analysts must select the proper export formats, resolution thresholds, and color spaces. In ArcGIS Pro, map export and printing are managed through the Share ribbon tab via the Export Layout and Print Layout panes.

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The Export Layout Pane

Clicking Export Layout on the Share tab opens the Export Layout pane, which contains comprehensive settings governing file generation:

• File Name & Location: Sets output folder paths and naming conventions.
• File Type Gallery: Selects vector formats (PDF, SVG, EPS) or raster formats (PNG, JPEG, TIFF, BMP).
• Compression & Options: Configures image compression algorithms (LZW, Deflate, JPEG compression quality), color bit depth, and font embedding settings.
• Spatial Map Series Export: When exporting multi-page map series, allows exporting all pages into a single multi-page PDF or into individual page files.

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Vector File Formats vs. Raster File Formats

Selecting between vector and raster export formats depends on whether the output is intended for interactive document viewing, graphics editing, or web embedding.

Vector File Formats (PDF, SVG, EPS)

Vector graphics represent geographic features, text, legend boxes, and line work as mathematical geometric paths (points, lines, curves, and polygons).

• PDF (Portable Network Graphic / Document Format): The premier standard for digital map distribution. PDF supports resolution-independent rendering (text and vector lines stay crisp regardless of zoom level), embeds fonts, maintains layer hierarchies, and supports georeferencing.
• SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics): An XML-based vector format optimized for web browsers and graphic design applications (e.g., Adobe Illustrator). SVG elements can be manipulated via CSS and JavaScript.
• EPS (Encapsulated PostScript): Legacy vector graphic format used primarily in traditional commercial printing workflows.

Raster File Formats (PNG, JPEG, TIFF, BMP)

Raster graphics grid the entire layout canvas into a fixed array of colored pixels.

• PNG (Portable Network Graphics): A lossless compression format that supports 24-bit color and alpha channel (transparent) backgrounds. Ideal for embedding maps into web pages, PowerPoint presentations, or digital documents.
• JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group): A lossy compression format designed for photographic imagery. JPEG generates small file sizes but can introduce unwanted compression artifacts around text labels and sharp vector lines.
• TIFF (Tagged Image File Format): An uncompressed or losslessly compressed raster format favored in commercial printing and archival storage. TIFF supports high bit depths and can store spatial georeferencing tags (GeoTIFF).
• BMP (Bitmap): An uncompressed legacy Windows image format rarely used due to large file sizes.

Vector Rasterization Threshold

If a layout contains raster datasets (e.g., hillshades, aerial imagery) or vector layers with transparency, drop shadows, or picture fill symbols, ArcGIS Pro must rasterize those elements during export. Analysts can adjust the Vector Resolution and Raster Resampling sliders in the Export pane to maintain sharp vector text above rasterized map layers.

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Output Resolution Standards (DPI)

Output resolution is measured in Dots Per Inch (DPI) or Pixels Per Inch (PPI). DPI specifies how many individual pixels or ink dots are rendered per linear inch of the layout page.

Standard DPI Categories

• Draft / Web Preview (72 to 150 DPI): Produces small file sizes and fast export times. Suitable for email attachments, quick draft reviews, or low-resolution website previews.
• Standard Desktop Printing & PDF Reports (300 DPI): The universal industry standard for high-quality desktop printing, PDF report attachments, and journal publications. Provides clear text legibility and sharp line work.
• High-Quality Commercial Printing (600 to 1200 DPI): Required for large-format plotters, offset commercial printing presses, and detailed technical maps with fine line work and small font sizes.

Increasing DPI exponentially increases file size and export processing time. A 300 DPI ANSI Letter layout yields 2550 × 3300 pixels, whereas a 600 DPI export quadruples pixel count to 5100 × 6600 pixels.

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Color Models: RGB vs. CMYK

Color rendering varies significantly between electronic screens and physical ink. Analysts must select the appropriate color model based on the target display medium:

• RGB (Red, Green, Blue): An additive color model used by emissive electronic displays (computer monitors, tablets, mobile devices, web browsers). RGB creates colors by combining light, offering a broad color gamut capable of producing vibrant, saturated hues.
• CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black): A subtractive color model used by physical ink printers and commercial offset presses. CMYK creates colors by absorbing light reflected off white paper. The CMYK color gamut is narrower than RGB.

Color Management & Print Conversion

If a map layout designed in RGB mode is sent directly to a commercial CMYK printer without color management, bright neon green or vibrant blue layers will undergo severe color shifts, appearing dull or brownish on paper. When preparing PDFs for commercial printing, analysts should enable CMYK Color Conversion in the Export Layout pane to ensure accurate print reproduction.

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Georeferenced PDF & Advanced PDF Options

A Georeferenced PDF embeds spatial coordinate system metadata (projected or geographic coordinate systems) directly into the PDF file structure.

Advantages of Georeferenced PDFs

When a Georeferenced PDF is opened in compatible viewing applications (such as Adobe Acrobat Reader equipped with the Measuring Tool, or mobile offline mapping apps like Avenza Maps):

• Users can hover over any point on the PDF to view real-world latitude/longitude or projected Easting/Northing coordinates.
• Users can calculate real-world ground distances, perimeter lengths, and polygon areas directly on the screen.
• Users can toggle individual PDF map layers on and off to inspect underlying feature layers.

In the Export Layout pane, analysts enable this feature by checking Export Georeference Information and Include PDF Layers under the PDF options group.

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Print Setup & Physical Hardcopy Production

When physical hardcopy maps are required, analysts use the Print Layout pane on the Share tab:

• Printer Driver Selection: Selects desktop inkjet/laser printers or large-format plotters (utilizing PostScript or PCL drivers).
• Paper Tray & Page Matching: Ensures the printer paper tray size matches the layout page dimensions. If an ANSI Tabloid layout is sent to a Letter-size printer tray, the map will be cropped unless scaling is enabled.
• Page Tiling: When a large-format poster layout (e.g., Arch D 24 × 36 inches) must be printed but no large plotter is available, enabling Tiling divides the large layout across multiple smaller paper sheets (e.g., six Letter pages) with alignment crop marks for manual assembly.
• Color & Vector Print Options: Allows forcing vector graphics rasterization at the printer driver level to resolve hardware memory limitations on complex GIS maps.