How to Create a Layout in ArcGIS Pro
Creating a layout in ArcGIS Pro allows you to design professional-quality maps for presentations, reports, or publication. The layout view provides tools to arrange map elements, such as titles, legends, scale bars, and other graphics, ensuring your map is both informative and visually appealing.
This article will walk you through the steps to create a layout in ArcGIS Pro.
Software requirement(s):
- ArcGIS Pro 3.2.2
The Insert tab is dedicated to adding new elements to your maps and layouts. Users can insert maps, scenes, layouts, and various map frames, as well as text, graphics, and north arrows to enhance their presentations. This tab also includes options for inserting dynamic elements like charts and tables, allowing for a richer and more informative display of data. The Insert tab streamlines the process of building and customizing comprehensive map layouts and presentations.
| Group | Description |
| 1 | Tools for inserting maps, layouts, scenes, reports, notebooks, and toolboxes. |
| 2 | Tools for creating and managing knowledge graphs to visualize relationships. |
| 3 | Tools for adding pre-configured layer templates to your maps and scenes. |
| 4 | Tools for performing link analysis to understand connection between features. |
| 5 | Tools for inserting measurement elements like distance, area, and coordinates. |
| 6 | Tools for managing and applying different styles to map elements. |
| 7 | Tools for accessing and inserting frequently used elements quickly. |
1 - Data download.
Follow this link to download the ArcGIS Pro package (Salish_Sea_IC_Layout) that will be used in this article https://tribalgis-my.sharepoint.com/:u:/p/sarques/ETASEJzkdO9Go17A9f9HwdsBeCR74wiqv9U5GatEAsJQ0g?e=IQjgvj. Save it in a meaningful location.
2 - Double-click on the package to open the project in ArcGIS Pro. Sign in into your ArcGIS Online account if required.
This map illustrates the locations of indigenous communities in the Salish Sea region, spanning Washington State and British Columbia.
3 - Go to the Insert tab on the ribbon.
4 - Click on New Layout and select the desired page size and orientation from the dropdown menu. I chose the Letter ANSI Portrait.
Alternatively, you can also import a layout template or a layout file.
5 - In the new Layout view, click Map Frame from the Insert tab.
6 - Select the map you want to add to the layout and draw the map frame on the layout page.
7 - If your extent is not centered, go to the Layout tab and click Activate in the Map group. You can now zoom in, zoom out and pan to adjust your map's extent.
The Activate tool allows you to interactively modify the extent of your map within the layout, enabling precise adjustments to the displayed area.
8 - When you are finished, go to the Layout tab to Close the Activation.
9 - Save your project.
10 - You can use the tools in the Insert tab to add various map elements such as titles, legends, scale bars, north arrows, and text boxes. Click on the respective tool and place the element on the layout page.
11 - To insert a North Arrow, go to the Insert tab on the ribbon and click on North Arrow in the Map Surrounds group. Select your arrow. I chose ArcGIS North 2.
12 - Draw the North Arrow frame on your layout page.
13 - To insert a Scale Bar, go to the Insert tab on the ribbon and click on Scale Bar in the Map Surrounds group. I chose Alternating Scale Bar 1 (Imperial) and Alternating Scale Bar 1 (Metric).
14 - Reorganize your layout elements and Save your project.
15 - To insert a Legend, go to the Insert tab on the ribbon and click on Legend in the Map Surrounds group. I selected Legend 1.
To edit any layout element, double-click on the element to display the Element pane.
16 -Let's add an inset map to our layout. Go to the Insert tab on the ribbon, click on Map Frame and choose the World Topographic Map.
17 - Draw your new map frame on your layout.
18 - If your extent is not centered, go to the Layout tab and click Activate in the Map group. You can now zoom in, zoom out and pan to adjust your map's extent. You can also add a rectangle to highlight the Salish Sea in North America.
To add Graphics elements. Go to the Insert tab and select the form/graphic that you would like to use.
19 - Let's add a Title to our layout. Go to the Insert tab on the ribbon, and in the Graphics and Text group select your text tool.
20 - If needed, click on the Text Symbol to edit the font.
21 - Let's add the Service Layer Credits to our layout. Go to the Insert tab on the ribbon, and in the Graphics and Text group click on the Dynamic Text drop down menu. Scroll down to the Layout section and select Service Layer Credits. Draw your Service Layer Credits on your layout.
22 - Edit the font type to Arial 7, and the font color to Gray 70%. Add the following text to the Credits: Census Bureau, 2021, Stefan Freelan, 2009, Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, 2015.
23 - Let's add the year 2024 to our layout. Go to the Insert tab on the ribbon, and in the Graphics and Text group elect your text tool. Edit the font type to Arial 18, and the font color to Gray 70%.
24 - Reorganize your layout elements if needed and save your project.
25 - Export your Layout via the Catalog pane. If the Catalog pane is not already open, go to the View tab on the ribbon and click on Catalog pane to open it.
26 - In the Catalog pane, expand the Layouts section to see a list of all the layouts in your project. Right click on Layout to rename it Salish Sea Map.
27 - Right-click on the Salish Sea Map layout and select Export to File from the context menu.
28 - In the Export Layout dialog box, choose the desired file format (e.g. PDF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF).
Specify the location to save the exported file. Adjust other settings such as resolution (DPI), color mode, page size, and extent as needed.
29 - Click Export to generate the layout file. Once the process is complete, your layout will be saved in the specified location.
We hope that this article has been helpful! If you have any feedback or questions, please feel free to send us an email or connect with us for a chat. The NTGISC team is here to assist you further!