ArcGIS Pro

Get Started with Map Layouts

Add a New Layout and Map Frame

The first step to creating a map layout in ArcGIS Pro is to insert a new layout into your project. 

1. In ArcGIS Pro, go to the Insert menu.
2. Select New Layout.
   
3. Choose the page size and orientation (e.g., landscape or portrait) for your layout. You can modify these selections later if you need to make any adjustments.
4. Your map layout will open as a new tab in your project. You can switch back and forth from the data view and layout views of your project. Note: These tabs are located directly above the map viewer.
   
    

Add a Map Frame

When you create a new map layout, it will first display as a blank piece of paper. You will need to add your map(s), legend, and other map elements to the layout.

1. While in layout view, go to the Insert menu, then select Map Frame to add your map to the layout.
   
    
2. After you click Map Frame, your cursor will switch over to a crosshair. You can now draw the map frame on your map layout. Once you click on your map layout, you can draw your map frame as a square or rectangle on the map. You can the vertices to resize the overall map frame. 

Activate Map Frame

You can activate a map frame if you need to adjust the scale (e.g. zoom level) or placement of items within that individual frame. Activating the map frame will let you zoom in/out on your map, change the view of your maps, etc.

1. In in Layout view, go to the Contents pane and right-click the Map Frame that you'd like to adjust.
2. Select Activate.
   
3. Once the Map Frame is activated, the menu bar will update and you'll be able to use the Navigation tools to adjust your map.
   
4. Once you're finished adjusting your map, you will need to switch back to the Layout menu and then click Close Activation to deactivate that map frame.
   

Add Guides

Adding snapping guides to your map layout will help you save time when you're trying to align your map frame, inset map, and other map layout items. You can add multiple horizontal and vertical guides to your layout to help you place layout items at your preferred locations.

1. When you're in layout view, right-click the vertical or horizontal ruler bar.
2. Select Add Guide if you want to add a guide at that mark on the ruler. (Click Add Guides if you want to add multiple guides at once).
   
3. Once you've added a guide, you can drag-and-drop the guide to a new location if you need to adjust its placement.
   
4. As you adjust the placement of items on your map layout (e.g., map frame, scale bar, etc.), they'll snap to the guides that you've placed on your map to help you align the various elements on your map layout. You'll still have the option to manually adjust the size and placement of individual items if you don't want to have them snap to your guides.
5. If you want to remove an individual guide, you can right-click on the guide and select Remove Guide. You'll also have the option to Remove All Guides.

Add a Legend

Add a Map Title

You can use the Graphics and Text features in ArcGIS Pro to add a title to your map:

1. Go to the Insert menu when you're in layout view.
2. Choose one of the text options (e.g., straight text) in the Graphics and Text section to add a text box to your map.
   
    
3. If you've added guides to your map, you can use the guides to help align the placement of your map title.
4. If you want to further customize your title, you can click the title box to activate it on your map layout, then use the Text menu to change the font type, size, placement, etc.
   
    
5. You can also use the Graphics and Text tools to add additional text to your map layout (e.g., citing your map's data sources, etc.)

Customize Your Design

After you add a layout element (e.g., scale bar, north arrow, etc.) to your map layout, you can use the menu bar (or right-click) the item to further customize its properties.

1. Add the item (e.g., scale bar) to your layout.
2. Click the item on your layout so it's activated.
   
    
3. Use the corresponding menus to update the design of the item. For example, for a scale bar, you can use the Scale Bar menu to browse the scale bar gallery, change the font size and type for your scale bar, etc. You can then use the Design menu to change the units of measurement, label position, divisions and subdivisions of the scale bar, etc.
   
   

Export Map Layout

1. When you are finished with your map layout, you can go to the Share menu to export your layout. Note: You will need to be in layout view to see the export map layout option.
   
    
2. Select one of the export preset options. You will be able to further adjust the settings before your export your layout.
3. Select the file type and specifications required for your professor for your assignment then click Export to export your layout. If you aren't satisfied with the initial exported map layout, you may need to adjust the export settings and then try again.

Cartography Resources