Tag Archives: Symbology
A quicker and easier way to change the raster color ramp
Traditionally, if you want to change the color ramp for raster layer, you would need to open up Properties window and then navigate to the Symbology tab. Then you change the color ramp, and hit OK to persist it. This … Continue reading
Identical classified rendering for all your raster tiles
Do you have several raster layers that you want to display with the exact same classified symbology? You may want to do this, so that your raster tiles look seamless. However the effort to change the class breaks and color … Continue reading
Telling thematic stories in ArcGIS Online
By Kenneth Field (Research Cartographer), Damien Demaj (ArcGIS Online Cartography) and Linda Beale (Geoprocessing)
At the 2012 Esri Education GIS Conference and the 2012 Esri International User Conference, we demonstrated how you can build informative thematic maps using the ArcGIS System. The purpose of the sessions was to take relatively simple datasets and create a range of alternative thematic map types that told a story in different ways. This demonstrated the techniques for creating the maps using ArcGIS for Desktop as our authoring environment and ArcGIS Online as our publishing mechanism. As the XXX Olympiad is currently taking place in London, UK we illustrated how alternative maps can be made to tell different stories of the relative success of nations over the period since the first Olympic games in 1896. Continue reading
Vegetation map inspires a style with great colors
By Jaynya Richards, Esri Research Cartographer
Because we love the colors used on the vegetation map in the The National Atlas of the United States of America, one of our cartographers put together a style with these colors so you can use them on your maps, too. You can download the style from here on Mapping Center’s ArcGIS Resources > Styles page.
The National Atlas of the United States of America was published by the US Geological Survey (USGS) in 1970 and edited by Arch C. Gerlach (figure 1). Continue reading
Pie sector features communicate multivariate data
By Kenneth Field, Esri Research Cartographer
In many industries, simple geometric shapes such as squares and circles do not adequately represent objects. Some phenomena are just more complicated and require alternative approaches to represent them meaningfully. We had a question on Ask a Cartographer recently about creating pie segment shapes as features to support a requirement in the telecommunications industry. The geometry of the feature needed to represent the signal emitted from a cellphone mast. This sort of geometry cannot be built out of the box but by using Python we were able to build a custom Geoprocessing tool that could automate the process and build the features required. In this blog entry we explain why a pie segment better represents a cellphone signal, how they were constructed and what data are needed to run the tool. We also share the Geoprocessing tool so that others with this requirement can make similar maps. Continue reading
Save, Share and Quickly Apply Map Settings
When it comes to map production one of the most common challenges is to manage all of your organization’s mapping standards. Esri Production Mapping’s views helps address this challenge. With views you’re able to save your data frame and layer properties to the geodatabase and apply them at any time in ArcMap. This ensures production staff are utilizing the latest and greatest map settings defined by your organization, and promotes standardization and consistency across your map products.
Marker fill symbols add realism to your maps
By Aileen Buckley, Mapping Center Lead
Another way to create polygon symbols that appear more realistic is to use marker fill symbols that mimic what you would see on the ground, but also to vary them so that they do not clip at the polygon edges (figures 1 and 2). Continue reading
Picture fill symbols add realism to your maps
By Aileen Buckley, Mapping Center Lead
The key to using a picture fill symbol when imparting realism is to choose one that has a random appearance. Another trick is to pick one that looks something like the type of feature you are mapping. A number of pictures are provided with ArcGIS, and many of them fit these criteria. Follow the steps below to see how you can apply this symbology on your maps using pictures provided by Esri. Continue reading
Polygon fill symbols add realism to your maps
By Aileen Buckley, Mapping Center Lead
When working with polygon data, it is common to symbolize these features with a colored fill and an outline (figure 1). However, if you are trying to create a realistic impression on your map, this symbology works against you. In the real world, we rarely see lines around areas, and the inside of those areas is rarely the same color everywhere. Continue reading
Sun glints add realism to your map
By Aileen Buckley, Mapping Center Lead
Sun glints are a way to add a more realistic effect to your map by modulating the tone of water features. We rarely see flat tones in nature, so using sun glints simulates the subtle tonal variations caused by the reflection of sunlight off a water surface. This method was first described in Tom Patterson’s article, “Getting Real: Reflecting on the New Look of National Park Service Maps” on his Shaded Relief web site. Although he describes how he achieved the effect using Photoshop, this tip describes how you can use ArcMap to accomplish the same thing. Continue reading
