If you're creating maps and layouts in Map Viewer that you intend to export to AIX, it's important to understand how they will be converted to graphics for editing in Illustrator. For best results, consider the map authoring recommendations and design notes in the following sections:
Content
The following map authoring recommendations and design notes apply to content:
- Geometries and geometry symbology—Point, line, and polygon features are all supported in .aix files.
- Points—All point data types are preserved once processed through the ArcGIS Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud extension. Shape markers are organized as editable vector layers for which the object's stroke and fill are preserved to match the data in your Map Viewer map. Picture markers and 3D markers are processed as image layers.
- Lines—Line data works similarly to point data. Use a solid line symbology pattern in Map Viewer for the most flexibility editing the vector layer. Picture strokes and gradient strokes are converted to image layers in Illustrator.
- Polygons—Like point and line data, polygon feature organization is preserved in your .aix file.
- Rasters—The AIX file format is intended for use in Illustrator, which is a vector-based design tool. Therefore, all raster data is brought into Illustrator as image layers that aren't editable like vector layers. If you include multiple raster layers in the Map Viewer map, each individual layer is preserved in the AIX export (they aren't merged into one common layer).
- 2D versus 3D—The AIX file format is best suited for editing 2D maps with raster and vector layers. When you export to AIX, 3D data is preserved and converted into image layers.
- Basemaps—All web maps made with Map Viewer have a basemap. Map Viewer does not display layers on a map without a working basemap because the basemap establishes the coordinate system of the map. If you do not want the basemap to be visible, you can set its transparency to 100 percent or remove the layer in Illustrator. You can also set a background color for areas that the basemap doesn't cover when using custom basemaps or layer blending. To make a custom basemap, you can use the ArcGIS Vector Tile Style Editor. For basemaps made with the style editor, vector data is preserved in AIX exports even if you change the basemap's transparency or use blend mode effects that are also available in Illustrator.
- Sketch layers—Vector sketch layers are preserved as editable vector objects. You can upload a symbol from your device to create a stamp in a sketch. Uploaded .jpg, .png, and .gif files are preserved as raster layers in the AIX export, while .svg files are preserved as vector layers.
- Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) layers—OGC layers behave the same as other vector and raster layers. Point, line, and polygon features are preserved as vector layers. Raster datasets remain as rasters.
- Time-aware layers—To capture a specific point in time, pause the time animation at the desired moment in time. If you do not pause the time animation, time-aware layers appear in the .aix file exactly as they do when you click the Export button. As with other layer types, point, line, and polygon features are preserved as vector layers. If you use raster symbols, they are exported as individually clipped image layers.
- Media layers—You can create media layers in Map Viewer by adding .jpg or .png images from your device to a web map. Each image is its own media layer and those layers are preserved in the export as raster images. Any transparency changes you make to media layers are also preserved.
Map layers
The following map authoring recommendations and design notes apply to map layers:
- Projections—In Map Viewer, a web map's basemap establishes the coordinate system of the map. Your map will appear with its same projection once processed in Illustrator.
Tip:
To build projected web maps with coordinate systems of your choice, you can make and export your own basemaps in ArcGIS Pro. You can try out different projections in the tutorial Make a web map without Web Mercator.
- Filters and map extent—Layers that don't show features due to filters or visibility range won't be present in the Illustrator file. Features that aren't visible within a map's extent won't be present in the Illustrator file. Only layers that have content in the current map extent will be in the Illustrator file.
- Grouping and naming—The AIX file format is designed to maintain all grouping and naming conventions from your Map Viewer web map, including map and layout exports. Use a simple layer structure in Map Viewer when exporting an .aix file. Avoid unnecessary nesting of layers into groups for a more editor-friendly experience. See the Text section for more information about embedding labels and fonts.
Styles and symbology
The following map authoring recommendations and design notes apply to styles and symbology:
- General—In general, the processing and layer organization of .aix files for graphic editing works best with the Location (single symbol), Types (unique symbols), and Color and Size styles.
- Location (single symbol)—This style is appropriate for showing features' locations and geographic distributions. You can represent features using uploaded symbols (.jpg, .png, .gif, or .svg files), classic symbols (from categories such as Basic shapes, Firefly, and Government), and vector symbols (arrows, pins, and so on). Basic shapes are preserved as editable vector layers in AIX exports. Symbols from every category of classic symbols except basic shapes are converted into individually clipped image points. Uploaded SVG symbols are preserved as editable vector layers and uploaded JPG, PNG, and GIF symbols are preserved as raster image layers.
- Heat Map—If you are mapping point features you can use the Heat Map style. Layers with this style are converted into image layers in AIX exports.
- Other smart mapping styles—Features symbolized using styles based on attributes and expressions are preserved as editable vector layers in AIX exports. These styles include Color and Size, Counts and Amounts (color), and Counts and Amounts (size).
- Transparency—If you set transparency by attribute or set symbol level transparency, transparency is preserved and those features are preserved as editable vector layers.
- Patterns—Use solid line symbology patterns in Map Viewer for the most flexibility editing vector layers in Illustrator. When converted, a polygon pattern fill splits into multiple path objects (such as one path for each dot in a dotted pattern). Apply pattern fills in Illustrator using an AI swatch to streamline your design work and reduce the potential for a large file.
Aggregation
The following map authoring recommendations and design notes apply to aggregation:
- Clustering—Clustering aggregates points into clusters and displays them as one symbol. Those vector symbols are preserved as editable vector paths with editable text in Illustrator.
- Clustering (chart)—In Map Viewer, this aggregation method shows different categories of features within a cluster using a pie chart symbol that is proportionately sized based on the number of features in the cluster. However, the pie charts do not appear in Illustrator. Cluster symbols are converted into single points that appear as editable vector paths in Illustrator.
- Binning—Binning aggregates data into predefined cells, representing point data as a gridded polygon layer. That layer is converted to an image layer in Illustrator.
Effects
The following map authoring recommendations and design notes apply to visual effects:
- Effects—When you apply whole layer effects or feature-specific effects, the features that you apply the effect to are converted into an image layer in Illustrator.
- Blend modes—When you apply a blend mode in Map Viewer that's also available in Illustrator, it's preserved in the exported AIX. If you apply a blend mode that doesn't have an Illustrator equivalent (such as Linear Dodge, Linear Burn, Linear Light, Pin Light, and Vivid Light), the applicable layer is rasterized (with all layers beneath it) and flattened into a single image in the result file to preserve the appearance of the blend when exported.
Text
The following map authoring recommendations and design notes apply to text:
- Labels—Labels are carried over from Map Viewer and placed under Labels layers as editable text strings. Stacking labels in Map Viewer will result in separated text strings under the Labels layer in Illustrator. Individual labels containing ligatures, which combine two or more characters into one form without space between them, are converted to paths once in Illustrator. This also applies to ligature text in map elements such as the legends.
- Placement rules—The AIX file format retains the integrity of most labels as they're converted to type in Illustrator. However, advanced label placement rules or vertical text may result in grouped characters. For the best experience editing text layers in Illustrator, place text horizontally in your maps.
- Annotations—Annotations are converted into an image layer.
- Halos—Halos are processed as individual path objects rather than text strings.
- Outlines—Text with outline properties will get converted into paths once in Illustrator.
Layouts
The following map authoring recommendations and design notes apply to layouts:
- Layout elements—Text and graphic elements are processed as editable, organized vector objects. When you print a map layout to AIX, you can include elements such as a legend, north arrow, and author and copyright information.
- Legend elements—Text and graphic elements such as scale bars, north arrows, and other vector symbology are processed as editable, organized vector objects. Any raster symbology in the legend is brought into Illustrator as image layers.