Clip layers in a map

You can visually clip the layers in a map to highlight an area of interest without altering data. You specify either a rectangular extent or a shape derived from features or graphics, and your map draws only within that extent or shape. You can clip all the layers in the map, or just a subset.

Clipping affects drawing only. All the data is still available for query or analysis, if applicable.

There are five clipping options:

Clipping option	Considerations
No clipping	No layers are clipped. This is the default.
Clip to the map's extent	This option is only available if the map has a static custom extent set. The clipping uses these extent values dynamically. If you change the custom extent of the map, the extent used by this option updates as well.
Clip to an outline	This option is available only in 2D maps, not in 3D scenes, and the map must contain a polygon feature layer or graphics layer with polygon elements. You can clip to all polygons in the layer, or just selected polygons, or just the polygons currently in view. The clipping uses these extent values statically. If the layer is edited or removed from the map, the extent used by this option is not updated.
Clip to a custom extent	Using this option, you can set the custom extent in the same ways you can specify the map's extent. You can use any of the following sources to define the clipping extent: The current visible extent The extent of the data in all layers The extent of all features The extent of all graphic elements The extent of all visible features or elements The extent of all selected features or elements
Clip to current map series index feature	This option is available only when a spatial map series is set. You can't choose it from the Map Properties dialog box. Instead, it is automatically applied when Clip to index feature is checked for a map series. The clipping uses the map series index feature dynamically. If you change the page in the map series, the clipping also updates in the map.

Note:

There are a few additional considerations when clipping layers in a 3D scene.

• To clip layers in a scene, you must view it as a local scene. If you switch to a global scene view, the clipping options are retained, but there is no visual clipping in global scenes.
• Only layers in the 3D layers category and surfaces can be clipped. Layers in the 2D category draw draped on the surface. To clip them, you must clip the surface that they draw on. They can't be clipped independently of the surface.
• Only rectangular clipping extents can be applied in a scene. You cannot clip to outlines.

To specify the clipping extent used by the map's layers, follow these steps:

1. In a map or scene view, right-click the name of the map or scene in the Contents pane and click Properties to open the Map Properties dialog box.
2. On the Clip Layers tab, choose one of the following options from the menu:
   • No clipping
   • Clip to the map's extent
   • Clip to an outline. Click the Edit Clip button to choose a different polygon feature layer or graphics layer to clip to, if one is available in the map.
   • Clip to a custom extent. See Set the map extent to learn how to set a custom extent.
3. Click Apply to apply the clipping choice.
4. Optionally, choose map layers to exclude from clipping by checking them in the Exclude layers from clipping menu. Layers excluded from clipping extend beyond the clipping edges.
5. Optionally, apply a line symbol to the clipping edges by specifying a Border symbol, Color, and Line width.
6. Click Apply to view the clipping changes, or click OK to apply changes and close the Map Properties dialog box.