After you create a map or layout, you can export it as a file to share with others. To export a map or layout, enure that the map or layout view is active. On the Disseminate tab, click Export Map 
or Export Layout 
, depending on the active view, to open the Export pane. Provide a name and location for the file and any other properties, and click Export. Once the Export pane appears, you can switch between map and layout views to export them without resetting the properties.
Export file types
Twelve export file types are available, including both vector and raster formats. The vector formats are AIX, EMF, EPS, PDF, SVG, and SVGZ, which support a combination of vector and raster data. The raster formats are BMP, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, TGA, and GIF. They are solely raster export formats and automatically rasterize any vector data in a map or layout.
Each format has properties that can be set before exporting. For example, PDF provides enhanced security options, and all the vector formats support rasterizing all the data using the Output as image option. The formats are described in the following table, and each format name is linked to the topic explaining the properties for that format:
| File format | Description |
|---|---|
The AIX format is used with the ArcGIS Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud extension. With the extension, vector and raster map content is converted into editable, layered artwork for an improved editing experience in Adobe Illustrator. Once opened in Illustrator, the .aix file can be used for high-end graphic design or map finishing workflows and migrated across the other Adobe Creative Cloud applications. | |
BMP format files are native Windows raster images. A .bmp file can store pixel data at several bit depths and can be compressed using the lossless RLE method. BMP images are typically much larger than formats such as JPEG or PNG. | |
The EMF format is useful for embedding data in Windows documents because the vector portions of the .emf file can be resized without loss of quality. However, since EMF does not support font embedding and is exclusively a Windows format, it is not commonly used as an interchange format between users. | |
The EPS format uses the PostScript page description language to describe vector and raster objects. PostScript is the publishing industry standard for high-end graphics files, cartography, and printing. An .eps file can be edited in many drawing applications or placed as a graphic in most page layout applications. The EPS format supports font embedding and can define colors in CMYK or RGB values. | |
The GIF format is a legacy raster format for use on the web. GIFs cannot contain more than 256 colors (8 bits per pixel), which, along with optional lossless RLE or LZW compression, makes them smaller than other file formats. Like PNG, the GIF format can define a transparent color. GIFs can be generated with an accompanying world file for use as georeferenced raster data. | |
JPEG format files are compressed image files. They support 24-bit color and have been a popular choice for use on the web because .jpeg file size is often substantially smaller than many other image formats. However, the JPEG compression algorithm is lossy and is not recommended for many map images, as line drawings and text or iconic graphics become blurred by compression artifacts. PNG is usually a superior format for map images. JPEGs can be generated with an accompanying world file for use as georeferenced raster data. | |
PDFs are designed to be consistently viewable and printable across different platforms. They are commonly used for distributing documents on the web, and the format is now an official ISO standard for document interchange. PDFs are editable in many graphics applications and retain map georeference information, annotation, labeling, and feature attribute data. PDF exports support font embedding. | |
PNG is a versatile raster format that can be displayed in web browsers and inserted into other documents. It supports high-bit-depth color and uses a lossless compression. For maps, PNG is often the best raster format, since the lossless compression keeps text and line work legible by preventing the compression artifacts that can occur in JPEG format. The PNG format can define a transparent color; part of the image can be displayed as transparent in a web browser, allowing backgrounds, images, or colors to show through. PNGs can be generated with an accompanying world file for use as georeferenced raster data. | |
SVG is an XML-based file format that is specifically designed for viewing on the web. An .svg file can contain both vector and raster information. Some web browsers may require a plug-in to view .svg files; you may not be able to view .svg files in older browsers. The SVG format supports font embedding. You can also choose to produce compressed .svg files. The file extension changes to *.svgz when this option is used. | |
TGA format files have historically been used for content that is meant for use in other applications (for example, image sprites for animated games) and is read and written by many popular graphic arts applications. It supports multiple bit depths including 32 bit with alpha (transparency) support. | |
The TIFF format is the best choice for importing into image editing applications and is also a common GIS raster data format. However, .tiff files cannot be natively viewed by a web browser. The TIFF format also supports georeferencing information in GeoTIFF tags or in a separate world file for use as raster data. |
Note:
BMP, PNG, and JPEG format files don't support the CMYK color model. If your layout or map is in this color model, the RGB color model is used when exporting.
Export a map
Maps can be exported from an open map view only. The map view determines the extent and scale of the exported map, but you can set the export size in pixels.
To export a map, complete the following steps:
- On the Disseminate tab, click Export Map .
The Export pane appears.
- Set the Width and Height properties.
- To preserve the aspect ratio when changing the width or height, click the Preserve Aspect Ratio button
to lock the aspect ratio. When the aspect ratio is locked, changing the width automatically changes the height, and vice versa, to preserve the ratio.
Since the aspect ratio of the screen may not match the aspect ratio of the exported map, the map may be cropped. For example, if the map view is 1920x1080 pixels and the export value is set to 200x200 pixels, content to the left and right is cropped in the exported map.
- To preview the adjusted extent, check Show preview in the Export pane.
The preview is a white overlay on the map view showing the export extent. You can zoom or pan to ensure that the exported map contains the extent you need. Once you close the Export pane, the preview disappears.
Note:
Maps can be exported to sizes larger than your screen size. The zoom level and extent remain as shown in the preview, but the features are larger in the exported map.
Exporting a map allows you to generate a world file for certain raster file types. The world file is a separate file created in the same location as the exported map that contains georeference information. This allows the exported image to be used as raster data in ArcGIS AllSource or other GIS applications. This option is not available in 3D views. To create a world file when exporting, check the Write world file option.
Export a layout
A layout can be exported at the page size or clipped to the extent of the elements on the page.
- On the Disseminate tab, click Export Layout .
The Export pane appears.
- Check Clip to graphics extent to include the areas of the page that have map or layout element content only, rather than exporting the entire page.