Listed below are common questions about ArcGIS Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud.
Content
- Can I save my layers and web map to share as items in my organization?
- Can I use maps and layouts that were exported from ArcGIS Pro?
- Is a georeferenced PDF created with Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud the same as a georeferenced PDF exported from ArcGIS Pro?
- Is changing map projections supported?
- How can I customize the maps that I add to the extension so the layers are easier to use and already include my branding when downloaded to Illustrator?
- Does the extension support only vector content?
- Can I change the style and appearance of the content in a map?
- My web map has symbology I used from smart mapping tools. Do these styles carry over into Adobe Illustrator?
- Does the extension support all smart mapping capabilities similar to ArcGIS Online?
- If the GIS data from the source content is updated, will my corresponding designs be automatically updated to match?
- Are there any use constraints associated with the maps that I include in my designs?
General
- Do I need ArcGIS Pro to use the extension?
- Is my use of the extension and data confidential?
- How does Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud support data portability?
- Can I use the extension with non-English Illustrator?
- Does the extension automatically update when a new version is available?
- Does Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud consume credits?
- What are my options for getting help with the extension?
- I have older versions of Illustrator and Photoshop. Can I use the extension?
Accounts
Content
Yes. This functionality is available when you use the Save to my ArcGIS content option in the Compilation window. You can save a new web map or overwrite an existing web map with changes that you make in the Compilation window. (The styling and graphic changes that you make in the Adobe files cannot be saved to layers and maps in ArcGIS.)
Yes. When maps and layouts are exported from ArcGIS Pro as an Adobe Illustrator Exchange (AIX) file format, you can open the .aix file in Illustrator for graphic design. When you open the .aix file, the extension converts vector and raster map content into editable, layered artwork that you can save for use in other Adobe Creative Cloud applications.
Is a georeferenced PDF created with Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud the same as a georeferenced PDF exported from ArcGIS Pro?
No. A georeferenced PDF exported from ArcGIS Pro has a different layer structure than the georeferenced PDF created with the beta feature available in Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud. To design a georeferenced PDF directly in Illustrator for maps created in ArcGIS Pro, use the AIX workflow, which provides an organized layer structure and clean artwork specifically for use in Illustrator.
Yes, you can change a projection for a mapboard using Current map settings in the Compilation window. For maps exported from ArcGIS Pro in the AIX file format, if the map is projected in ArcGIS Pro, the map will appear with that projection once processed in Illustrator. To ensure that any added data aligns with the layers from the corresponding .aix file, you cannot change the projection in the Current map settings window.
How can I customize the maps that I add to the extension so the layers are easier to use and already include my branding when downloaded to Illustrator?
Use the Default mapping profile, which supports adding vector tile layers and maps. You can customize vector basemaps using the ArcGIS Vector Tile Style Editor before adding them to your map in the extension.
No, both vector and raster maps and layers can be used in the extension. The output in Illustrator is vector for feature layers and image for raster layers. In Photoshop, however, both vector and raster layers are output as raster. For a complete list of what's supported, see Data types.
Yes, before you sync a map, you can use the style options in the Compilation window to change the appearance of a layer in the map.
No. Although the extension does allow you to use the smart mapping capability, there are some limitations.
If the GIS data from the source content is updated, will my corresponding designs be automatically updated to match?
Designs are not automatically updated when underlying data changes, but you can run sync again on the related map in the extension to download layer changes to your artwork as needed. The extension converts GIS content into graphics and embeds the compiled map in the downloaded file, which allows you to add more content later that you can sync to your artwork.
If you use public data in your maps, review this summary of permitted use and data attribution requirements. For complete details, see the full terms of use.
General
No, Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud only requires having Illustrator or Photoshop installed and an ArcGIS organizational account to directly access and use maps and layers from ArcGIS, including content available in ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World and your ArcGIS organization. If your workflows include ArcGIS Pro, such as to perform GIS operations on data before designing, you can use exported maps and layouts (as AIX) and published content with the extension as well.
There is an optional setting to allow Esri to track aspects of your usage for the purpose of making improvements based on understanding how you're using the extension. Some examples include the number of downloads and which tools and type of symbols and labels are used. For privacy, you can opt out by turning off this option in the Settings window. In addition, the map file (Ai document) that's created on Esri servers and sent back to you is stored for a limited time (approximately six hours) so the product team can check the file if anything goes wrong. Esri does not share any of this information outside of the product team; it's only used to help debug and improve the extension.
When you add data to your map in the extension, you can use the Save to my ArcGIS content option and extract the data from your ArcGIS organization or through ArcGIS REST API. ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise provide a range of tools and capabilities to ensure control over customer data, including the ability to export, transfer, and delete data as needed. Customers retain ownership of their data at all times and are responsible for the import and export of that data into their ArcGIS organization. Customers can require HTTPS for their ArcGIS organization to ensure data is sent over encrypted means and they must be authenticated to perform this function. Data can be transferred over HTTPS in a variety of formats, including shapefile, CSV, KML, file geodatabase, and JSON. (For example, if you add a shapefile to the map, when you share the compiled map as a web map in your ArcGIS content, you can save the corresponding layer from the web map, publish that layer as a hosted feature layer, and export the hosted layer as a shapefile that you can download.)
If you installed version 1.5 (or later) using a setup file that you downloaded from the Esri website, when a new update is available, you'll see a notification message in the Mapboard window after you sign in. You can choose whether to update immediately or at a later time.
Credits are the currency used in ArcGIS Online and across ArcGIS for storage and transaction-based services and tools such as geoenrichment and spatial analysis. As indicated in the Functionality overview, some operations performed in the extension consume credits, such as plotting addresses in bulk from local files (geocoding), visualizing routes and travel times, and adding demographic attributes (geoenrichment). Most of what you do in Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud does not require credits—for example, using standard basemaps, searching places to plot locations on the map (geosearching), changing the map projection, modifying layers with style, labels, and filters, and downloading the map as artwork. Your credit allotment is based on organization and member settings. If necessary, ask your organization administrator for assistance with your credit balance. (If you share your compiled map as a web map in your organization, standard credit use for storage applies. See Understand credits to learn more about credits and storage in an ArcGIS organization.)
Use the following table to estimate how many credits you will need to perform specific tasks:
| Workflow | Credits |
|---|---|
Plot addresses and map data in bulk from local files (geocode) when you create a mapboard by importing a file or add a map layer from a file. | 40 credits per 1,000 geocodes |
| 0.5 credits per drive time or walk time Example: To create a 5-minute and 10-minute drive time around 10 points, the result is (0.5 credits × 2 drive-time areas) × 10 features = 10 credits used. | |
0.005 credits per simple route | |
10 credits per 1,000 attributes (data variables multiplied by total feature records) Example: 10 credits per 1,000 attributes is 0.01 credits per attribute. If you add 10 variables to 30 locations, you get 300 total attributes. The result is 0.01 credits × 300 attributes = 3 credits used. |
You can ask questions in Esri Community by going to the ArcGIS Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud page. If you have an ArcGIS organizational account through an organization with a maintenance plan, Esri Technical Support can help you with the extension.
Yes. For required software information related to the latest version of the extension, refer to Requirements. For required software information related to past versions of the extension, refer to the ArcGIS Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud Life Cycle.
Please note that Esri only provides technical support for the most recent version of Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud, which is also the only version available to download. If you have an older version of the extension still installed with your Creative Cloud apps then you can continue to use it. However, you may be required to update Illustrator, Photoshop, and ArcGIS Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud to take advantage of fixes, new features, and technical support.
Accounts
If you have an ArcGIS organizational account, access to Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud is automatically included. In ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise (version 11.1 and later), the extension is listed as an included license among other essential apps, such as Map Viewer and ArcGIS StoryMaps. You can see this when viewing the licenses in your user profile. If you're an organization administrator, you can see it in the licensing page so you're aware that it's an available app for organization members. If you're using ArcGIS Online, the app launcher includes Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud among your other licensed apps so you can discover it, access the download page, and find resources to learn how to use the extension. If you don't have an account, you can try the extension with full capabilities by signing up for a free 21-day trial subscription.
Yes, at version 3.0, Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud supports ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9 and later.
Effective May 1, 2023, the Plus account type (which was a month-to-month subscription with a limited set of advanced mapping features) is no longer supported. If you had a Plus account and want to continue using Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud, you'll need to upgrade to an ArcGIS Online account by purchasing an annual subscription or by joining an ArcGIS organization with an account that has a supported user type. You would have received an email with more details about Plus retirement and migration options.