ArcGIS Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud is an extension for Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop that allows cartographers and graphic designers to design compelling visuals using data-driven maps and layers from ArcGIS. You can find, import, and create geographic content to add to your artwork as editable vector layers and high resolution images. Review the functionality overview for more details.
Before you install and start using the Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud extension, verify that the required software is properly installed and that you have the necessary account.
Tip:
In ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise (version 11.1 and later), you can confirm your account access by looking for Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud in your user profile where it's listed among other licenses included with your user type. If you're an organization administrator, you can see it in the licensing page. ArcGIS Online users with a compatible user type can discover and access the Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud download page from the app launcher.
Required software
Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud version 3.8 requires one of the following host apps to be installed on the system:
- Adobe Illustrator 2023 (version 27.0) - 2025 (version 29.x)
- Adobe Photoshop 2023 (version 24.0) - 2025 (version 26.x)
Note:
To use the extension on a Mac computer powered by an Apple silicon chip, open Photoshop using Rosetta. (Currently, Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud doesn't support Photoshop natively on Apple silicon.)
For required software information related to past versions of the extension, refer to the ArcGIS Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud Life Cycle.
Accounts
You can use Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud by signing in with an ArcGIS organizational account, which allows you to access content in your ArcGIS organization—choose the ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise option.
Note:
ArcGIS Enterprise on Kubernetes is not currently supported. For more information, see ArcGIS Enterprise support.
Tip:
If you don't have an account, you can sign up for a 21-day trial subscription to try full capabilities for free.
Your access to the extension's content and advanced features is based on the privileges associated with your assigned user type. (Despite your user type, however, ArcGIS Online organization administrators can block organization access to Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud.) You can create and pay for an ArcGIS organizational account using the Esri Store. ArcGIS allows you to connect people, locations, and data using maps. You can work with smart, data-driven styles and intuitive analysis tools that deliver location intelligence, and share your insights with the world or specific groups.
Authentication methods
The authentication method used to sign in is determined by the way security features are set up for your ArcGIS organization. Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud requires no specific steps to implement the authentication methods supported by ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise.
For more information about ArcGIS authentication and to ensure that security settings are properly implemented, refer to the documentation for ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise.
Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud supports the following authentication methods on Microsoft Windows and macOS.
| Platform | Built-in | IWA | PKI | SAML | Kerberos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ArcGIS Enterprise | Supported | Supported | Supported | Supported | Supported |
ArcGIS Online | Supported | Not applicable | Not applicable | Supported | Not applicable |
ArcGIS Enterprise support
Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud is supported for use with ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9 and later. (ArcGIS Enterprise on Kubernetes is not currently supported.) The extension relies on the content and service settings configured by the portal administrator.
Note:
Distributed collaboration workflows are not yet supported.
The following configuration settings allow users of the extension to find and download content and access the functionality that Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud provides.
- Configure subscriber and premium content from ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World to make this ArcGIS Online collection available in the portal. ArcGIS Living Atlas content that does not require signing in is available in the default configuration.
- Configure the following required utility services to enable the functionality specified in the table below.
Note:
You can also configure the portal to use utility services from ArcGIS Online. See Configure ArcGIS Online utility services for details.
Service Functionality Search and plot locations based on place-name or keyword and plot addresses and map data in bulk from local files.
Sync maps to download artwork (requires an ArcGIS Server preconfigured print service).
Visualize routes (with travel modes) and visualize travel times.
*The locator configured for your organization must support batch geocoding to be used to geocode multiple addresses from a file.
- For the fonts used in your authored vector tile maps to be accessible in maps downloaded to Adobe Illustrator, the fonts must also be installed on the ArcGIS hosting print service and shared with the Illustrator user. For a list of fonts used in the Esri hosted vector tile basemaps, see the reference document. Acquire the necessary permissions before installing or distributing fonts.
- In a disconnected environment, if the organization is configured with a customized basemap gallery, it must include at least one Web Mercator basemap (such as World Topographic).
Note:
For a summary list of what you can expect with a disconnected environment and related configuration recommendations, see the ArcGIS Enterprise help topic Configure a disconnected deployment. When a service is not available or accessible, you'll get an applicable message in the extension that informs you.
ArcGIS Pro support
To use an .aix file with ArcGIS Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud, you must export the .aix file from a supported version of ArcGIS Pro. Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud is supported for use with ArcGIS Pro 2.6 and later. For the most accurate and up-to-date information about the general availability of ArcGIS Pro versions, refer to the ArcGIS Pro Life Cycle.