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Exporting to EMF from ArcGIS Pro comes out rasters not vectors output

ThaoNDP

Hi Everyone,

I am trying to export an EMF file from ArcGIS Pro 3.2.1 as vectors to be able to add to an MS Word document and then do some label edits on the text boxes of the picture. However, the layouts I export to EMF from ArcGIS Pro are currently coming out rasters, not the vector format as I exported from ArcMap 10.8.2. ArcMap can help me complete this task very well, but ArcGIS Pro still cannot. Do you have any advice on my case? Maybe I was missing some configurations on the export tool or the current ArcGIS Pro version has not supported this feature yet.

Thank you very much for any support from you guys!

Best,

Thao Nguyen

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MitchellDrennan

@VinhTran Thank you for digging into this! It prompted me to dive back into it and perhaps found ANOTHER solution.

I converted all my layers to shapefiles in order to test the method you described but was still getting rasterized EMFs for some reason.

I then started isolating layers, that is, exporting a separate EMF with only one layer turned on at a time, and I started getting vector EMFs until I got to a layer with no stroke symbology and a "No color" fill symbology.

So, I gave it a fill color of white and dropped the layer down to the bottom of my Drawing Order (since it was transparent anyway, and my map background was white, this resulted in no visual change to the finished product), and exported an EMF, and voila, a vector EMF was produced (and a file size of <100 KB!).

This prompted me to switch all my layers back to File Geodatabase Feature Classes in order to test the "shp vs. gdb" issue, and I was able to export vector EMFs even using File Geodatabase Feature Classes.

So it appears, for me at least, that the issue occurs when you have a layer turned on with either: some form of transparency, or only non-colored symbology.

My subsequent workflow is to insert the EMF into an Excel file, and then print the Excel file to Adobe PDF so you end up with a vectorized map in the final PDF.

VinhTran

Everyone,

I finally found the solution to Exporting EMF in ArcGis Pro 3.3.2. I have been struggling for the past year as well trying to figure this out.

Solution: It only works with shapefiles. If you have a feature class toggle on it will make it into a Raster. My DPI is set to 2000 with Ratio to the Max (5, Fast) and it has worked every time. I have it exported into powerpoint and then right clicking the file to edit picture and then ungrouping. from there i am able to delete the background of my layout and left with my vector file. I hope this helps.

CraigBrigley

I'm having the same issue with EMF being exported as a raster. Vector graphics are preferred for quality, high-end publications. Using a transparency with a vector layer used to cause raster conversion with ArcMap, but I'm not using transparency on any vector layers. Also, in layout export settings, what is meant by vector DPI ? DPI wouldn't be applicable to a vector layer, since it is mathematically defined geometry with no associated resolution. Anyone have solutions or explanations for this ? Thank-you

MitchellDrennan

Same here. Exporting to EMF from ArcMap resulted in a <1 MB file size for me and maintained vector quality. I imported the same MXD to ArcGIS Pro, and exporting to EMF from ArcGIS Pro 3.2.1 results in a rasterized image and 7 - 10 MB file size.

I just recently switched to ArcGIS Pro and am unfortunately amassing a large list of disruptions to our old workflows. Hopefully they fix this one!

Joey_Lecky

I get the same result. Exporting map layouts to both EMF and EPS result in raster images with no vector components ('output as image' is unchecked). I'm using ArcGIS Pro 3.2.1

At least SVG seems to work well.

ThaoNDP

Hi @DanPatterson,

I followed this guide step by step, but the problem is that when I add the output EMF file as a picture to the Word document, the vector elements cannot be edited directly on the image. EMF results run from the Export to EMF tool on ArcMap can be edited and the resolution is very good also. Have you ever experienced this situation before?

danretired

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Export to EMF—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation

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