topic Re: Background layers fade to nearly invisible when adding new feature in ArcGIS Collector Questions

Background layers fade to nearly invisible when adding new feature

AaronWorthley1 — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 01:13:24 GMT

When editing in Collector, say creating a new line feature, any background feature layers in the map fade to nearly invisible. This makes it really hard to see what you're doing or to reference existing data in new feature creation. Is there any way to control this behavior, or a workaround so the background layers don't disappear? I don't know if it would be any better, but generating image tile layers for all background data is not a feasible solution- querying background data via popups is necessary.

Re: Background layers fade to nearly invisible when adding new feature

Kylie — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 16:20:22 GMT

Hi Aaron -- This is something the team is aware of and evaluating. Could you post some screen captures so that we can see your data both before starting to edit and while editing?

Thanks!

Re: Background layers fade to nearly invisible when adding new feature

AaronWorthley1 — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 16:35:31 GMT

Sure, here are a couple of screenshots. One normal view, the second while in the process of drawing a line. In this case I'm manually drawing, but the same happens when streaming. Notice everything except the basemap fades out and is very hard to see, especially out in the sunlight. This behavior makes the map all but unusable while editing, I really hope this will be addressed soon as it's a significant issue for fieldworkers.

Re: Background layers fade to nearly invisible when adding new feature

Kylie — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 19:53:59 GMT

Perfect, thanks! I'll add these to our examples of where people are having trouble seeing reference data while editing.

As to what you can do now, unfortunately, your options are to change the symbology in your map, or wait until this is changed in the app as there is no setting for this. I don't have a timeframe for an update or change in the app.

Re: Background layers fade to nearly invisible when adding new feature

AaronWorthley1 — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 20:00:22 GMT

What symbology could I use that would not be subject to this issue? Everything seems to fade to nearly invisible except the basemap.

Re: Background layers fade to nearly invisible when adding new feature

Kylie — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 20:04:55 GMT

I'd try something with more contrast to your basemap. I think often when people are reporting this, it is on the imagery basemap where it is harder to get contrasting (or consistently contrasting) symbology.

Re: Background layers fade to nearly invisible when adding new feature

AaronWorthley1 — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 21:05:42 GMT

Tried with as contrasty a symbology set as I could come up with, and also with very low variablity basemap (light grey, dark grey, topographic, etc) to no avail. It is not better enough to make a functional difference out in the field.

Re: Background layers fade to nearly invisible when adding new feature

Kylie — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 21:39:15 GMT

Thanks for trying Aaron! The team is looking into this.

Re: Background layers fade to nearly invisible when adding new feature

HamishMills — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 22:06:13 GMT

We desperately need this change aswell KDonia-esristaff ! Thanks! Take this as my vote to change it asap!

Re: Background layers fade to nearly invisible when adding new feature

Kylie — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 22:25:52 GMT

Thanks Hamish! I've added you to the list of folks who've given feedback on this.

Re: Background layers fade to nearly invisible when adding new feature

MalcolmJ — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 03:04:09 GMT

Hello. Is there any update on this? Its been five months now, just wondering if this fix is coming anytime soon? Thanks

Re: Background layers fade to nearly invisible when adding new feature

WilliamGreen1 — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 16:48:50 GMT

Please add me to the list to notify when this is resolved. Note that there is another thread that you may want to reference for others w/ the same issue (it is a suggestion thread):

https://community.esri.com/ideas/16051-collector-layers-transparent-when-editing

If you have an idea on what release this issue will be fixed in, please update us - and thank you!

Re: Background layers fade to nearly invisible when adding new feature

Kylie — Thu, 26 Dec 2019 20:01:11 GMT

Hi Malcolm -- It is being looked at. I don't have a timeframe on it though.

Re: Background layers fade to nearly invisible when adding new feature

AndreaFagan — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 20:15:32 GMT

This is also a big deal for us. For us though, the entire map was fading out, including the imagery, which I realize now after seeing this post was because we were using our own imagery as a service rather than the Esri basemap imagery. I got around this issue by moving the imagery to the basemap in Portal 10.6.1, so at least the imagery doesn't fade out, which makes it still usable in sunlight for us. But the vector feature layers still fade out. My hunch is that it was developed with the thought process of adding a transparency to the layers to see imagery underneath (?) while editing but that can be accomplished in the map itself, if the user wants/needs that. Definitely looking forward to a fix for this in future releases!