idea use masking functionalities with labels in ArcGIS Pro in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

use masking functionalities with labels in ArcGIS Pro

JulieRASSELET — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 14:54:37 GMT

Hello everybody ! The masking tools with ArcGIS Pro are wonderful, but when we use labels with a masked layer, they remain displayed on the map. And we have to export them as annotations to get the result we need (and it doesn't facilitate our work).

So it could be useful to integrate the labels into the masking functions. Even if it's possible...

Re: use masking functionalities with labels in ArcGIS Pro

LindsayRaabe_FPCWA — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 03:45:59 GMT

Adding my support for this functionality. A lot of the mapping I find myself doing these days is building templates for less GIS capable staff to use. One of the features I've been looking forward to using is the layer Masking in ArcGIS Pro. In itself, it works great for features. I have another issue (will post separately) about the settings resetting each time a layer is moved, but hiding labels seems like an obvious exclusion. I struggle to think of a scenario where you would want to hide features by still show the labels.

I understand that we can convert labels to annotation and mask them that way, but that is not desirable when the map products we make will vary in location and scale and we want the labeling to be dynamic.

Re: use masking functionalities with labels in ArcGIS Pro

SWATConsultingInc — Thu, 06 May 2021 14:22:23 GMT

I agree that if you're masking a feature the corresponding labels should also be masked by default. Would love to see this functionality added in an upcoming release.

Re: use masking functionalities with labels in ArcGIS Pro

TaylorCarnell1 — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 02:45:31 GMT

These seems like pretty basic/expected functionality that is a pain to work around

Re: use masking functionalities with labels in ArcGIS Pro

alex_friant — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 21:18:40 GMT

I support this user story. Dynamic Label Masking is a very basic cartographic tool that can really speed up workflows.

Re: use masking functionalities with labels in ArcGIS Pro - Status changed to: Closed

WendyHarrison — Sat, 20 Nov 2021 00:09:50 GMT

To do this you need to set the weight of the masking layer.

On the Labeling ribbon, click More and select Weights

set the feature weight of the mask layer to 1000 to block all labels from placing on top of it.

Wendy

Re: use masking functionalities with labels in ArcGIS Pro

alex_friant — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 16:13:00 GMT

@WendyHarrison - I could have swore I already tried that and it didn't work, but I must be mistaken. That did exactly what I needed. Thank you!

Re: use masking functionalities with labels in ArcGIS Pro

TaylorCarnell1 — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 23:16:44 GMT

@WendyHarrison what if you only want to mask a single layer or subset of layers, but the mask layer covers other layers that still require labelling?

From my understanding this workaround would be an all or nothing approach.

Cheers

Re: use masking functionalities with labels in ArcGIS Pro

alex_friant — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 15:39:41 GMT

@TaylorCarnell1 - Thats'a great point. Regular layer masking allows you to block specific individual layers, but labeling weights on a layer blocks labels from all layers. These are diametrically opposed solutions.

@WendyHarrison - While the solution you proposed worked for my narrow case, the proposed solution for labeling doesn't allow for blocking of labels by specific layers. The idea proposed is to go to the layer being labeled and designate specific layers that will mask the labels, just like how layer masking works under the Appearance ribbon. This idea should be re-opened.

Re: use masking functionalities with labels in ArcGIS Pro

WendyHarrison — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 01:07:12 GMT

@alex_friant

annotation masks are a separate polygon that is created from the annotation feature and then set as a mask on the appearance ribbon. so this doesn't apply to labels which are dynamic.

are you requesting to have layers weighted differently to different layer labels? so polygon layer A would be a block to point layer C labels, but allow point layer D labels to place on top of it?

could you provide a simple example of what you're looking for?

Re: use masking functionalities with labels in ArcGIS Pro

alex_friant — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 15:35:52 GMT

@WendyHarrison - You're understanding of it is perfect, no example needed. You got it.

Re: use masking functionalities with labels in ArcGIS Pro - Status changed to: Open

WendyHarrison — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 16:13:39 GMT

Reopening this idea to gather interest (kudos).

The request is to have layers weighted differently to different layer labels. For example - polygon layer A would be a block to point layer C labels, but allow point layer D labels to place on top of it

Re: use masking functionalities with labels in ArcGIS Pro

TylerJones — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 20:21:32 GMT

Thanks Wendy!

Re: use masking functionalities with labels in ArcGIS Pro

KevinN_CSJ — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 01:14:37 GMT

@WendyHarrison

I think the easiest way to think of this, instead of varying feature weights would be to link the dynamic label to the visibility of the feature.

In my case, I have a streets layer that is county wide and I'm working on a printable map that is only showing within city limits so I have a mask over the streets layer hiding all that are outside. But some other labels, such as parks and creeks/rivers, have been requested to be visible outside the city. The masking layer weight fixes the street names issue, but also hides the labels for features that are still visible in the map. If the labels were tied to the visibility of the feature then my streets labels would stay inside the city limit and the "basemap" features which are not masked would still have their labels.

Re: use masking functionalities with labels in ArcGIS Pro

JonathanLee — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 14:54:04 GMT

@KevinN_CSJ

Same issue for me. My workaround was to have two streets layer and one only show symbology, and then on the other select only those street segments in the limits and label that layer. This isn't perfect as there are some segments that cross the limits.

Re: use masking functionalities with labels in ArcGIS Pro

RoseF — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 13:33:45 GMT

I support this idea! For our use on geologic maps, it would be great if the idea of "masking" could be attributed to each annotation feature or annotation class. Just like with normal polygon masks, it would be necessary for us to indicate which layer(s) we wanted masked and which ones we wanted to be left. For example, we put letters along linear features, not unlike topo lines. It would be nice if (a) we didn't have to have a separate polygon feature for every single annotation feature; and (b) if the masks could be added as simply as, say, a halo is added.

Re: use masking functionalities with labels in ArcGIS Pro

sblake_everettwa — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 19:14:58 GMT

I just realized this 'masking-labels-when-masking-feature-layer' problem, working on a map as well. I agree - the program should mask the labels for those features that are masked by another layer (why would I want the labels showing?). Setting the feature weight of the mask in label settings isn't workable because I have a dozen other feature classes that I need to show labels for in this same area where the mask is applied. Hoping ESRI makes this change in upcoming release.

Re: use masking functionalities with labels in ArcGIS Pro

-ChrisCraig — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 20:17:02 GMT

Hi Everyone, reading this thread was like picking through the troubleshooting I had to do all over again. I loved it! @WendyHarrison @alex_friant your exchange of ideas to establish a mutual understanding was brilliant, before I read the response, "You're understanding of it is perfect, no example needed..." I was already thinking, yeah "...You got it." 😄

Thank you, everyone, for your input and efforts.

I found a related thread by user @JuliaSurkis1 and this type of UI might help their case as well.
https://community.esri.com/t5/community-development-questions/mile-marker-symbology-in-arcgis-pro/m-p/781999/highlight/true#M16

Re: use masking functionalities with labels in ArcGIS Pro

mhendo — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 15:16:16 GMT

@WendyHarrison Other than converting to annotation, do you have any tips/suggestions for what would amount to muting a label, i.e., still visible, but UNDER a semi-transparent mask? See the example below:

Ideally, the road shields in the surrounding counties which are masked with a semi-transparent fill, would be just as their geometries are - still visible but placed UNDER the mask, thus muted in appearance.

Re: use masking functionalities with labels in ArcGIS Pro

WendyHarrison — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 19:08:31 GMT

@mhendo

another workaround would be to split the labels into two label classes with an sql query and then use transparency on the text symbol for the labels that fall under the mask

image below shows label class 1 with feature oid <= 6 and class 2 with feature oid > 6

label class 1 has transparent shields and class 2 has nontransparent shields.