topic Re: Dynamic Picure Position for Map Series in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Dynamic Picure Position for Map Series

galiGIS — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 13:40:42 GMT

Hi all,
I’m working with a Map Series layout in ArcGIS Pro and using a dynamic picture element whose source is driven by a field called PNG. The PNG field correctly updates the image for each page in the series, so the image itself changes as expected.

My problem:
I also need the position of the picture element to change per page (Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, etc.). However, when I move the picture element on Page 1, that same position is applied across all pages in the Map Series. I need the picture to sit in different positions on each page, dynamically, just like the image source does.

Question:
Is there a way in ArcGIS Pro to make a picture element’s position dynamic per page in a Map Series?
For example:

Page 1 → image at Position A
Page 2 → image at Position B
Page 3 → image at Position C
…all while still using the field‑driven PNG value for the picture source.

I’ve tried adjusting the element on individual pages, but the layout seems to treat the picture’s position as global, not page‑specific.

Is there a built‑in method, workaround, or recommended workflow (Arcade, map frame features, arcpy.mp scripting, etc.) to achieve page‑specific element positioning?

Some pictures below:

Thanks in advance!

Re: Dynamic Picure Position for Map Series

DuncanHornby — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 15:42:20 GMT

To my knowledge there is no way of doing this through the UI of ArcPro, but it can be scripted. Here is basic example you would run in the python console or notebook. This code provides the basic template to step over a map series and move a picture element, in this example I shift it by the X coordinate.

import arcpy,os arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True # Get current project aprx = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject("CURRENT") # Get layout and its map series lyt = aprx.listLayouts()[0] ms = lyt.mapSeries # Get picture element assumes only 1 picture in layout pic = lyt.listElements('picture_element')[0] # Set up export to be PNG and from Map series png = arcpy.mp.CreateExportFormat('PNG') msOpt = arcpy.mp.CreateExportOptions('MAPSERIES') msOpt.setExportPages('CURRENT') if ms.enabled: for pageNum in range(1, ms.pageCount + 1): # Set page number, in this example there are only 3 indices in the map series # Use page number to set X position of picture element, units are in cm ms.currentPageNumber = pageNum match pageNum: case 1: pic.elementPositionX = 1 case 2: pic.elementPositionX = 5 case 3: pic.elementPositionX = 10 pageName = ms.pageRow.ID #ID = field name in index layer, essentially its pageNum # Build output path and export, note c:\scratch\output must already exist as a folder print(f"Exporting {pageName}") png.filePath =os.path.join(r'c:\scratch','Output', f'Ex2_{pageName}.png') ms.export(png, msOpt) print("Done!")

Re: Dynamic Picure Position for Map Series

AdrianWelsh — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:11:49 GMT

This is a very interesting dilemma. What kind of map series are you using? I haven't tried it but it seem like using a Thematic Map Series could potentially solve this problem:

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/layouts/thematic-map-series-and-dynamic-elements.htm

However, the python script above might be better!

Re: Dynamic Picure Position for Map Series

TomBole — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 15:03:51 GMT

Hi @galiGIS

There is no way to do this through the UI. You can do this using python as @DuncanHornby helpfully shows.

Tom