topic Re: ArcGIS Pro export to PDF not preserving layer transparency? in ArcGIS Pro Questions

ArcGIS Pro export to PDF not preserving layer transparency?

AndySiegel — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 23:55:13 GMT

I'm working on a map in ArcGIS Pro 2.4.1 in which I have a layer with 50% transparency. Here you can see what the color of the polygon is and how it appears in layout view with the transparency:

When I export to PDF, I get this:

Same results with JPEG and PNG.

Question: Anyone know why the transparency isn't being preserved during the export to PDF? Thanks for any help you can provide!

Re: ArcGIS Pro export to PDF not preserving layer transparency?

JeremyWright — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 16:37:16 GMT

andy,

It actually looks like the poly is still transparent, but

a) In your exported PDF (I assume at higher DPI than display) you're getting a different LOD of the hillshade in the basemap, which doesn't actually include the hillshade. Topo and other basemaps do this content change and higher LODs which trips us up all the time :/.

b) Your layout may be set to be CMYK, which means the colors would appear darker/muddier due to different gamut. you can check this in Layout properties dialog.

Jeremy W.

Re: ArcGIS Pro export to PDF not preserving layer transparency?

MattReeves — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 23:44:06 GMT

Afternoon Andy,

Did you ever get this figured out? I too am having Transparency issues during Export to PDF.

This is my map in Pro, with Transparency working:

Here is the export to PDF, with Transparency not working

Re: ArcGIS Pro export to PDF not preserving layer transparency?

JeremyWright — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 00:14:38 GMT

Not sure what is going on in your case - can you send this to Esri support so we can get a ticket started?

Re: ArcGIS Pro export to PDF not preserving layer transparency?

MattReeves — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 00:28:47 GMT

Will do Jeremy,

I was just going through the various output formats to see if any of them will export transparent, but so far I am not having luck. Our organization has Premium Support, so I will get a ticket started.

Thanks,

Matt

Re: ArcGIS Pro export to PDF not preserving layer transparency?

AndySiegel — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 16:45:42 GMT

Hey Matt Reeves,

I'm not encountering the problem anymore. What version of Pro are you on? I just upgraded to 2.5 and tried to replicate the issue, but the transparency was honored. Exported a map to PDF, JPG and PNG with multiple layers with transparencies and they all came across in the export. Not sure if this is a glitch or if the software is actually working now.....regardless, thanks for sending in a support ticket!

Jeremy Wright, have you been able to replicate the error?

Re: ArcGIS Pro export to PDF not preserving layer transparency?

JeremyWright — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 17:36:22 GMT

No, that's why I was curious as to other factors. This type of issue it's better to do troubleshooting interactively with Esri Support - it's not really conducive to forum discussion.

Re: ArcGIS Pro export to PDF not preserving layer transparency?

MattReeves — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 00:24:02 GMT

Thank you for responding Andy,
I too am on 2.5. My Transparency is being respected for a lower level layer (a DEM draped on a hillshade). However, a higher up layer is coming through solid. I've put in a request for an ESRI ticket, so I will report back when I've worked with them.

-Matt

Re: ArcGIS Pro export to PDF not preserving layer transparency?

NickFox — Sat, 16 May 2020 05:51:40 GMT

Exporting a .lyr file with transparency was not working for me either. I instead downloaded the geodatabase that included the feature to bypass using the .lyr file. I set my transparency and exported with no issues. Appears the .lyr file is the root of the issue.

I am using ArcGIS Pro 2.5 w/o the latest patch

Re: ArcGIS Pro export to PDF not preserving layer transparency?

MattReeves — Thu, 27 May 2021 19:09:52 GMT

It turns out that if you have a .tif (at least in my case) in your pro project, the transparencies are not respected. Our logo was a .tif file. When I changed this out to .jpg, I no longer had the issue. I was able to re-produce this issue.