topic Re: Set DPI when exporting a map to PDF in ArcGIS Pro in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Set DPI when exporting a map to PDF in ArcGIS Pro

PaulBartz — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:18:24 GMT

In ArcMap, it is possible to configure the resolution in DPI when exporting a map via "File" > "Export Map".

In ArcGIS Pro, a similar function exists when exporting a layout to PDF via "Share" > "Export Layout" > "Vector PDF". However, when exporting a map to PDF via "Share" > "Export Map" > "Vector PDF", this feature is missing.

I already saw the comments of this post:
In my opinion it should be different for the export to PDF since there is a page "to which you're writing the image".

So are there any plans to implement this feature in future versions of ArcGIS Pro? If so, is there already a confirmed release version?

Best regards,
Paul

Re: Set DPI when exporting a map to PDF in ArcGIS Pro

DanPatterson — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:39:10 GMT

did you try flattened pdf?

Re: Set DPI when exporting a map to PDF in ArcGIS Pro

RTPL_AU — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 01:14:49 GMT

Hi @PaulBartz
Can you lodge this as an Idea?

@DanPatterson the DPI numbers you point to are pre-determined by screen size or something and can only be ratio'd down, not set to 300dpi for example.

There has to be either a DPI setting or a page size setting to go with the image size in pixels in order to determine the output 'paper' size AND image quality of the pdf.

Just having a pixel size & resample ratio for raster outputs is fine but when going PDF we need more controls/settings in the Export Map process.

Re: Set DPI when exporting a map to PDF in ArcGIS Pro

kmsmikrud — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 16:57:27 GMT

*Actually the more I've thought about this besides my need to write things down is I believe I typically do use the output as image setting so the rendering is better preserved on the GIS side than relying on the printer to do that. Although I do remember the plotter still spooling for a long time so maybe that part happens regardless? Thanks

Hi,

I'm trying to make sense of a few settings when also exporting a poster as a .pdf to print on a Canon plotter. I haven't paid full attention to the settings I've selected but after some printer glitches now trying to figure out what is the difference from printing posters earlier this year and now.

For instance, as Dan suggested is it best to use the 'output as image' setting or how does that differ from the printer setting as 'Print As Image'? I believe the last exported maps I had I did not use that setting because I had the 'embed fonts' selected and then a large .pdf file size. However when I went to print the poster I noticed the printer was flattening the .pdf and never went thru the usual spooling. After so many tries I finally selected in the printer options to 'Print as Image' and then the printer went thru the spooling and did print.

Is there a recommended workflow for exporting .pdfs to be printed or alternatively do people select the

option on the printer side?

Thanks in advance!,

Kathy