topic Re: How to make a layout background transparent in ArcGIS Pro? in Cartography and Maps Questions

How to make a layout background transparent in ArcGIS Pro?

LucasMostyn2 — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 20:50:14 GMT

Hi,

I cannot make my layout have a transparent background? is it possible?

thank you,

lucas

Re: How to make a layout background transparent in ArcGIS Pro?

DanPatterson_Retired — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 21:10:05 GMT

is an image your background? certain image formats support transparency.

but what be beneath your background in any event?

Re: How to make a layout background transparent in ArcGIS Pro?

LucasMostyn2 — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 21:12:56 GMT

Nothing. I have created a layout, then loaded a map (which has a transparent background). But when i export I get a white background. I want to use the layout though because I have used the reshape tool on the map. Here is a pic

Re: How to make a layout background transparent in ArcGIS Pro?

DanPatterson_Retired — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 21:42:45 GMT

interesting.... I could only find reference to things related to web layers

http://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/help/data/services/use-map-image-layers.htm

Re: How to make a layout background transparent in ArcGIS Pro?

JosephCarter — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 15:03:21 GMT

Hi, Lucas. Often it can be more efficient to use, say Adobe Illustrator, to archive the desired layer transparency if you really get stumped in ArcMap. You would use then use the 'stamp tool' or some other method to add the layer after exporting your map. . . Good luck.

Re: How to make a layout background transparent in ArcGIS Pro?

ReedHunter — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 17:53:14 GMT

Lucas,

I encountered your question while researching a similar problem. I was able to use the following solution after upgrading to ArcGIS Pro version 2.12.

In ArcGIS Pro's contents panel where the map and layers are listed ...

right click the map's name and select "Properties"
In the Map Properties dialog, select the "General" section on the left, => "Background Color" dropdown => No Color

-Reed

Re: How to make a layout background transparent in ArcGIS Pro?

DianaLavery1 — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 00:49:57 GMT

I'm having the same issue as Lukas. I tried your method which works for the map frames, but I have a layout with three map frames (Alaska, Hawaii, and other 48 states), and the overall background of the entire layout is still white even though my three map frames have their backgrounds set to transparent.

Re: How to make a layout background transparent in ArcGIS Pro?

BobSteiss — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 15:38:56 GMT

I have ArcGIS Pro 2.4 and when I export the map as a png the background is transparent unlike when I export as a jpg and then I get a white background.

Re: How to make a layout background transparent in ArcGIS Pro?

RachelPasser1 — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 19:59:00 GMT

I have ArcGIS Pro 2.7.2 and I'm still having this issue as well. I set my background (verified both the map frame & the layout) to transparent, and when I exported to PDF it created a white background. I was able to remove the white background when opening the PDF in Adobe Illustrator. However, I will need to repeat this process for a few dozen maps, so that adds a lot more time to the process.

Re: How to make a layout background transparent in ArcGIS Pro?

BrianE — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 21:42:18 GMT

Same exact issue! Working with a global scene.

2.7.0

Re: How to make a layout background transparent in ArcGIS Pro?

VojtěchBlažek — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 07:33:33 GMT

Hello,

I have same problem in 2.9.

Map frame is set to no color, Background in map properities is also witn no color, but in layout appears white. In exported layout is everything OK.

It is really annoing

Please do someone from Esri something 🙂

Re: How to make a layout background transparent in ArcGIS Pro?

AlfredBaldenweck — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 16:01:43 GMT

The trick is to clip the map to whatever features you're using.

For some reason the map frame will assume you want white, even if you set that map's background color to something else.

Re: How to make a layout background transparent in ArcGIS Pro?

DanielSalinas — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 19:57:57 GMT

export layout

file type: PNG

check: transparent background

color depth: 32-bit with Alpha