Custom Print Template - Preview Option

[James_Shreeve]

The new update to ArcGIS Online (June 2026), which has enabled us to use custom print templates is great but the fact it costs 5 credits per print and the lack of any preview is a real sticking point in my eyes. I could probably deal with 5 credits per print if I knew the users wouldn't go through multiple interations of printing to get exactly what they want. 

My idea is simple - please enable the print element/widget to have a 'preview' option, so the users are able to see what the print will look like and make any amends if deemed necessary. By all means watermark it or whatever else for the preview but it would make a huge difference! Hopefully others feel similar. 

[LukePanther]

Yes, this would be a great addition!!

[JonathanMcD]

Yes, but really we need cheaper printing too, 5 credits is a money burner. Given desktop users can utilise ArcPro templates all day - every day, AGOL templates are by design for everyone else and those users are the majority. 

[James_Shreeve]

@JonathanMcD don't disagree at all, 5 credits to print does seem rather high and will stop people using it. Just feel that offering something e.g. preview, hopefully will be able to counter that cost a bit easier than the whole conversation around credit cost.

[Emma65]

Hello @James_Shreeve,

Thank you for posting your idea! 

I understand that this may not be exactly what you are looking for in this request and you may already be utilizing this option, but I wonder if publishing your template with a thumbnail might help alleviate part of this problem? 

• Publish your custom print layout template with a thumbnail & other metadata

For your request to have a full preview of the template in the print widget, if possible I would recommend reaching out to Technical Support so our team can get a formal enhancement request logged for you!

[James_Shreeve]

Hi @Emma65, 

Thanks for your reply. I do use the thumbnail but my idea is more around the elements on the layout such as the map, legend, title etc. which the user can amend - whilst the thumbnail shows the structure of the layout it doesn't show a 'live' print preview of what the user would be printing.

I have submitted it the technical support, thank you for the advice.