Here is a map of the Antarctic Peninsula (did you notice the achingly beautiful Antarctic hillshade? Go get it at the Living Atlas) made in ArcGIS Pro.
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See that overview globe thing there in the corner? I like it. But it didn’t start out looking this way. Let’s kick this thing around, shall we? Here are five ways to upgrade a not-so-hot overview map.
1. Make It Simple
In your Pro layout, you can add any number of maps via the Insert tab. In these examples I have two maps in the layout—the main Antarctic map and the overview. Speaking of which, here is a rather sad little overview…
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As much as possible, try to make your overview map monochromatic. The overview is absolutely second fiddle and just needs to be there to give a bit of context.
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2. Make It a globe
If your main map area is a pretty big place, consider using a globe as your overview. It’s just nice. Plus National Geographic does it and who doesn’t want to make maps a little bit more like National Geographic?
I like to use the trusty World From Space projection, then copy/modify it to center it near (but not right over) the area of interest.
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Why not center the globe right over the area of interest? I feel like if the area of interest is offset a bit then it gives a nice dimensionality to the layout.
And since it’s a globe, I don’t want a square map frame containing a round map. So after I’ve inserted the map frame into the layout, I modify it to be a circular map frame (Layout > Insert > Reshape).
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If your main map is a pretty local area, that’s ok, you can still give it a round frame. Edges are sharp and you don’t want to poke out an eye. Exhibit A.
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3. Give It Depth
Anyway, that border along the perimeter is pretty distracting. And it’s not doing the “globe” look any favors. But you can elevate it with a simple hack. From within the layout, open up the overview Map Frame properties.
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Give the map frame’s border a dark outer gradient stroke to pull it up off the main map a bit.
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And sell the roundness of the globe with a subtle light inner gradient stroke.
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Now we’re cooking! That’s a way globier looking globe.
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4. Cool Area of Interest Marker
Ok, so you have a handsome overview, but where is the interesting bit; how do you show the area of interest? You can insert a point or a star shape into the layout…
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That’s cool, if your main map extent is comparably small. Or if your subject is a political area like a country or state then you can use that to mark the overview. But I like to draw (Layout > Insert > Polygon) an actual approximation box of the main map’s extent…
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But while we’re at it, why not make the box look cool? You can give the shape any sort of stylistic tweaks you like. I like to make mine look like a little hovering pane of glass.
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Glassy and classy!
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5. Push It Over the Edge
Even though we’ve designed the overview to be pretty basic, a hovering globe can still attract a bit more attention than it deserves. Consider pushing the overview off the edge of the layout.
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An overview that peeks out from the bleed margin is a simple layout trick to make your overview less prominent but at the same time gives the overall layout some dynamism. Plus you don’t see it every day. Well, you didn’t.
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There it is! Five steps to consider for leveling up overview maps. To review…
- Make It Simple
- Make It a Globe
- Give It Depth
- Cool Area of Interest Marker
- Push It Over the Edge
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And if you’d like, here is the ArcGIS Pro project for this map, so you can roll you sleeves up and take a look at this overview for yourself. Also, while you are in there, check out the fun curved text as labels!
Happy Overviewing! John
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