Making Amazing Maps in ArcGIS Pro 3

Most GIS professionals know how to make maps. Far fewer know how to make maps that command attention and communicate effectively. This 1 day course bridges that gap.

You’ll start by building a custom basemap and symbol library that give your maps a unique visual identity — no more default symbology that looks like everyone else’s work. Then you’ll learn the visual techniques that most ArcGIS Pro users never discover: layer blending modes that create depth by fusing thematic data with terrain, firefly cartography that makes point data glow on dark backgrounds, heat maps and feature binning for visualizing massive datasets, bivariate symbology for showing two variables simultaneously, and Arcade-driven dynamic symbology that calculates classifications on the fly.

In Module 3, you’ll master the Maplex Label Engine — the powerful automated labeling system that most users barely scratch the surface of. You’ll learn how to create multiple label classes with different styling, write Arcade label expressions for dynamic multi-line labels, configure fitting strategies and priority rankings, and convert problem labels to annotation for pixel-perfect manual control.

Module 4 brings everything together with cartographic design principles — visual hierarchy, color theory, colorblind accessibility, typography, and professional layout composition. You’ll create infographic-style layouts that combine maps, charts, and statistics into self-contained analytical products. You’ll also learn map animation for presentations and social media, and export optimization for print, web, and video.