When using ArcMap's Export Map functionality to save Nearmap WMS imagery as a PDF, some users have reported blank PDFs, or PDFs printing with all elements except Nearmap imagery.
In order to print from a web service, all the imagery needs to be downloaded and sent to the printer as part of the process. ArcMap therefore makes a separate request to the Nearmap WMS server for an image at the size required to reach the dpi setting in the Export Map Settings window:
To limit the load on our servers, Nearmap's image download size limit is 6000 x 6000 pixels. If your specify higher resolution than this, the print will fail, most of the time without error.
Printing Options
We have provided four methods of printing Nearmap imagery from ArcMap, presented in order of effectiveness.
Using anything beyond the settings recommended in these methods described below will result in a blank output, or a blurry output.
Best Option – Export image from ArcGIS Marketplace Item
The best way to print Nearmap Imagery from ArcMap is by using the Esri Marketplace Item.
When exporting this method supports 300dpi and 1:1 quality ratio.
- Change the layer properties.
a. Right-click on Nearmap Imagery in the Table of Contents and select Properties.
b. Under the Display tab, change the Resample type to Cubic Convolution and change the Quality to 100.
- Export the map to PDF or image.
a. Click File in the top left and select Export Map.
b. Change the settings to 300 dpi and 1:1 Quality Ratio.
c. You can also select a different format at this step. Just open the Save As Type dropdown box and select the format you want, such as JPG and PNG and adjust the settings to your preference.
Second best option – Print to PDF from ArcGIS Marketplace item
When printing this method supports 1:1 quality with a lower, unknown dpi.
- Change the layer properties.
a. Right-click on Nearmap Imagery in the Table of Contents and select Properties.
b. Under the Display tab, change the Resample type to Cubic Convolution and change the Quality to 100.
- Print to PDF from ArcMap.
a. Click File > Page and Print Setup and select Microsoft Print to PDF as your default printer (on a Mac, select the Save As PDF option).
b. Hit OK.
c. Click File and Print.
d. Change the Quality to Best (1:1) and hit OK.
This process may take a couple minutes.
A dialog box will pop up letting you choose the location to save the PDF.
Third best option – Export PDF or image from WMS 2.0
This supports printing and exporting the imagery at 144 dpi and a 1:2 quality ratio.
- Export map to PDF or image.
a. Click File in the top left and select Export Map.
b. Change the settings on the export to be 144 dpi and a 1:1 quality ratio and hit Save.
Fourth best option – Print to PDF from WMS 2.0
- Print to PDF from ArcMap.
a. Click File > Page and Print Setup and select Microsoft Print to PDF as your default printer (on a Mac, select the Save As PDF option).
b. Hit OK.
c. Click File and Print.
d. Change the Quality Ratio to 1:2 and select Print.
- Use the Save Image feature with a limited area in your browser to generate a geo-referenced image.
Save Image will render the highest resolution image we can produce, that will in most cases have larger pixel dimensions than the WMS maximum.
