Pop-Ups & Labels


Symbols can only carry so much information. Pop-ups and labels are an important component of cartography, allowing you to call out, describe, and explain features. Pop-ups and labels should be designed as carefully as symbols.

In this module, you will learn how to do the following:

  • Design effective pop-ups for web maps
  • Use ArcGIS Arcade to customize pop-ups
  • Label a map
  • Improve the clarity of a map with labeling properties

   
PLANNING
SYMBOLS
PROJECTIONS
DATA
POP-UPS & LABELS
LAYOUT
PUT IT ALL TOGETHER
ARCGIS ONLINE
Pop-ups are expected and often essential to web maps. Labels are used less frequently but can still greatly improve the clarity of a map.

ARCGIS ONLINE - ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

ARCGIS PRO
The difference between a good map and a great one is often in the quality of its labels.

ARCGIS PRO - ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

CHECKLIST

Ask the following questions of your map to confirm that its pop-ups and labels support your map's objective:

  • Is the text too small to read?
  • Is it clear which labels go with which features?
  • Have you proofread your map?
  • Do the pop-ups have the important information that you want to share? Can you remove any information that is not important?
  • Are the pop-ups turned off for the layers that don't need them?
  • Does the visual style of the pop-ups or labels match the visual style of the rest of the map?
CHALLENGE ACTIVITY

Use your own data layer and configure pop-ups or labels for it in three different ways. Answer the following questions:

  1. Of the three configurations, which one works best for your data and message? Why?
  2. Which design best matches the colors, tone, and general appearance of the rest of your map? Why?
  3. Which attributes or other information did you decide was essential to include in the pop-ups or labels? Why are they essential to your map?

If you don’t have your own data, use one of the suggestions below. You may choose to map the entire dataset or only a subset or smaller area.