Exporting inset map with same quality in ArcGIS Desktop?

Question

I am having trouble exporting my map that has the same quality in the inset. The lines come out blurry.

You can see a big difference between the quality. Any ideas?

Answer 1

You could try running this in the python window (for both frames), just to make sure all of your transparencies are off:

import arcpy

def DetectRasterization(): mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT") df_list = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd) foundRasterization = False noneFoundMsg = "No rasterizing layers were detected." for df in df_list: lyr_list = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd, data_frame=df) for lyr in lyr_list: if lyr.isRasterizingLayer or lyr.supports("BRIGHTNESS"): foundRasterization = True if lyr.isGroupLayer and lyr.transparency > 0: print "In data frame '" + df.name + "', the group layer '" + \ lyr.longName + "' is a rasterizing layer:\r", print "\tVisibility is " + str(lyr.visible) + ".\n" + \ "\tTransparency is " + str(lyr.transparency) + " percent.\n" elif not lyr.isGroupLayer: print "In data frame '" + df.name + "', the layer '" + \ lyr.longName + "' is a rasterizing layer:\r", if lyr.transparency > 0: print "\tVisibility is " + str(lyr.visible) + ".\n" + \ "\tTransparency is " + str(lyr.transparency) + " percent.\n" else: print "\tVisibility is " + str(lyr.visible) + ".\n" + \ "\tTransparency is 0 percent, but the layer may be a\n" + \ "\traster layer or contain rasterizing symbology such\n" + \ "\tas bitmap picture symbols.\n" del lyr del lyr_list del df if not foundRasterization: print noneFoundMsg del df_list del mxd

DetectRasterization()

It is easy to miss a layer or two when you have a lot going on.

Answer 2

Transparent layers cause any vector layers underneath it to be rasterized in the output pdf. I can see that you have a transparent layer in both dataframes. The blue polygon at the top left of the screenshot has a pixelated border (In the main dataframe). When you zoom in (inset), the pixels of all the rasterized layers become more visible.

As @Michael Miles-Stimson said, try moving your transparent layer as far down the stack as you can. (Do those lines really need to be covered by the transparent layer? Bring them up to the top and they will export as vectors).

Here is another answer explaining transparency in ArcMap: Transparency for PDFs in Arc (Thanks @faith_dur).

Answer 3

I had similar problem in ArcMap 10.6. Export to PDF became rasterised- vectors were lost. I find out that in some cases if you have group layers PDF becomes rasterised. I have simply reordered my layers all under one "root" layer and export was vectorised PDF.