Change the style of a symbol

You can change how features are drawn on the map, altering attributes of the symbol such as the color, size, and opacity. There are two approaches to doing this depending on the type of layer:

• For features in layers created and stored in the map, like the default Map Notes layer, use the Symbol drop-down panel.
• For features in configurable layers—layers that reference a map or feature service or that were created by importing data—click the Configure button in the Layer Details panel and click Single Symbol.

Learn more about opening the symbol panel

Once you have adjusted the appearance of a feature, you can create more features with the same appearance by creating a new feature template based on that feature.

Learn more about creating new feature templates

How to change the appearance of a point feature

For point features, you can choose a symbol from the symbol gallery shown at the top of the Symbol panel. Use the Symbol Size slider to increase or decrease the size of the symbol. Alternatively, you can pick a symbol from one of the other symbol galleries that are available by selecting a gallery from the drop-down list at the top of the panel.

If you want to find a specific type of symbol, click the Find icon shown at the top right of the panel, and enter a keyword into the text box. Click one of the found symbols in shown in the box to choose that symbol.

If you have your own image that you want to use as the symbol, click Custom in the list to display the Custom Symbol dialog box. You can specify the URL to a PNG or JPEG image.

Some point symbols allow you to change their background and outline color, opacity, and outline width using the Background Color and Outline Color buttons, respectively, and the Opacity and Width sliders; if these properties cannot be changed for the selected symbol, the buttons are not available.

Note:

The first five symbols in the Basic gallery of point symbols have configurable background and outline color, opacity, and outline width.

How to change the appearance of a line feature

For line features, you can choose a symbol from the symbol gallery. To change the color of the line, click the Outline Color button and choose a color from the color palette. You can use the Opacity slider to make the line more or less opaque and the Width slider to adjust the width.

How to change the appearance of an area feature

For area features, such as polygons, rectangles, arrows, and ellipses, you can choose a symbol from the symbol gallery. To change the background color for an area, click the Background Color button and choose a color from the color palette. You can use the Opacity slider to make the background more or less opaque.

To change the color of the outline, click the Outline Color button and choose a color from the color palette. You can use the Width slider to adjust the width of the outline.

How to change the appearance of a text feature

For text features, you can choose a font, font size, weight, style, and justification. You can also choose the color for the text, text background, and outline.

Note:

You cannot choose a text symbol to draw features that reference a feature service; text symbols can be used only for text features that are stored in the map.