Cartography.

MOOC

Exercise
Create a layout using an ocean-
centered projection
Section 2 Exercise 3
February 11, 2022
 Cartography. MOOC

Create a layout using an ocean-centered projection

Instructions
Use this guide and ArcGIS Pro to reproduce the results of the exercise on your own.
Note: The version of ArcGIS Pro that you are using for this course may produce slightly
different results from the graphics that you see in the course materials.

Time to complete
Approximately 60-90 minutes

Software requirements
ArcGIS Pro 2.9
ArcGIS Pro Standard license (or higher)
Note: The MOOC provides a separate ArcGIS account (username and password) that you
will need to use to license ArcGIS Pro and access other software applications used
throughout the MOOC exercises. This account (username ending with _cart) provides the
appropriate ArcGIS Online role, ArcGIS Pro license, ArcGIS Pro extensions, and credits.
We strongly recommend that you use the provided course ArcGIS account to ensure that
you have the appropriate licensing to complete the exercises. Exercises may require
credits. Using the provided course ArcGIS account ensures that you do not consume your
organization's credits. Esri is not responsible for any credits consumed if you use a different
account. Moreover, Esri will not provide technical support to students who use a different
account.

Introduction
Some maps are designed to challenge our assumptions of the world and force us to look at
our world from a new and fresh perspective. Seventy-one percent of the earth is covered in
oceans, but the vast majority of projections available to cartographers favor land areas. Seams
and distortion are relegated to the vast and empty oceans. But we know that oceans aren't
empty! There is a bustling community of scientists and advocates working to make the oceans
more familiar and more connected to how we consider our impact on them.
This exercise is a fun opportunity to explore a strange new projection that does just that. You
will make a beautiful map of the world's oceans, with a projection and layout designed to
present it in a novel and eye-catching way.

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 1

 Cartography. MOOC

What Will You Learn?

In this exercise, you will gain experience creating an ArcGIS Pro layout, populating it with map
frames, text, and images. You will learn how to rotate a map within a layout and explore color
gradient options for raster layers.

Step 1: Download the exercise data file

In this step, you will download the exercise data file.

a Open a new web browser tab or window.

b Go to https://links.esri.com/Sec2Spilhaus and click Download to download the exercise

data ZIP file.
Note: The complete URL to the exercise data file is https://trainingservices.maps.arcgis.com
/home/item.html?id=1e15ab56677446a89e23cc66eb782946. The file is 18 MB.

c Download and extract the files to a folder on your local computer, saving them in a
location that you will remember.

Step 2: Open an ArcGIS Pro project

In this step, you will open the ArcGIS Pro project that you will be working with for this
exercise.

a Start ArcGIS Pro and, if necessary, sign in using your provided course ArcGIS credentials
(username ending with _cart).

b From the main ArcGIS Pro Start page, near the bottom-left corner, click Open Another
Project.

c In the Open Project dialog box, browse to the location where you saved the exercise data
file and open the SpilhausLayout.ppkx project package.

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 2

 Cartography. MOOC

You will see a map with charmingly simple land areas. This layer was hand-drawn by
cartographer Dylan Moriarty and accessed from the very fun and endlessly useful Project
Linework (http://www.projectlinework.org/).
Next, you will save a copy of the exercise project with a new name so that you do not
overwrite the original file.

d From the Project tab, click Save As and type a name for your project, such as
SpilhausLayout_<your first and last name>.aprx.

e Save the project to the folder on your computer where you are saving your work.

f Zoom and pan around the map.

As you explore the layer, you can see it has an almost cartoonish level of generalization. This
effect is intentional; sometimes, too much geographic detail clutters a small-scale map (small
scale = large area; large area = small scale. This concept can be confusing, but a little trick
shared on Twitter by user @cartonaut (https://links.esri.com/Cartonaut) might help: If a map
were a fish, standing far away it looks like it has small scales, but up close it has large scales).
The bathymetric (underwater terrain) layer comes from the General Bathymetric Chart of the
Oceans (GEBCO) (https://www.gebco.net) and beautifully shows the rises (shallower areas are
light) and falls (deeper areas are dark) of the seafloor. This sort of image is called a digital
elevation model.

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 3

 Cartography. MOOC

Step 3: Change the map projection

Recalling the exercise on working with map projections and coordinate systems, take note of
the uninspired appearance of the WGS84 coordinate system. Does it do a good job of
showcasing the massive and beautifully interconnected system of oceans that cover 71
percent of the earth's surface? Not really.
In this step, you will apply a fascinating projected coordinate system, designed specifically to
show that grand interconnectedness: the "Spilhaus World Ocean Map in a Square."
What's a Spilhaus map? If you would like to learn more about the history of the Spilhaus map,
including who created it and why, and how it only recently became available to mapmakers,
check out this story (https://links.esri.com/MapInSquare). Or grab a copy of GIS for Science
Volume 2 (https://www.gisforscience.com), which features a Spilhaus map on its cover and
describes the very process of creating a Spilhaus layout (https://links.esri.com
/SpilhausProcess) that you will be working through in this exercise.

a Zoom to the full extent of the map.

Hint: Map tab > Navigate group > Full Extent button

b In the Contents pane, double-click Map to open the Map Properties dialog box.

c Click the Coordinate Systems tab.

d In the search field, type Spilhaus and press Enter to refine the list of available coordinate
systems.

e In the XY Coordinate Systems Available options, expand Projected Coordinate System,

and then expand World.

f Click Spilhaus Ocean Map In Square to set the coordinate system.

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 4

 Cartography. MOOC

g Click OK.

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 5

 Cartography. MOOC

Note: If the map draws very slowly on your computer, consider turning off the Bathymetry
layer until later in the exercise. Often, with complex maps, a cartographer will turn on
complex layers only when they need to symbolize them or export the completed map.
The result is an understandably unfamiliar look at the world. As you have learned, all
projections distort some geographic properties and maintain others, depending on the
purpose of the map. Most projections prioritize land, while seams and distortions are reserved
for bodies of water. Spilhaus does the opposite. Spilhaus presents the world's oceans as a
singular, uninterrupted body of water—which they really are.

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 6

 Cartography. MOOC

Step 4: Create a map layout

Next, you will work on creating a layout that aims to visually prioritize oceans and employ an
attractive faded border to frame the ocean composition.

a On the ribbon, click the Insert tab.

b In the Project group, click the New Layout down arrow.

c At the bottom of the drop-down list, choose Custom Page Size.

d In the Layout Properties dialog box, change Page Units to Point.

e For Width, type 1000.

f For Height, type 1000 and press Enter.

g Click OK.
The result is a new empty square layout. A layout is like a fresh sheet of paper, waiting for any
number of maps, charts, text, and graphics to be arranged on it. Now, you will add the
Spilhaus map to the layout.

h From the Insert tab, in the Map Frames group, click the Map Frame down arrow and
choose the thumbnail labeled Default Extent.

i On the layout, drag a square that is smaller than the layout square, similar to the following
graphic.

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 7

 Cartography. MOOC

Having a bit of room around the edge of your map frame is important because you will use
that extra space later.
This container that you have drawn is called a map frame. If you need to resize and reposition
your map frame, use the handles along its perimeter. If you are unhappy with your map frame,
you can delete the map frame (select it, and then press Delete) and insert it again.
Understanding the nested nature of a layout, map frame, and map can take a bit of practice.
Note: You can zoom in and out on your layout with more control by right-clicking the layout
area while dragging the mouse up or down. If your mouse has a scroll wheel, you can click the
wheel button and drag your mouse to pan around the layout.
By default, a map frame has a thin black border. You do not want that for this map, so you will
delete it.

j Right-click the map frame (either from the layout or the Map Frame item in the Contents

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 8

 Cartography. MOOC

pane) and choose Properties.

k In the Format Map Frame pane, click the Display tab .

l Under Border, change Symbol to 0 pt.

The black border is removed from the map frame.

m Close the Format Map Frame pane.

n If necessary, from the Layout tab, in the Navigate group, click the Full Extent button .

o In the Contents pane, click Map Frame, and then click it again to make the name editable.

p Rename the map frame Center, and then press Enter.

q Save your project.

You have added the map frame to a layout. In the next step, you will duplicate this map frame
four times, and then arrange these copies along the edge of your map so that they align
correctly.

Step 5: Repeat a map frame

You now have a layout with a Spilhaus map of the world's oceans. But it could look much
better. Do you notice how the Gulf of Mexico (between North America and South America at
the upper-left section of the map) ends abruptly? It reappears along the bottom edge of the
map. Similarly, the Bering Strait on the right edge is clipped, and it appears again along the
top of the map. The placement of the edges may seem bizarre, but it is no more bizarre than
most maps cutting an imaginary line in the Pacific Ocean and unwrapping the world so that
the seam splitting the Pacific is on the left and right side of the map.
You will make four copies of this map frame and place them along the edges so that you have
a sort of repeating pattern and no abrupt edges. This type of cartography is tricky and crafty,
which is the best sort.
Before you begin, if you would like to watch a video that walks through this process, you can
find it here (https://links.esri.com/SpilhausVideo).

a In the Contents pane, right-click the Center map frame and choose Copy.
Hint: You can also right-click the map frame in the layout.

b In the layout, right-click an empty area and choose Paste.

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 9

 Cartography. MOOC

Hint: You can also right-click Layout in the Contents pane.

ArcGIS Pro will automatically name the copy Center 1 so that it has a unique name. However,
you will rename it so that it is easier to identify as you continue adding new map frames.

c Rename the new map frame Right.

d Manually position this second map frame so that it lines up along the right side of the
original map frame.
Hint: Hold the Ctrl key and use the arrow keys to fine-tune the position of the selected map
frame.

Now, you will rotate the map on the right so that it aligns correctly with the Center map
frame.

e In the Contents pane, under the Right map frame, right-click Map and choose Properties.

f If necessary, in the Map Properties dialog box, click the General tab.

g For Rotation, type 90.

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 10

 Cartography. MOOC

h Click OK.

Now the repeating map frames match up along their edge so that the geographic area is
continuous and uninterrupted. Alaska and Siberia appear fully and correctly where these two
map frames meet. You may need to manually adjust the positions of the map frames further
so that they line up.
The layout currently includes two map frames.

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 11

 Cartography. MOOC

i Right-click the Right map frame and choose Copy, and then right-click the Layout and
choose Paste.
Hint: You can also press Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V to copy and paste items in the layout.

j Manually position this new map frame so that it lines up along the left side of the Center
map frame.

Now the Gulf of Mexico and North America appear uninterrupted.

The layout should now include three map frames.

k Rename the new map frame Left.

Next, you will add copies of these rotated map frames along the top and bottom edges of the
center map frame. However, for these maps to line up, you will need to reverse the rotation
angle to -90°.

l Copy the Left map frame and paste it in the layout.

m Drag the new map frame to the bottom of the layout and align it to the bottom edge of
the Center map frame.

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 12

 Cartography. MOOC

n Rename the new map frame Bottom.

The layout now contains four map frames. However, for these maps to line up, you will need
to reverse the rotation angle to -90°.

o In the Contents pane, under the Map Frame named Bottom, right-click the Map and
choose Properties.

p In the Map Properties dialog box, from the General tab, for Rotation, type -90.

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 13

 Cartography. MOOC

q Click OK.

The map rotates 90 degrees in the opposite direction so that the world appears to be
seamless again.

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 14

 Cartography. MOOC

r Copy the Bottom map frame and paste it to create a new map frame.

s Rename the new map frame Top and position it along the top edge of the Center map
frame.

The result should be a layout with five map frames, which looks a bit like a flattened
cardboard box. You added the extra map frames so that the edges of the map would not end
abruptly. This solution means that some content is repeated along the perimeter of the map.
Much of cartography is going to great lengths to make a map look just right.

Step 6: Add a vignette overlay image

Now you will add an overlay image that frames in the ocean areas and provides a pleasant
faded edge to help focus the eye of the map reader.
In the data download for this exercise were two images: a black overlay and a white overlay.
You will use one of the two images to create a vignette border for the layout.

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 15

 Cartography. MOOC

a On the ribbon, click the Insert tab.

b In the Graphics And Text group, click the Picture button .

c In the Insert Picture dialog box, browse to the location where you extracted the exercise
data.

d Open the SpilhausVignetteOverlay folder, select one of the two image files, and then click
Open.
Note: You can choose whichever image file that you prefer; you can always change your
choice later.

e Drag a box over the layout to place the image.

f Use the handles on the image to resize and reposition the vignette frame (using the
following graphic as a guide).
Hint: With the image selected, hold the Shift key and use the arrow keys to move the image
within the layout. Hold the CTRL key and arrow keys to fine-tune its position.

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 16

 Cartography. MOOC

You have just assembled a beautiful Spilhaus map with an attractive faded coastal edge.
However, it could be even more beautiful. Next, you will customize the symbology of the land
and bathymetry to suit your tastes.

g Zoom in on the layout until the Center map frame fills most of the viewing area

h Save your project.

Step 7: Add color to the map

This map, while a visually interesting composition, is a bit drab. The following instructions will
show you how to apply different colors to the land and bathymetry layers, but please feel free
to experiment with your own color choices and make something unique and wonderful.

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 17

 Cartography. MOOC

a In the Contents pane, if necessary, collapse the following map frames:

• Top
• Bottom
• Left
• Right

b Under Center, right-click Land (Moriarty Hand) and choose Symbology to open the
Symbology pane.
The Symbology pane is home to all manner of thematic and design options. For this exercise,
you will just focus on a small bit of its capabilities.

c In the Symbology pane, click the black square that represents the land polygon symbol.

d At the top of the pane, click the Properties tab, and then click the Layers button .

e Under Appearance, click the Color swatch down arrow and choose a color that looks
good to you.
Note: You can also choose Color Properties from the Color drop-down list to open a color
editor, which you can then use to fine-tune the color properties.

f Click Apply.

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 18

 Cartography. MOOC

Next, you will move on to the bathymetry colors. The bathymetry layer is an image where
depth is encoded into the pixel value. By default, digital elevation models (and bathymetry)
typically use a black (lowest elevation) to white (highest elevation) color scheme. Defaults are
a helpful start, but one of the greatest jobs of a cartographer is to carefully consider defaults
and, perhaps, change them to suit the imagination of the cartographer and best fit the needs
of the map.

g In the Contents pane, click the black-to-white gradient of the Bathymetry layer to open its
Symbology pane.

h Click the Color Scheme down arrow to see some available options, and then choose one
that you like.

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 19

 Cartography. MOOC

As a general guideline, cartographers tend to choose a range of blues to represent

bathymetry—dark blues representing deeper areas and lighter blues representing shallower
areas.
You can also create a custom gradient.

i Click the Color Scheme down arrow and choose Format Color Scheme.

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 20

 Cartography. MOOC

Note: Your color scheme may differ from the preceding graphic.

The Color Scheme Editor opens. This editor enables you to define a gradient's colors and
color position.

j Experiment with the Color Scheme Editor options to create a gradient that you think
beautifully represents oceanic depth.

k When you have a gradient that you like, click OK.

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 21

 Cartography. MOOC

Note: Did you change your mind about the black or white overlay image? It is simple to
switch. Just double-click the overlay image to open the Format Picture pane, and then
change Simple Path to point to the image that you want to use.
Now that the map looks the way that you want it, you will add some more information to it.

Step 8: Add elements to the map layout

Now it is time to name your map, cite its sources, and attach your name.

a On the Insert tab, in the Graphics And Text group, click the Rectangle Text button .

b Click in the layout and then type a title (for example, Spilhaus One World Ocean Map).

c In the Contents pane, right-click Text and choose Properties to open the Format Text
pane.
You may notice a red line under the word "Spilhaus." ArcGIS Pro includes spellcheck
functionality.

d In the map frame, right-click the Spilhaus text and choose Add To Custom Dictionary to
remove the red line.

e In the Format Text pane, click the Text Symbol tab to customize how the text appears.

f Expand Appearance.

g Choose your own text appearance or set the following parameters:

• Font Name: Choose Century Gothic or another sans-serif font.

• Font Style: Verify that it is set to Regular.
• Size: Increase to 28 pt.
• Color: Choose a color that coordinates well with the map and is legible on the
background that you chose.

h Click Apply.

i If necessary, adjust the text placement on the layout.

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 22

 Cartography. MOOC

Note: Remember that pressing the Ctrl key and using the arrow keys gives you fine control
over the placement of layout elements.
Next, you will add a second text box for your name.

j Copy the text element that you just added, and then paste it on the layout, just below the
text box with the map title.

k Replace the text in the new text box with your name.

l Change the text color to a less eye-catching color than the title (for example, gray), and
then reduce the text size (for example, 22 pt).

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 23

 Cartography. MOOC

Finally, you will add a third text box that will cite your sources.

m Use the same technique to copy the text element that you just added and paste it on the
layout.

n If you would like, change the text appearance (color, size, and so on).

o Replace your name with a citation of the data sources used in the map:

• Land areas: Dylan Moriarty & Project Linework

• Bathymetry: GEBCO Compilation Group (2020)

p Place the text where you would like it on the map.

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 24

 Cartography. MOOC

Wonderful! You have just made a personalized Spilhaus map. Why keep it to yourself? Now it
is ready to be shared as an image.

q Save your project.

Step 9: Export a map layout as an image

Now that your layout has been finished, you will export it as an image file.

a On the ribbon, click the Share tab.

b In the Output group, click Export Layout.

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 25

 Cartography. MOOC

A new pane opens. A range of formats can be used to export your map, but for this exercise,
you will use JPEG because a JPEG format results in a reasonably small file size convenient for
sharing on the web (if you would like to do that).

c In the Export Layout pane, for File Type, choose JPEG.

d For Name, click the Browse button .

e Browse to a location that you can access, and then type Spilhaus_Layout_<your first and
last name> and click Save.

f Under Resolution, for DPI, type 100.

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 26

 Cartography. MOOC

g Click Export.

h After the export finishes, at the bottom of the pane, in the green box, click View Exported
File.
You have created and exported a map that uses the Spilhaus projection.

i Save your project.

j If you are continuing to the stretch goal, leave ArcGIS Pro open; otherwise, exit ArcGIS
Pro.

Stretch goal
Creating a map that provides such a different perspective of our world can be fun, and it can
surprise your friends and colleagues. Consider taking your Spilhaus map to the next level by
adding some interesting data or applying a scientific color scheme specifically designed to
represent scientific data.

• Maybe you have some fascinating marine data lying around, or maybe you would like to
explore the layers that Natural Earth (https://www.naturalearthdata.com) makes available,
like ports or timezones.
• Learn how to add a Scientific Color Scheme style (https://links.esri.com
/ScientificColorScheme) to your ArcGIS Pro project and give your map’s bathymetry a rich
and accessible appearance.

Use the Lesson Forum to post your questions and observations. Be sure to include the
#stretch hashtag in the posting title.
If you did some experimenting on your own beyond the steps of the exercise, we would love
to hear about and see what you did! If you completed a map based on the exercise steps,
that is awesome! However, there is no need to share it in the Forum.

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 27

 Cartography. MOOC

Learn More
Here are some links to resources used in this exercise and other interesting and useful related
topics:

• The life and work of Athelstan Spilhaus via this Wikipedia article (https://links.esri.com
/WikiSpilhaus)
• The powerful capabilities of layouts in ArcGIS Pro (ArcGIS Pro Help: Layouts in ArcGIS
Pro)
• How human eyes and brains work, and why rainbow color schemes do not do a very
good job of representing continuous data (https://links.esri.com/ColorScales)
• A style file (https://links.esri.com/OceanStyleFile) for ArcGIS Pro that explains how to
create ocean labels like the ones in the Spilhaus map

Copyright © 2022 Esri. All rights reserved. 28