You can set the transparency and visible range of layers in a map.
Set transparency
Changing the transparency, or opacity, of a layer in a map allows you to see more, or less, of the underlying layers. The transparency of any layer can be adjusted from 0 percent to 100 percent. The more transparent a layer is, the less visible it appears on the map and the more visible the other layers appear. For example, you can highlight a specific layer in the map by making it fully visible and adding transparency to the other layers.
You can set the transparency for the entire layer or if the data includes numeric or date attributes, based on one of these attributes.
Tip:
To fine-tune how layers are drawn in relation to one another, try using blend modes. You can also combine transparency with feature-specific effects to highlight a subset of features in a layer.
Set transparency for the layer
Set transparency for the layer in the Properties pane.
Tip:
For recommendations on applying transparency to high-density datasets, see Best practices for visualizing high-density data.
- Confirm that you are signed in and, if you want to save your changes, that you have privileges to create content.
- In Map Viewer, open the map containing the layer or add the layer directly.
- In the Layers pane, click the layer to select it.
- On the Settings (light) toolbar, if necessary, click Properties
. - In the Transparency section, move the transparency slider to the left (less transparent) or right (more transparent).
- If you own the map, click Save and open
and click Save on the Contents (dark) toolbar to save the transparency setting to the map.
Set transparency based on attribute values
When styling a layer using most smart mapping styles, you can set the transparency per feature in a layer if you have numeric or date data associated with the locations. Setting the transparency based on attribute values in the data allows you to vary how much transparency is applied to each location based on a numeric attribute. For example, if a layer contains income data, you can adjust the transparency of each location proportional to its income.
Note:
Setting transparency based on an attribute value is not supported for categorical imagery layers.
- Follow the first five steps in the styles workflow.
- In the Styles pane, select a drawing style and click Style options.
- In the Style options pane, click Transparency by attribute and turn on the Set transparency based on attribute values toggle button.
Note:
The Transparency by attribute option is not available for some smart mapping styles, including Dot Density and Heat Map.
- From the Attribute drop-down menu, select the numeric or date attribute to use as the basis for the transparency.
Tip:
You can use a custom attribute expression written in Arcade instead of an attribute field. Click Use expression
and use the editor window to create the expression. You can also use existing expressions to build new expressions; however, some variables may not work in all profiles—for example, an expression created for pop-ups may not work for styles. To use an existing expression, select it from the Existing tab in the editor window.
- Optionally, select an attribute from the Divided by drop-down menu to use to standardize or normalize the data, such as dividing population by area or costs by total population.
- Adjust the position of the slider handles to change how the transparency gradient is applied. Alternatively, click the numeric values next to the slider handles and type precise values. To see details in the histogram more closely, click Magnify slider
. To go back to the original slider positions at any time, click Reset slider positions 
. - For Transparency range, adjust the percent of transparency for the high and low ends of the ramp. Note that 0 percent transparency is a solid color (fully opaque).
- Optionally, turn off the Include in legend toggle button to hide the transparency ramp in the legend.
- If you own the map, click Save and open and click Save on the Contents (dark) toolbar to save the transparency setting to the map.
Set the visible range
Multiscale maps allow you to view geographic data across a range of scales—also known as zoom levels—from buildings to the entire globe. Specifying the zoom level at which content is drawn is known as setting the visible range. Because most data does not need to be shown across all zoom levels, it is a good practice to confirm, and if necessary, change the visible range. Your map may contain many layers, each with its own visible range. You can also specify a visible range for labeling features in a layer.
Tip:
For recommendations on applying visible range to high-density datasets, see Best practices for visualizing high-density data.
If you are adding data to a map that includes a predefined visible range, the map will use that visible range. To update the visible range, you can set it manually. As a result, when you zoom in and out on the map, different layers on the map may turn on or off depending on their suggested visible range.
Tip:
When a layer is out of range, its name appears in a lighter gray color in the Layers pane than the layers that are in range.
- Confirm that you are signed in and, if you want to save your changes, that you have privileges to create content.
- In Map Viewer, open the map containing the layer or add the layer directly.
- In the Layers pane, click the layer to select it.
- On the Settings (light) toolbar, if necessary, click Properties .
- In the Visible range section, do any of the following to set the maximum zoom level:
- Drag the handle on the slider to the maximum zoom level. Use the maximum zoom scale drop-down menu below the slider to choose the best zoom level—for example, World or Country.
- Click the drop-down menu below the slider, click Custom, and type the maximum zoom level.
- Click the drop-down menu below the slider, and click Current map view to use the current extent of the map.
- Repeat the previous step for the minimum zoom level.
- If you own the map, click Save and open and click Save on the Contents (dark) toolbar to save the visible range setting to the map.