If you are like me, you often use Esri’s online Base Maps as a starting point for many maps and projects.  For those that use the Aerials and streets from Bing there is something you need to know if you try to export to PDF using ArcGIS 10.1. Due to a licensing change between Bing and Esri, you may have some issues with the exported PDF.

Beginning with ArcGIS 10.1, the Bing Maps logo is required to appear on all maps that consume Bing map services. The Bing logo draws on top of all layer to ensure it will be visible no matter what layers are in the map. This may adversely affect the map when it is exported or even printed because all layers are automatically rasterized on export. Possible issues can include:

PDF with Bing Imagery created in ArcGIS 10.1

  1. Data hidden by Bing Logo
  2. Blurry data or map
  3. If “Include Layers” option is selected during PDF export, everything is placed on single raster layer

This is a known issue but there is not much Esri can do because to the new license agreement with Bing. Recommended fix or work around is to use your own base maps or one of the other Esri online base maps.

Tripp Corbin, CFM, GISP
eGIS Associates, Inc.