Change transparency
In this topic
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. By default, the basemap is 0 percent transparent (which means it is fully visible, or opaque). If you want to focus attention on the data layers in your map, you might consider making your basemap more transparent. Similarly, you could highlight a specific layer by making it fully visible and adding transparency to the other layers. You can change the transparency of layers. You can also change the transparency of sublayers in CSV files, shapefiles, GPX files, and map notes.
Change transparency through the Change Style pane
Note:
Applies to feature layers only.
- Open the map in the map viewer.
- Click Details and click Contents.
- Browse to the layer whose transparency you want to adjust.
- Click the arrow to the right of the layer name.
- Click Change Style and click Options on the thumbnail of the layer.
A transparency slider appears at the bottom of the pane.
- To set the overall transparency of the layer, move the slider to the left (less transparent) or right (more transparent). You can also click on the slider track to jump the slider handle to that location.
- When working with Location (Single symbol), you can also set the transparency per feature if you have numeric data associated with your locations.
Setting the transparency based on attribute values allows you to vary how much transparency is applied to each location based on some numeric attribute. For example, if your layer contains income data, you could adjust the transparency of each location proportional to its income.
- Click Attribute Values and select the numeric attribute from the Field drop-down list to use as the basis for the transparency.
- Optionally select an attribute from the Divided By drop-down list to use to standardize or normalize your data, such as dividing population by area or costs by total population.
- Adjust the position of the handles to change how the transparency gradient is applied. You can also click the numeric values beside the slider handles and type in precise values. If the handles are close together, you may want to use Zoom in to help you to see more detail over a small portion of the ramp.
- Under Transparency Range, adjust the percent of transparency for the high and low ends of the ramp above. Note that 0 percent transparency is a solid color (fully opaque).
- Click OK to apply your changes.
- When working with Type (Unique Symbols), you can also set the transparency per feature and on any individual category.
You can only set per feature if you have numeric data associated with your locations. Setting the transparency based on attribute values allows you to vary how much transparency is applied to each location based on some numeric attribute. For example, if your layer contains restaurant sales data, you could select type for the restaurants and set the transparency of the individual restaurants by their annual sales. The locations with higher sales figures would appear more opaque than the locations with lower sales.
- To adjust the transparency of unique locations based on a second numeric attribute field, click Attribute Values and select the numeric attribute from the Field drop-down list to use as the basis for the transparency.
- To adjust the transparency applied to any individual category, click the color chip beside the category name.
- If you own the map, click Save to save the transparency setting to the map.
Change transparency through the layer context menu
Note:
Applies to all types of layers including feature layers and basemaps.
- Open the map in the map viewer.
- Click Details and click Contents.
- Browse to the layer whose transparency you want to adjust.
- Click the arrow to the right of the layer name.
- Click Transparency and move the Transparency slider to the left (less transparent) or right (more transparent).
- If you own the map, click Save to save the transparency setting to the map.