ArcGIS Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud is an extension for Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop that allows cartographers and graphic designers to design compelling visuals using data-driven maps and layers from ArcGIS. You can find, import, and create geographic content to add to your artwork as editable vector layers and high resolution images.
Before you install and start using the Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud extension, verify that the required software is properly installed and that you have the necessary account.
Tip:
You can confirm your account access in your organization by looking for Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud in your user profile where it's listed among other licenses included with your user type. If you're an organization administrator, you can see it in the licensing page.
Required software
Note:
For the most current information related to the latest version of the extension, refer to the web help.
Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud version 3.3 requires one of the following host apps to be installed on the system:
Note:
Adobe Creative Cloud 2020 is no longer supported.
- Adobe Illustrator 2021 (version 25.3.1) -
2023 (version 27)
Note:
Adobe Illustrator 2021 (version 25.4.0 - 25.4.4) macOS version is not supported.
- Adobe Photoshop 2021 (version 22.0) - 2023 (version 24)
Note:
To use the extension on a Mac computer powered by the Apple silicon M1 chip, open Photoshop using Rosetta. (Currently, Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud doesn't support Photoshop natively on Apple M1.)
Account types
You can use Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud by signing in with a supported account type, including ArcGIS organizational accounts and the legacy Plus account. When you sign in with an organizational account, you can also access content in your ArcGIS organization.
Tip:
If you don't have an account, you can sign up for a 21-day trial subscription to try full capabilities for free.
The following accounts are supported by the extension:
- Plus (legacy)—Provides commercial-grade access to premium maps and layers from ArcGIS Online and a limited set of advanced mapping features. You pay for your month-to-month Plus subscription directly and securely through the extension
- ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise—Signing in with your ArcGIS organizational account allows access to all the extension's content and advanced features, based on the privileges associated with your assigned user type. (Despite your user type, however, ArcGIS Online organization administrators can block organization access to Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud.) You can create and pay for an ArcGIS organizational account using the Esri Store. ArcGIS enables you to connect people, locations, and data using maps. You can work with smart, data-driven styles and intuitive analysis tools that deliver location intelligence, and share your insights with the world or specific groups.
Note:
ArcGIS Enterprise on Kubernetes is not currently supported. For more information, see ArcGIS Enterprise support.
Authentication methods
The authentication method used to sign in is determined by the way security features are set up for your ArcGIS organization. Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud requires no specific steps to implement the authentication methods supported by ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise.
For more information about ArcGIS authentication and to ensure that security settings are properly implemented, refer to the documentation for ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise.
Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud supports the following authentication methods on Microsoft Windows and macOS.
| Platform | Built-in | IWA | PKI | SAML | Kerberos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ArcGIS Enterprise | Supported | Supported | Supported | Supported | Supported |
ArcGIS Online | Supported | Not applicable | Not applicable | Supported | Not applicable |
ArcGIS Enterprise support
Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud is supported for use with ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9 and later. (ArcGIS Enterprise on Kubernetes is not currently supported.) The extension relies on the content and service settings configured by the portal administrator.
Note:
Distributed collaboration workflows are not yet supported.
The following configuration settings allow users of the extension to find and download content and access the functionality that Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud provides.
- Configure subscriber and premium content from ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World to make this ArcGIS Online collection available in the portal. ArcGIS Living Atlas content that does not require signing in is available in the default configuration.
- Configure the following required utility services to enable the functionality specified in the table below.
Note:
You can also configure the portal to use utility services from ArcGIS Online. See Configure ArcGIS Online utility services for details.
Service Functionality Search and plot locations based on place-name or keyword and plot addresses and map data in bulk from local files.
Sync maps to download artwork using the Default mapping profile (requires an ArcGIS Server preconfigured print service).
Visualize routes (with travel modes) and visualize travel times.
*The locator configured for your organization must support batch geocoding to be used to geocode multiple addresses from a file.
- For the fonts used in your authored vector tile maps to be accessible in maps downloaded to Adobe Illustrator, the fonts must also be installed on the ArcGIS hosting print service and shared with the Illustrator user. For a list of fonts used in the Esri hosted vector tile basemaps, see this document. Acquire the necessary permissions before installing or distributing fonts.
- In a disconnected environment, if the organization is configured with a customized basemap gallery, it must include at least one Web Mercator basemap (such as World Topographic).
Note:
For a summary list of what you can expect with a disconnected environment and related configuration recommendations, see the ArcGIS Enterprise help topic Configure a disconnected deployment. When a service is not available or accessible, you'll get an applicable message in the extension that informs you.