tut Pro: Knockouts

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Adding Knockouts to Annotation Text

Knockouts are somewhat similar to halos but rather than creating a halo symbol around a string of text (i.e., a solid color around the text that covers up potential text-feature conflicts) the knockout virtually removes the portion of the conflicting layer(s) around the text, without adding a new color surrounding the lettering. The knockout process makes use of a 'Mask layer' that is essentially a set of polygon features that surround the text strings (not unlike a halo).

Again: with a Halo you see the halo around each letter. With a knockout you do not see the 'halo' or polygon around the text. You just use that polygon to remove (virtually) the data from other (selected) layers - and thus remove the text / feature conflicts.

CREATING KNOCKOUTS FOR EXISTING ANNOTATION

  • Before creating the knockouts do as much text formatting (size, style, etc.) and positioning to avoid conflicts as usual
    • Once you have created knockouts these types of edits are more difficult (or not possible), so be sure to do this FIRST
  • Select one or more annotation text strings (i.e., the text strings that you want to create knockouts for)
  • With the text strings selected, open the Feature Outline Masks geoprocessing tool
    • Input Layer = <the annotation with the selected text strings>
    • Output = <as desired>
    • Coordinate System = <match your annotation feature class>
    • Margin = <desired size of the mask around the text strings>
      • Start with 1 Point - you may need to re-run the tool with a different Margin to get the desired size...
    • Accept the defaults for the remaining parameters (or modify as desired)
    • Click Run
  • A FeatureOutlineMask layer should be created and added to the Map view
  •  
  • If you turn the FeatureOutlineMask layer On it will appear similar to a halo, but these are polygon features, not text symbology
    • Turning it on (temporarily) is good to get an idea of the what the data looks like...
  • Turn the FeatureOutlineMask layer Off (we don't want to see it, we just want to use it for masking)
    • For the knockout process your FeatureOutlineMask layer needs to be turned OFF (i.e., not visible)
  •  
  • In the Contents pane, select a layer that is conflicting with the annotation text (i.e., Roads, Streams, etc.) that you would like to be 'knocked out' (removed) by your FeatureOutlineMask layer
  • From the Appearance ribbon, open the Masking drop-down menu
    • Choose / click the FeatureOutlineMask layer
  • This should now mask (or knock out, or virtually erase) the portions of the feature layer (i.e., Roads, Streams...) any place where the features overlap with the polygons in the FeatureOutlineMask layer

 

To Modify Text and Outline Mask Features

  • If you need to re-position a text string that has a knockout you need to move both the text string and the corresponding mask polygon
  • Turn the FeatureOutlineMask layer On
  • From the Edit ribbon choose the Select tool
    • Select both the text string and the corresponding mask polygon in the FeatureOutlineMask layer
  • From the Edit ribbon choose the Move tool
    • Re-position the text string and the mask polygon simultaneously
  • Click the Finish button from the pop-up Edit toolbar
  • Click Save

 

Note that if you need to edit the text string itself (i.e., change the working or the size or switch from italic to bold) you will need to create a new mask layer (using the Feature Outline Mask geoprocessing tool).