Reducing Boundaries:
Often when there are boundary lines for polygons, such as the counties in the United States, the lines
are too bold when in a zoomed out and the boundary lines cover the data. This picture shows the
average age of male for U.S. counties but the data is hard to see especially in the counties in New Jersey
and New York.
You have two options to create a clearer looking map.
Option 1: You may simple reduce the width of the boundary lines of for counties.
Option 2: You may create a second data layer of counties with a transparent outline.
Option 1:
To reduce boundary lines
1. In layer properties , click on the symbology tab.
2. Click on the symbol for median rent in the
display box. Choose properties for all symbols.
3. Change the Outline Width to .05 and Press ok.
4. The boundary lines should now be less
noticeable and the data is easier to see on the
map.
Option 2:
Creating a transparent outline:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Create a second counties layer by copying and pasting your original counties data.
Go to the symbology tab > choose symbol > properties for all symbols for the top counties layer.
Set the symbol to hollow. Set the outline color to a light grey. I suggest grey (40%). Click OK.
Select the display tab. In the transparent box, set the percentage to 50%. Click OK.
Go to the symbology tab > choose symbol > properties for all symbols for the bottom counties
layer.
6. Set outline color to no color > Click OK and OK.