Legacy Printing (based on Chromium) vs. Printing (based on ArcGIS Pro)

In VertiGIS Studio, printing capabilities have evolved significantly from Legacy Printing (based on Chromium) to Printing (based on ArcGIS Pro). Understanding the technical differences between these two printing tools helps clarify why Printing (based on ArcGIS Pro) is the preferred and recommended solution.

Legacy Printing (based on Chromium) uses a browser rendering technology. It operates by rendering print layouts using a local Chromium instance installed on the server where VertiGIS Studio Printing is deployed. While this approach works for basic printing needs, it has several limitations. These include memory constraints, issues with rendering transparency, and limited scalability when handling complex or large print jobs. Additionally, Legacy Printing uses custom VertiGIS Studio templates, which were not aligned with Esri’s standard layout formats, making integration with newer Esri technologies more difficult.

In contrast, Printing (based on ArcGIS Pro) is built on top of Esri’s official printing capabilities. It uses ArcPy and geoprocessing services deployed to ArcGIS Enterprise, allowing print jobs to be processed by ArcGIS Server rather than relying on local machine resources. This shift significantly improves performance, scalability, and stability. Printing (based on ArcGIS Pro) uses PAGX layout items stored in the ArcGIS Enterprise Portal, which aligns with Esri’s standards and makes it easier to manage and reuse layouts across different applications.

Another major advancement with Printing (based on ArcGIS Pro) is its support for a wide range of print types and features. It can handle single prints, grid prints, line prints, seamless (infinity) prints, time series or range series prints, and even map books – especially in VertiGIS Studio Desktop. These capabilities make Printing (based on ArcGIS Pro) far more versatile and powerful for users with advanced printing needs.

At present, the following VertiGIS products can be used with Printing (based on ArcGIS Pro) with the different print types:

In summary, Printing (based on ArcGIS Pro) represents a strategic investment in modern, scalable, and standards-compliant printing technology. It addresses the limitations of Legacy Printing (based on Chromium) and introduces a robust set of features that meet the demands of today’s GIS applications.

Further Links:

Downloads - VertiGIS Studio Printing

Advantages of the new Printing (based on ArcGIS Pro) compared to the Legacy Printing (based on Chromium)