Unexpected Attribution Text in Layout Prints Despite Removal in Print Designer – VertiGIS Support

Introduction

When using the VertiGIS Studio Printing Engine, users may notice that map attribution text appears in layout print outputs, even if no attribution element was added to the layout or attribution was intentionally removed. This behavior differs from prints created with older print templates using the Chromium engine, where attribution did not appear unless explicitly configured.

Why does this happen?

1. Esri Enforces “Service Layer Credits”

Esri requires that all map layers include service layer credits, which are considered a mandatory part of map attribution.

For layout prints, attribution can only be suppressed if the layout contains an Esri dynamic text element for service layer credits, even if that text element is invisible. Without such an element, Esri forces attribution to appear in the output.

2. Map Only prints cannot suppress attribution

For Map Only print requests, there is currently no technical method to remove attribution from the output. This limitation comes directly from Esri: Map Only exports do not allow suppression of service layer credits.

How can I remove attribution from layout prints?

To suppress the attribution, the following workaround can be used in the VertiGIS Studio Printing Designer:

Open the layout in VS Printing Designer.
Add a Map Info (Type: 'Attribution') item to the detailBand of the layout.
- By adding this element, the system considers attribution "handled", so Esri will no longer inject attribution directly onto the map.
Make the added Map Info element invisible:
- In the Appearance section of the element’s properties, change:
  - Border Color → rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)
  - Foreground Color → rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)
- This ensures that the attribution is technically present, but is fully transparent, so it does not appear in the final print.