Choosing symbols

ArcGIS has thousands of symbols for common map features that you can use. The symbols are organized into more than 25 symbol sets. You can also import additional symbol sets or create your own symbols.

Some symbol sets are general-purpose, like the ESRI symbol set. Others have specialized symbols that reflect the needs or standards of different industries, such as municipal, conservation, geology, crime analysis, and real estate.

Here are just a few of the point (marker) symbols that come with ArcGIS. These are from the ESRI, Crime Analysis, Utilities, and Forestry symbol sets (clockwise from upper left).

Be sure to explore these specialized symbol sets when you're looking for a particular symbol. Often, several of them will contain similar symbols, and with a little searching you'll probably find what you need.

Both the Environmental and Crime symbol sets contain symbols that you might use to represent shipwrecks.