Say I have an image like the map below, how can I change the white to blue, to represent that this is the ocean? It is not part of the shapefile itself, so I cannot use symbology.
[GIS] Change the ArcMap background from white to blue (i.e the sea)
arcgis-desktoparcmapcolorshapefile
Related Solutions
To start with I will drop this website as a resource you should tie into.
your sequences are actually backward. your fourth has to be the first thing you attempt. (something I learned long ago is to plan what you want to end up with and then work back to where you are so you are sure you will end up with what you want [not something else]).
1. you need a key between the counties and the xls data.
2. add your xls with the add button.
3. join the xls to the shapefile with the key. (I am using the fips code).
4. open the layer properties dialog and go the the symbology tab.
(you haven't been clear enough on the data format/type for the next step)
5. choose "quantities"> Graduated colors and then the classify button.
6. Switch to layout view and insert a legend export to jpg and open with your favorite image editor software.
There are 2 ways to switch to layout view (you may already be in layout view).
1. from the view pulldown.
2. from the icons in the lower left of the data window
(right of the table of contents)
6.5 Then use the insert pulldown and insert a legend onto the layout (within the page size you have set up).
7. click (in the layout) and select the "data frame". Then right click and modify the properties. make the border no color.
8. File pulldown> export map, and choose the format you want.
Generally you should understand that ALL images are rectangular. There must be a color within that rectangle. If you don't want the edges to show up you must first make the image compatible with transarency, and then assign the color you want to be transparent. There is still a value there fo rthat color it is just that "some" software recognize the transparent tag and "turn" off that color.
There is some good description of NoData in raster datasets in general here. Otherwise, I'd suggest using the Define Mosaic Dataset NoData GP tool.
Best Answer
In the Data Frame properties, click the Frame tab and change the background color: