"}],"short_description":"ArcGIS StoryMaps introduces infographics, 360 images, video playback options in briefings, and axis customization in charts.","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"- \n
- Infographics<\/a><\/li>\n
- 360 images<\/a><\/li>\n
- Video playback options in briefings<\/a><\/li>\n
- Axis customization in charts<\/a><\/li>\n
- And more…<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
Infographics<\/h2>\n
Enhance understanding. Support visual learners. Highlight key points. Infographics simplify complex information by combining visuals and text, which can help your readers better understand your narrative and keep them engaged. And that\u2019s why we\u2019re excited to introduce the Infographic<\/strong> block, making it easy for you to enhance the data visualization of your stories and briefings!<\/p>\n
From the block palette, select Infographic<\/strong> and then choose from four options: Basic<\/strong>, Stacked<\/strong>, Compact<\/strong>, and Titled<\/strong>. Your selection will bring you to Edit infographic<\/strong>, where you can customize your Data<\/strong> by specifying the Number<\/strong>, Description<\/strong>, and Icon<\/strong> (with over 100 icon options). Also, in the Settings<\/strong> tab, you can change your Layout<\/strong> and customize the Colors<\/strong> of your infographic.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"kaltura","video_id":"1_cgu4es5j","time":false,"start":0,"stop":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
Want to incorporate data visualization into your story or briefing? Check out this collection of stories that showcase the power of data visualization in communicating a message<\/a>.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/agsmblogbutton.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"360 images<\/h2>\n
ArcGIS StoryMaps has long made it easy to combine multimedia to create an interactive narrative that immerses your readers in places around the world. Now, it\u2019s time to take those immersive storytelling capabilities to the next degree \u2014 or the next 360 degrees, that is. 360-degree images enable your readers to explore a place as if they were physically there, which can deepen the emotional and sensory engagement and increase the stickiness of your stories<\/a> and briefings.<\/p>\n
Select 360 image<\/strong> from the block palette to add your supported JPG<\/strong> or PNG<\/strong> image file, which must be under\u00a025 MB<\/strong> and have an aspect ratio<\/strong> between 1:5:1<\/strong> and 3:1<\/strong>. After adding your image, you will find a familiar menu of options by hovering near the top of the 360 image viewer, along with accessible mouse and button controls to navigate the image and Enter full screen mode<\/strong> at the bottom of the viewer.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"kaltura","video_id":"1_oajmges4","time":false,"start":0,"stop":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
Read more about immersing your readers into an experience in this story about Nine steps to great storytelling<\/a>.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"Video playback options in briefings<\/h2>\n
Including videos with your narratives can enhance engagement by capturing your audience’s attention. Videos also often improve understanding of your topic by catering to different learning styles. Stories have long had a selection of video playback options that we’re excited to include in briefings now.<\/p>\n
Find the Playback<\/strong> tab in Video options<\/strong> to determine how viewers will be able to interact with the video:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Click to play<\/strong>: This video will start when readers click the play button.<\/li>\n
- Autoplay without controls<\/strong>: This video will automatically start on mute and continuously loop. Readers <\/span>won\u2019t<\/span> see controls and will not be able to enable audio but can<\/span> pause<\/span> the video <\/span>by clicking it<\/span>.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Autoplay with controls<\/strong>: This video will automatically start playing on mute. Readers can pause, skip ahead, and enable audio if they choose.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"kaltura","video_id":"1_ea68ymlc","time":false,"start":0,"stop":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
Additional enhancements to boost accessible videos in briefings and stories include:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Videos will stop playing when you navigate away from their slide in briefings.<\/li>\n
- Video motion supports browsers set to prefer reduced motion in stories and briefings.<\/li>\n
- Videos without controls can be clicked to pause in stories (to include sidecar and map tour panels) and briefings (to include cover videos).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Ready to create a briefing for your visual communication needs? Check out these Great examples: Briefings<\/a> to get inspired!<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"Axis customization in charts<\/h2>\n
In December 2024, we introduced the Chart<\/strong> block to level up the visual power of your stories and continue to enhance<\/a> this impactful feature. Now, you can customize the axis by modifying the Value axis maximum<\/strong> to suit your data visualization needs best. For instance, if the value is too high, slight differences between data points may appear insignificant. Or you could use the same axis maximum to ensure consistency across multiple charts, making comparisons more intuitive.<\/p>\n
In Edit chart<\/strong>, go to the Settings<\/strong> tab and toggle on Customize axes<\/strong>. This will reveal the maximum field on the value axis.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2820352,"id":2820352,"title":"chart-yaxis","filename":"chart-yaxis.gif","filesize":4620333,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/chart-yaxis.gif","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/constituent-engagement\/whats-new-in-arcgis-storymaps-june-2025\/chart-yaxis","alt":"A GIF of screenshots showing how to customize the chart axis in the ArcGIS StoryMaps builder.","author":"345372","description":"","caption":"","name":"chart-yaxis","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2818152,"date":"2025-06-04 15:19:17","modified":"2025-11-17 18:25:33","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/gif","type":"image","subtype":"gif","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1920,"height":1080,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/chart-yaxis-213x200.gif","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/chart-yaxis.gif","medium-width":464,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/chart-yaxis.gif","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":432,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/chart-yaxis.gif","large-width":1920,"large-height":1080,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/chart-yaxis-1536x864.gif","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":864,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/chart-yaxis.gif","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1080,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/chart-yaxis-826x465.gif","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/chart-yaxis.gif","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":1080}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
Learn more about including side-by-side charts<\/a> in your stories.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"And more…<\/h2>\n
- \n
- Seven themes have been added to the Featured themes gallery<\/a>.<\/li>\n
- Map tours<\/a> now support the button grid<\/a>, which enables a row of up to two buttons in text panels.<\/li>\n
- The batch image upload time to create a map tour has been significantly reduced, now taking several seconds rather than several minutes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Map tours<\/a> now support the button grid<\/a>, which enables a row of up to two buttons in text panels.<\/li>\n
- Seven themes have been added to the Featured themes gallery<\/a>.<\/li>\n
- Autoplay without controls<\/strong>: This video will automatically start on mute and continuously loop. Readers <\/span>won\u2019t<\/span> see controls and will not be able to enable audio but can<\/span> pause<\/span> the video <\/span>by clicking it<\/span>.<\/span><\/li>\n
- 360 images<\/a><\/li>\n