Chapter 9

Creating Graphs in Illustrator

Objectives• Create a graph• Edit a graph using the Graph Data window• Use the Group Selection tool• Use the Graph Type dialog box• Create a combination graph• Create a custom graph design• Apply a custom design to a graph• Create and apply a sliding-scale design

Create a Graph

• A graph is a diagram of data that shows relationship among a set of numbers.

• Data can be represented by a graphic element such as a:– Bar– Line – Point

Create a GraphIllustrator offers nine types of graphs:• Column • Stacked Column• Bar• Stacked Bar• Line• Area• Scatter• Pie• Radar

Create a Graph

• In Illustrator you can convert one type of graph into another type and create custom designs.

Create a Graph

• Enter category labels in the first column of the Graph Data window.– Describes non-numeric data

• First row reserved for legend labels.– Describes numeric data that may change

Create a Graph

Create a Graph

Category labels

Legend labels

Edit a Graph Using the Graph Data Window

• Data used to plot a graph is stored in the Graph Data window.

• When you make changes to data, click the Apply button in Graph Data window to preview changes.

• When text and data are created in another program, document must be saved as a text-only file with commas separating each number from text.

• If importing Excel worksheet, it must be saved as a text file.

Edit a Graph Using the Graph Data Window

Use the Group Selection Tool

• Graphs are grouped objects, consisting of many individual groups, grouped together.

• The Group Selection tool allows you to select entire groups within the larger group for the purpose of editing.

Use the Group Selection ToolGrouped objects

Use the Graph Type Dialog Box

• The Graph Type dialog box provides a variety of ways to change the look of your graph:– Drop shadow behind columns – Change appearance of tick marks

Use the Graph Type Dialog Box

• Tick marks – short lines that extend out from the value axis.

• They help interpret the meaning of column height.

• You can move the value axis from left to right or show from both sides of graph.

Use the Graph Type Dialog Box

Graph options list arrow

Graph types

Add Drop Shadowcheck box

Create a Combination Graph

• A Combination graph uses two graph styles to plot numeric data.

• Useful to emphasize one set of numbers in comparison to others.

Create a Combination Graph

Combination graph is composed of a column and a line graph

Create a Custom Graph Design

• A custom graph design is a picture used to replace columns, bars, or markers in Illustrator graphs.

• Only vector-based objects can be used for custom designs.

Create a Custom Graph Design

• Illustrator contains predefined column, marker, and graph designs.

Create a Custom Graph Design

To use designs:• Open one of the sample files• Create a new graph• Select the graph• Click Object on the Application bar• Point to Graph, then click Column

Create a Custom Graph DesignGraph Design dialog box

Pencil design

Apply a Custom Design to a Graph

• Illustrator provides four options for displaying custom designs:– Uniformly scaled – resized vertically and horizontally– Vertically scaled – resized only vertically– Repeating – assigns value to custom design and repeats as

much as necessary– Sliding – defines a point on custom design from which design

will stretch

Uniformly Scaled Vertically Scaled

Apply a Custom Design to a Graph

Create and Apply a Sliding-scale Design

• When you apply a vertically scaled design style to a column graph, the entire design stretches to accommodate the value assigned.– Vertically scaled design can sometimes be

unsatisfactory

Graph before sliding-scale design is created and applied.

Create and Apply a Sliding-scale Design

This part of the graphic is no longer stretched

Graph after sliding-scale design is created and applied.

Create and Apply a Sliding-scale Design