Chapter 9 Creating and Designing Graphs

Creating 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

Creating a Graph Illustrator offers nine types of graphs: –Column –Stacked Column –Bar –Stacked Bar –Line –Area –Scatter –Pie –Radar

Creating a Graph –You can convert one type of graph into another type and create custom designs that you can apply to the graph.

Creating a Graph The first column (vertical axis) of the Graph Data window is reserved for category labels. The first row (horizontal axis) is reserved for legend labels.

Creating a Graph Entire category labels and legend labels

Creating a Graph Category labels describe non-numeric data, such as: –the months of the year –the days of the week –a group of salespersons’ names

Creating a Graph Legend labels describe numeric data that may change, such as: –weekly sales totals –payroll amounts –daily temperatures

Creating a Graph They appear in a box next to the graph, called the legend. The legend, like a map legend, contains the legend labels and small boxes filled with colors that represent the columns on the graph.

Editing a Graph Using the Graph Data Window For every graph in Illustrator, the data you used to plot it is stored in the Graph Data window. This data is editable. If you make changes, you can preview them by clicking the Apply button in the Graph Data window.

Editing a Graph Using the Graph Data Window When you create text and data in another program that you want to use in an Illustrator graph, the document must be saved as a text- only file with commas separating each number from the next.

Editing a Graph Using the Graph Data Window If you are importing an Excel worksheet, it must be saved as a tab-delimited text file for Illustrator to support it.

Editing a Graph Using the Graph Data Window Viewing the new graph

Using the Group Selection Tool Graphs are grouped objects, consisting of many individual groups grouped together. Each set of colored columns represents an individual group within the larger group.

Individual groups within a graph Grouped objects Using the Group Selection Tool

The Group Selection tool allows you to select entire groups within the larger group for the purpose of editing them with the Illustrator tools and menu commands.

Using the Graph Type Dialog Box The Graph Type dialog box provides a variety of ways to change the look of your graph: –You can drop a shadow behind columns –You can change the appearance of tick marks

Using the Graph Type Dialog Box Tick marks: –are short lines that extend out from the value axis, which is the vertical line to the left of the graph –help viewers interpret the meaning of column height by indicating incremental values on the value axis

Using the Graph Type Dialog Box You can also move the value axis from the left side of the graph to the right side, or display it on both sides. Values on the value axis can be changed, and symbols such as $, %, and °can be added to the numbers for clarification.

Using the Graph Type Dialog Box Graph Options menu Graph types Add Drop Shadow check box Graph Type dialog box

Creating a Combination Graph A combination graph is a graph that uses two graph styles to plot numeric data. This type of graph is useful if you want to emphasize one set of numbers in comparison to others.

Formatting the line graph Markers Creating a Combination Graph

Creating a Custom Graph Design A custom graph design is a picture of something used to replace traditional columns, bars, or markers in Illustrator graphs. Only vector-based objects can be used for custom graph designs. You cannot use bitmaps, objects created with the Paintbrush tool, or objects filled with gradients.

Creating a Custom Graph Design Graph Design dialog box Pencil design

Applying a Custom Design to a Graph Custom designs are typically applied to column graphs and line graphs.

Applying a Custom Design to a Graph Illustrator provides four options for displaying custom designs on a graph: –Uniformly scaled –Vertically scaled –Repeating –Sliding

Applying a Custom Design to a Graph Uniformly scaled designs are resized vertically and horizontally, whereas vertically scaled designs are resized only vertically.

A uniformly scaled custom design Applying a Custom Design to a Graph

Vertically scaled designs are repeating designs that assign a value to the custom design and repeat the design as many times as necessary.

A vertically scaled custom design Applying a Custom Design to a Graph

Creating and Applying 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 to it. This expansion may present a problem if the custom design needs to maintain an aspect ratio.

Creating and Applying a Sliding-Scale Design The answer to the problem is the sliding-scale design, which allows you to define a point on the custom design from which the graph will stretch. Thus a portion of the design can be specified to remain at its original size and not stretch.

Creating and Applying a Sliding-Scale Design A sliding-scale design