© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning
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
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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
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Create a GraphIllustrator offers nine types of graphs:• Column • Stacked Column• Bar• Stacked Bar• Line• Area• Scatter• Pie• Radar
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Create a Graph
• In Illustrator you can convert one type of graph into another type and create custom designs.
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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
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Create a Graph
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Category labels
Legend labels
Graph Data window
Create a Graph
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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.
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Edit a Graph Using the Graph Data Window
• 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.
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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.
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Use the Group Selection Tool
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Grouped 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
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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.
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Use the Graph Type Dialog Box
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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.
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Create a Combination Graph
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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.
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Create a Custom Graph Design
• Illustrator contains predefined column, marker, and graph designs.
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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
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Create a Custom Graph Design
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Graph 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
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Apply a Custom Design to a Graph
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Uniformly Scaled Vertically Scaled
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
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Create and Apply a Sliding-scale Design
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Graph before sliding-scale design is created and applied.
Create and Apply a Sliding-scale Design
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This part of the graphic is no longer stretched
Graph after sliding-scale design is created and applied.
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