1. Chapter 9
Creating Graphs in Illustrator

2. 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

3. 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

4. Create a Graph
Illustrator offers nine types of graphs:
• Column
• Stacked Column
• Bar
• Stacked Bar
• Line
• Area
• Scatter
• Pie
• Radar

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

6. 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

7. Create a Graph

8. Create a Graph
Category labels
Legend
labels

9. 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.

10. • 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

11. 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.

12. Use the Group Selection Tool
Grouped objects

13. 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

14. 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.

15. Use the Graph Type Dialog Box
Graph options
list arrow
Graph types
Add Drop
Shadow
check box

16. 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.

17. Create a Combination Graph
Combination
graph is
composed of a
column and a
line graph

18. 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.

19. Create a Custom Graph Design
• Illustrator contains predefined column,
marker, and graph designs.

20. 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

21. Create a Custom Graph Design
Graph Design dialog box
Pencil design

22. 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

23. Uniformly Scaled Vertically Scaled
Apply a Custom Design to a Graph

24. 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

25. Graph
before
sliding-scale
design is
created and
applied.
Create and Apply a Sliding-scale Design

26. 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