
Using Help
|
Contents
|
Index
Back
375
Adobe Illustrator Help
Using Graphs
Using Help
|
Contents
|
Index
Back
375
Using Graphs
About graphs
Adobe Illustrator graph tools let you create nine different graph types:
Column
The default graph type. It compares one or more sets of values by using
rectangles whose lengths are proportional to the values.
Stacked column
Similar to a column graph, but stacks the columns on top of one
another, instead of side by side. This graph type is useful for showing the relationship of
parts to the total.
Bar
Similar to a column graph, but positions the rectangles horizontally instead of
vertically.
Stacked bar
Similar to a stacked column graph, but stacks the bars horizontally instead
of vertically.
Line
Uses points to represent one or more sets of values, with a different line joining the
points in each set. This type of graph is often used to show the trend of one or more
subjects over a period of time.
Area
Similar to a line graph, but emphasizes totals as well as changes in values.
Scatter
Plots data points as paired sets of coordinates along the
x
and
y
axes. Scatter
graphs are useful for identifying patterns or trends in data. They also can indicate whether
variables affect one another.
Pie
A circular graph whose wedges represent the relative percentages of the values
compared.
Radar
Compares sets of values at given points in time or in particular categories, and is
displayed in a circular format. This type of graph is also called a
web graph
.
For a gallery demonstrating the use of graph tools, see
“Toolbox overview (4 of 5)” on
page 10
.
Working with graphs
Once you create a graph, you can customize it by using colors and designs, and you can
select options for the type. Each time you change the graph data, the graph is updated.
However, certain graph options—such as font size and column markers—revert to their
defaults if you change the graph data.
Graphs are created as grouped objects. You can select elements of a graph with the direct-
selection and group-selection tools, and you can change the elements. However, if you
ungroup a graph, you cannot change the graph’s type or modify the graph’s data.
(See
“Selecting parts of a graph” on page 388
.)