In this workshop we will be creating two different types of graphs, and editing their appearance in Adobe Illustrator. We will also look at how we can utilize Adobe Stock for key elements and how we can render some of our own designs to create a more engaging and unique way to deliver data.
CONTENTS
- Setting up a Layer
- Placing an Image
- Using Shape Tools
- Accessing and Applying Swatches
- Applying Blend Modes
- Placing the Header
- Adding Type
- Creating a Pie Graph
- Editing Graphs
- Adding Coca-Cola Logo
- Creating and Editing a Column Graph
- Saving
- Additional Resources
DOCUMENT SETUP
For this project we will be using a custom Artboard. Start by titling you project with a name that makes sense -A-. Adjust your measurement in the upper right hand corner to "Inches" for a better size perception and adjust the Width of the Artboard to 8.5", and the Height to 22" -B-. Select the "RGB" Color Mode -C- and beneath it in "Raster Effects", select "High (300ppi)" -D- PPI means "Pixels per Inch." Go ahead and click "Create."
WORKSPACE OVERVIEW & SETUP
WORKSPACE OVERVIEW
These are the locations that we will be referring to throughout this tutorial. We won't be using every part in a single step, some rarely but just so you have a basic understanding of where different tools and actions are located within the Adobe Illustrator App.
WORKSPACE SETUP
Once your new document has been created go to the menu bar at the top of your screen and select "Window > Workspaces > Essentials Classic." This will add additional tools and palettes to your workspace.
MAIN KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS
- A - Selection Tool
- V - Direct Selection Tool
- P - Pen Tool
- T - Type Tool
- M - Rectangle Tool
- L - Ellipse Tool
- CMND + C - Copy
- CMND + V - Paste
- CMND/CTRL + SHIFT + P - Place Image
- CMND/CTRL + S - Save
- SHIFT + X - Switch Fill and Stroke
- CMND/CTRL + [ - Move down one layer
- CMND/CTRL + SHIFT + [ - Move to bottom layer
- CMND/CTRL + ] - Move up one layer
- CMND/CTRL + SHIFT + ] - Move to top layer
2. Placing an Image
Go to "File > Place" then navigate to where you saved the file named "Condensation Background.jpg," select it and press "Place." Click anywhere on your Artboard to add the image.
Click on the "Selection Tool" (V) in your Toolbar then click on the image, the Bounding Box should appear around it. Go to the upper corner and click-and-hold while holding down the Shift key drag the corner towards the middle to make the image fit to your Artboard like in the screen capture below. If the image doesn't quite fit correctly feel free to stretch the image in any way by not holding down the Shift key.
Since the image is being used as a background and is not a significant piece of artwork or type, making minor distortions by stretching it will mostly go unnoticed. If the distortion is too great you will need to use a Clipping Mask which we will discuss shortly.
3. Using Shape Tools
Select the "Rectangle Tool" (M) from your toolbar, if it is not visible click-and-hold on the visible shape tool to open it's Drawer where the other shape options inhabit. Click once on your Artboard to open the above dialogue box. Enter 8.5" for the width and 11" for the height and click Ok.
4. Accessing and Applying Swatches
Go to "Window > Swatches" to open the Swatch palette -A-. These are default colors for your RGB file -B-. You can create and add custom colors by double-clicking the Fill Box on your Toolbar. There you can use the Color Picker or enter a Hex Code.
Click on the "Selection Tool" (V) then select your new rectangle and move it into place at the bottom of your Artboard -A-. Make sure the "Fill Box" is in front and select the Red color on the first line of your Swatch Library -B-.
Select the "Pen Tool" (P) from your Toolbar and add and Anchor Point in the middle on the top of your rectangle by simply Clicking Once. You will see a new Anchor appear on the line in the form of a tiny square.
Click-and-hold on the Pen Tool (P) to open it's Drawer and select the "Anchor Point Tool" (Shift+C). Click-and-hold on the Anchor Point you just created and Draw Up and Away from the anchor to create the swooping motion in the image above.
5. Applying Blend Modes
With the manipulated rectangle selected using the "Selection Tool" (V), go to "Window > Transparency" -A- and select "Multiply" from the "Blend Mode" drop down menu -B-.
This will allow the darker portions of the image to show through the red shape we created. Lock the Background layer by clicking in the empty space near the Eye in your "Layers Panel". Click on the "+" in the bottom right hand corner of the :Layers Panel" to create a "New Layer." Title this layer "Artwork."
6. Placing the Header
To place the logo click on "File > Place" -A- then navigate to where you have the file "Cola Wars Header.ai" saved and click Place -B-. Click anywhere on your Artboard to apply the image.
Like a PNG the artwork will come in with no background. It will also be placed as a Linked object. To make changes to a Linked object in a document, select the item using a selection tool and click on "Edit Original" in the "Tool/Object Specific Menu Bar." This will open the original document where you can make any adjustments and save the file. At this time the artwork will automatically update in your new document.
7. Adding Type
Add type to your document by selecting the "Type Tool" (T) and clicking once. You can also create a Text Box by clicking-and-dragging.
Select the "Selection Tool" (V) and make sure your type has a Bounding Box around it -A-. In the "Character" drop down menu and select the font "Impact."
8. Creating a Pie Graph
Click on the "Pie Graph" icon in your Toolbar. If the Pie Graph is not visible click-and-hold on the visible graph option and select the Pie Graph.
Click-and-drag to create the space the graph will take up.
After letting go a place holder graph will appear with a dialogue box. Navigate to where you saved the "SODA PREFERENCE EXCEL FILE.xls" file and copy the first column by highlighting it and clicking "CMND/CTRL+C."
Return to Adobe Illustrator and click inside the entry field of the dialogue box and press "CMND/CTRL + V" to paste the entries -A-. Click on the "Transpose Row/Column" tab to adjust the entries horizontally -B-. Click on the "Check Mark" in the upper right hand corner to generate your graph -C-.
9. Editing Graphs
Use the "Selection Tool" (V) to select your graph and start editing by bringing the "Stroke Box" to the front in your Toolbar and clicking on the little tab below it with a Red Slash through it which signifies a selection of "None." To edit your graph further click on the "Direct Selection Tool" (A) and click on a segment. Once a selection is made ensure the "Fill Box" is in front, then select a color from your "Swatches" palette. Continue until all segments have been assigned the desired color.
Use the "Text Tool" (T) to create the appropriate titles and percentages located in the "SODA PREFERENCE EXCEL FILE.xls" file. Select the titles one by one while holding down the Shift key, and change the font in the "Character" drop down menu -A-. Using the "Selection Tool" (V) select your Coca-Cola type, then click on the "Eyedropper Tool" (I) and click on the red graph segment -B-. The "Eyedropper Tool " (I) will copy properties that can be applied to the new object.
To create lines connecting the type to their respective graph segments select the "Pen Tool" (P) and adjust your "Stroke Box" to black. Click once to set an Anchor, move the mouse towards the graph and click again to set another "Anchor Point." Click Return/Enter to move to the next segment. To curve a line click-and-drag until the proper curvature is achieved and release your mouse.
11. Creating and Editing a Column Graph
Select the "Column Graph" (J) and click-and-drag to define the area the graph will take up.
Open the "Coca-Cola Value for past 5 years.xlsx" file you downloaded from the assets folder. Copy the first row by clicking "CMND/CTRL+C."
Paste them into the entry field in the Dialogue Box by pressing "CMND/CTRL+V" -A-. Click on the "Transpose Row/Column" tab -B-. To apply the data click on the "Check Mark" -C-.
Make sure your graph is selected by clicking on it using the "Selection Tool" (V). Click on "Object > Ungroup" (CMND/CTRL + Shift + G) and click Yes in the Dialogue Box that appears. At this point the data can no longer be edited, but allows for us to manipulate the graph in other ways.
Click "File > Place" -A- then navigate to where you saved the "Coke Bottle Silhouette.ai" file and click "Place" -B-.
Make sure the image is selected by clicking on it using the "Selection Tool" (V) -A-. In the "Tool/Object Specific Menu Bar" click on the "Image Trace" drop down menu and select "Black and White Logo." -B-.
To complete the conversion to Vector click on "Expand" in the "Tool/Object Specific Menu Bar." Use the "Direct Selection Tool" (A) to select the white background and Delete it.
Scale the Coke bottle using the "Selection Tool" (V) and holding down the Shift key to retain the graphics proportions. Make it small enough you can fit four (4) more.
Click-and-hold on the Coke Bottle and hold down Option/Alt +Shift and drag the copy to the right slightly and let go. Press "CMND/CTRL + D" keys to repeat the duplication three (3) more times -A-. Using the "Direct Selection Tool" (A) select each portion of the Column Graph and assign them new soda themed colors -B-.
Ungroup your graph further by selecting the group using the "Selection Tool" (V) and pressing "CMND/CTRL+SHIFT+G." Drag each bar to a bottle in an increasing order and expand them so they are wider than the bottle itself.
Using the "Direct Selection Tool" (A) click on the white portion of each bottle while holding the Shift key -A-. Next click "Edit > Copy" -B- and then click "Edit > Paste in Front" -C-. If the bottles do not appear in front press "CMND+SHIFT+]" to bring them all the way to the front.
Open Pathfinder by clicking "Window > Pathfinder."
Using the "Selection Tool" (V) select the first bottles White Fill and corresponding Column Graph Segment -A-. Next click on the "Intersect" tab inside the Pathfinder palette to clip the shape to the bottle. Repeat for the remaining four (4) bottles -B-.
Using the "Text Tool" (T) add "Profit for the past 5 years" below the Coca-Cola logo, and the data relative to your new Coke Bottle Column Graph.
12: Saving
Saving your file
Click "File > Save As" then click and select the Format you would like from the drop down menu. Follow the prompts in the following dialogue boxes to complete the save. These formats are all editable documents meaning they can be opened back up in Adobe Illustrator with all the layers intact.
Exporting you file
Click "File > Export As" then select the desired Format from the drop down menu and complete prompts from following dialogue boxes to complete your export. It's important to note some file formats saved during export will result in an inability to edit your project. They will "Flatten" your graphic and there will be no layers or objects to edit.