This document provides an overview of tools and techniques for creating flow charts and small multiple diagrams in Adobe Illustrator. It discusses using shape, line, text and alignment tools to construct flow charts showing processes. It also covers copying and adjusting grouped elements, applying graphic conventions through layers and the eyedropper tool to represent changing data values in small multiple diagrams over time. The goal is to practice skills for visually explaining relationships and temporal data.

1. session 3 demo:
flow charts and small multiples
PLAN601E Verbal and visual: Information Graphics (session 3)
SESSION 3 DEMO:
FLOW CHARTS AND SMALL MULTIPLES
PLAN601E VERBAL AND VISUAL: INFORMATION GRAPHICS (SESSION 3)

2. TOOLS IN ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR
REVIEW OF TOOLS, PANELS AND FUNCTIONS

3. Palettes organize tools, colors, layers, type,
and other settings.
review of
adobe illustrator tools
tools
object
color
stroke
layers

4. Move around the artboard with zoom, pan, or scrolling; the mouse
wheel can also be used to scroll.
review of
adobe illustrator tools
zoom / pan

5. Shapes and lines are made up of “paths” and “anchors”; paths and
polygans can be moved with the selection tool.
review of
adobe illustrator tools
select

6. Anchors are the handles on paths and polygons; they can be
moved with the direct selection tool.
review of
adobe illustrator tools
direct
select

7. Paths have a “fill” and “stroke,” which can be
assigned colors.
review of
adobe illustrator tools
fill / stroke
color

8. review of
adobe illustrator tools
stroke
stroke

9. Direct selection can move several anchors at the same time.
review of
adobe illustrator tools
direct
select

10. review of
adobe illustrator tools
edit

11. Another way to copy polygons is to move them with the selection
tool + option.
review of
adobe illustrator tools
select

12. Another way to copy polygons is to move them with the selection
tool + option.
review of
adobe illustrator tools
layers

13. Polygons can also be arranged within the same layer by selecting
then right clicking and utilizing “arrange” tools.
review of
adobe illustrator tools
arrange

14. Use the “text tool” to create text boxes; modify text in
the menu or character palette.
review of
adobe illustrator tools
text
text
text

15. Select, right click, and “group” polygons and text to
move them together
review of
adobe illustrator tools
group
select

16. Dragging the “pivot” on a group of polygons while holding shift
scales them propotionally.
review of
adobe illustrator tools
select

17. Select the group, right click, and select “scale” to scale
by percentage.
review of
adobe illustrator tools
select
scale

18. Hold shift while rotating to “rotate” the group at
45 degree increments.
review of
adobe illustrator tools
rotate

19. Create “guides” by clicking on the vertical and horizontal rulers
and dragging into the artboard.
review of
adobe illustrator tools
ruler

20. Right click anywhere and select “show / hide grid” to
show a background grid.
review of
adobe illustrator tools
guides /
grids

21. The “align” palette has tools for aligning polygons by their centers
and edges.
review of
adobe illustrator tools
align

22. The “align” palette has tools for aligning polygons by their centers
and edges.
review of
adobe illustrator tools
align

23. The “pathfinder” palette has tools for combining polygons in
various ways into “compound shapes.”
review of
adobe illustrator tools
path-
finder

24. Hover the cursor over various tools
to see the “short-cut” command.
review of
adobe illustrator tools
short
cut

25. Let’s make a chart that explains the process for reporting a
landlord complaint to 311.
creating a flow chart with
adobe illustrator

26. CREATING A FLOW CHART
IN ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR

27. 1) Find some interesting data.
creating a flow chart with
adobe illustrator

28. 2) Look at precedents.
creating a flow chart with
adobe illustrator

29. 3) Sketch out your ideas for the diagam and graphic conventions.creating a flow chart with
adobe illustrator

30. 4) Set up grapihc conventions in Illustrator.
creating a pie chart
with adobe illustrator
4

31. 5) Make a layer for text, use text tool to write out steps, arrange
with selection tool.
creating a pie chart
with adobe illustrator
5 5
text

32. 6) Use rectangle / ellipse tools to make
polygons for text.
creating a pie chart
with adobe illustrator
6ellipse

33. 7) Use eyedropper to select and coordinate
boxes with graphic conventions.
creating a pie chart
with adobe illustrator
7
eyedrop
7

34. 8) Draw connecting lines using the Pen tool. Add arrowheads
using the Stroke panel.
creating a pie chart
with adobe illustrator
8
PEN

35. 10) Adjust dash settings for lines.
creating a pie chart
with adobe illustrator
10
10

36. 11) Use the grid and align tools to clean up diagram shapes and
lines.
creating a pie chart
with adobe illustrator
11
11

37. Give your diagram a descriptive title.
creating a flow chart with
adobe illustrator

38. creating small multiples
IN ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR

39. Let’s make a diagram displaying traffic accident data.
creating small multiples with
adobe illustrator

40. 1) Find some interesting data that has a
temporal dimension.
creating small multiples with

41. 2) “place” a screenshot of the stats map
in the artboard.
creating small multiples with
adobe illustrator
2

42. 3) trace background elements for the diagram;
add annotation; create scaled elements.
creating small multiples with
adobe illustrator
3

43. 4) Group the background elements and drag holding shift + option
to copy.
creating small multiples with
adobe illustrator
4

44. 5) Make a layer for dots and place dots on background to
represent annual data.
creating small multiples with
adobe illustrator
5

45. 6) Use type tool to add annotation and clean up with align palette.creating small multiples with
6
6

46. Let’s try out a different convention for representing data values,
such as line weight.
creating small multiples with
adobe illustrator
stroke

47. 7) Use eyedropper tool to apply new vgraphic conventions.
creating small multiples with
adobe illustrator
7

48. Be sure to create a label for the data source.
creating small multiples with
adobe illustrator

49. Message of this slide/ category
of data documented on this page
assignment 3
Title of your
presentation
Title slide; Previous slides (Assignments 1 & 2)
Assignment 3: A diagram visualizing sequence, flow or connection
PDF, 7.5”x10”
Intertitle; Sketches, notes, precedents and revisions for Assignment 3;
All previous sketches, notes, precedents and revisions.
Sketches, notes,
precedents
and revisions
From some part of Assignment 3
JPEG
Headline tells me the
message of this slide
Headline tells me the
message of this slide