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Free online options
For something quick, there are a growing number of (usually SVG-powered) free online flow chart tools. Here's a few that don't require log-in, all pretty basic but user-friendly:
Draw.io (free and open source) - straightforward, allows saving straight to Google Drive or Dropbox. Also has a Desktop version.
Gliffy (free up to 5 public ...
answered Mar 13 '13 at 10:52
user56reinstatemonica8
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20
The easiest method is to simply use strokes with arrowheads.
for 5 arrows, you simply divide a circle into 5 sections, apply your stroke and arrowheads, then expand and use the Shape Builder Tool.
14
Edit III: I found an imensly gorgeous example of multivariable quantitative data visualisation, and had to add it. You will find it under the heading "Edit III (Nobel laureates)".
Edit II: there has been a little misunderstanding, and I have edited to try to clarify how I interpret the intended use of the data. I have replaced two images and added a section ...
12
Here is how I would do it. I am using a very basic arrow shape. It can be adapted to a more refined design.
Step 1: Draw the doughnut with one of the arrows in place. (Here drawn with no fill so the next steps are easy to understand.)
Step 2: Select both shapes and make a symbol (drag to symbol panel)
Step 3: With the symbol selected in the canvas, select ...
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I like Dia which is a free open source diagramming tool available for Windows, Mac OSX and Linux. Its been around for years and is popular with both software and electronic engineers.
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Do not use a rainbow of colors to indicate different intensities of values.
To quote Edward Tufte:
Despite our experiences with the spectrum in science textbooks and rainbows,
the mind's eye does not readily give an order to ROYGBIV.
(From Tufte's Envisioning Information)
Remember that, despite the rainbow, most people are used to envisioning the ...
7
yEd is good at this, is free and has Windows, Mac and Linux versions:
http://www.yworks.com/en/products_yed_about.html
7
I don't know if its suitable here, but there are also ways with not WYSIWYG-programms. In my example the tikz-package of LaTeX.
Normally TeX is used for texts and professional scriptum, but also good looking vector graphics are possible, with a little effort.
Other great examples can be found in tex.SX or behind this link. :)
Source code:
\documentclass{...
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It is easy as usual!
For that i will use Illustrator CS5.
1) Take a "Spiral Tool"
2) Now click on the screen and set some options for the spiral creation. Then click "OK"
3) A new spiral will be drawn:
4) Now transform the spiral:
5) Rotate and scale:
6) It will be look like this:
7) Take a "Reshape Tool" (the magic begins :)
8) Select the lowest ...
6
I would use yEd* not only does this tool draw these it also makes automatic layouts for your nodes. Other software would include MS Visio.
Image 1: A image made with yEd illustrator combo (yEd made preliminary layout)
Another approach would be to use Graphviz, which could make your graphs 100% without your input from a data source easily.
Related post:
...
5
I think there are a few additional questions that could narrow your search for the key to representing data to your audience. I think of them much like curtailing your resume to a specific job you want.
Why are you creating a infographic.
What is the net goal or outcome you want your audience to know about your data.
What do you know about your audience ...
5
I would recommend something like:
yEd, used to use this a lot, today not so much. Probably best for simple-moderately complex stuff. Good support for different formats.
Gephi, for beautiful big force directed graphs.
Tulip, havent used more than once seemed ok
graphwiz, I use this all the time and then do final touches in illutrator. It probably produced ...
5
A great online solution, one that integrates well with Google Drive is Lucid Chart.
There are paid plans, but it's mostly free. I've created tonnes of diagrams for it and this is a typical implementation.
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"Easy to use" is a bit of a challenge is that's going to depend on a whole lot of criteria.
That said, I'd suggest Inkscape. It's open source, so is no cost to give it a try. It's not as robust as Adobe Illustrator, so would argue that it's simpler to learn. And it can certainly save out in many formats, including it's native format SVG.
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'Flat design' is just a trend really, and so the general rules of graphic design apply, including colour, proximity, contrast, form, balance, hierarchy etc. The thing that differentiates flat design is pretty much just using stark blocks of colour without any texture or depth. Maybe a subtle gradient, that's it.
IMO, your first example is nicer to look at. ...
4
What you mentioned is done by TikZ in LaTeX. Sorry but I tried Lucid Charts and Visio and definitely they are not good as TikZ.
You can overleaf and see the result
The code:
\tikzstyle{block} = [draw, fill=blue!20, rectangle,
minimum height=3em, minimum width=6em]
\tikzstyle{sum} = [draw, fill=blue!20, circle, node distance=1cm]
\tikzstyle{input} = [...
4
What problem are you trying to solve? The approach and therefore best tools depend on...
Are you visualising data to (a) analyse it, explore it or open it up, or to (b) communicate a specific, known message about it?
Who is your audience? In particular, are they (a) casual people who's interest you want to attract (e.g. readers of a magazine, people ...
answered Jan 6 '12 at 12:19
user56reinstatemonica8
25.6k16 gold badges88 silver badges169 bronze badges
4
You need to split the circle into separate objects, then color the separate objects. You can't fill a circle with multiple colors other than using gradients or gradient meshes.
The easiest way to spit the circle and color, is to simply draw paths to divide the circle then use the Live Paint Tool to apply color to the separate areas. Expand the Live Paint ...
4
Let me answer the question itself - i.e. how to move objects together in Illustrator exactly as you ask.
Assume you have this picture, where there are 5 rectangles and 4 direct lines pointing as provided -
You want to move the grey rectangle to any other position in the way where all direct lines move simultaneously with the grey rectangle to the new ...
4
When working with items which all must be 100% and the same color I look at the things which make the items distinctive:
size (including widths of strokes)
style (dashes, dots, etc)
fill (hollow, solid, patterns)
shape
Then it's a matter of how I can adjust these four settings to create enough distinction between items so they are visibly different.
The ...
4
I suggest Illustrator. With its diagramm tools you can create any kind of diagram and its fully editable. Also you can output any kind of format in any resolution since its verctorbased graphics.
Of course, illustrator isn't free. If you don't want to invest money, maybe there's an alternative for you here.
I don't know whether those are suitable for you. ...
3
What you are asking for can be accomplished by many 3D rendering programs (Cinema 4D, Maya, etc). The free one among them is called Blender. Unfortunately, there is a learning curve to using this program and you will probably invest significantly more time than a 2D Network map, but it might be what you are looking for. I agree though, this form is a lot ...
3
My favourite software for this is actually a web-based editor, Cacoo.
It's very good at most linked diagram styles (both your examples are quite easy to make with Cacoo), and is much more user-friendly than Visio (though not as in-depth). It's also cross-platform due to it being web-based, and seems to have an offline mode, though I don't use that ...
3
How about an illustration of a factory, with on one side:
materials going in
a little pile of coins going out
and on the other side:
product going out
a great big pile of coins coming in
3
Option 1
Inkscape as already suggested if you don't intend to use it often or want to spend several 100 dollars.
Option 2
Buy the design edition of Adobe CS6. I say buy the design package because at the rate of just purchasing Illustrator it is a waste. You can buy the design package which would include Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and Acrobat. ...
3
This is not a trivial problem; I am only going to give some general suggestions. My graphics are conceptional, would need some elegantifying to be optimal.
First: kudos for making the mesh in the background light-light grey. People often overdo that.
Do not underestimate the use of a few different diagrams to
demonstrate the same data! When people ...
3
You can do this with excel, atleast if you approximate the design a bit. Excell is probably the only tool that a unspecified random crowd can be expected to be able to use.
The real problem is that the more easy to use, and the more mainstream you want to go the more you need to sacrafice out of your design.
Excel can be made quite faithfull to your idea ...
3
It is not about wavelength. It's about human emotional connection to the colors.
The high indicator is generally red/orange because human nature is to perceive it as vibrant, motion-filled, and dangerous as is fire departments and ambulances.
Blues and purples are perceived as calm and safe. This is why you see hospitals, insurance companies, and ...
3
Where I live in Australia the Met office (weather) recorded the highest temperature as over about 50 degrees and because Red was the highest representation for the temperature band - they added purple to mark this higher temp on the radar. A key or legend scale might be useful in this situation
3
I know many people use https://www.lucidchart.com. If you are on Windows and have access to Visio, that is a good diagram tool as well.
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