Charts and graphs

[Sam577]

Hi,

Another really general query about charts and graphs in Illustrator:

What are the benefits of modifying charts in Illustrator? I know that Excel is better on the numbers side, but why is it preferable to take Excel charts into Illustrator and modify them there rather than just leave them as plain old Excel charts?

Also, what's the best way of getting an Illustrator chart into, say, MS Word? Copy and paste or export?

Many thanks
Sam

 

[Eggles]

>>What are the benefits of modifying charts in Illustrator?<<

Excel creates its charts in RGB mode - if you need to get these charts (or the documents they are imported to) prfessionally printed, then the colours must be converted to CMYK (or spot colours) - hence taking them into Illustrator. Digital printers can handle RGB graphics, but offset presses cannot.

>>Also, what's the best way of getting an Illustrator chart into, say, MS Word?<<

I would export the AI file as a GIF - small file size, and the GIF limitation on colours (max of 256) shouldn't be a problem for charts/graphs. As far as I know, you cannot bring AI files into Word, and only the newer versions of Word can accept PDFs or EPSs (two more pathways for your charts out of AI).

If the publication into which you are going to be inserting the charts is a layout application, then export the charts as EPS.

 

[blueark]

Another way of getting your AI files into Word is to export them as a WMF or EMF file, because they will retain vectors. However, it doesn't handle curves very well, so you might want to enlarge your chart before exporting, then reducing it in Word to tighten it up again.

 

[blueark]

Another way of getting your AI files into Word is to export them as a WMF or EMF files, because they will retain vectors. However, it doesn't handle curves very well, so you might want to enlarge your chart before exporting, then reducing it in Word to tighten it up again.

Of course, if you are only bringing charts into Word rather than a professional design package, there probably isn't any advantage in using Illustrator. Excel and Word are designed to work together.