It’s not possible to create a clipping mask from a graph object.Two or more graph objects cannot be grouped.Graph objects cannot be aligned to other objects nor can other objects be aligned to them.No transform controls are available for selected graph objects, thus no instant scaling or rotation is possible.Transform panel is not available for graph objects.Here are most of the limitations of Adobe Illustrator’s graph creation functionality that are instantly noticeable: Graph objects are less flexible than usual Illustrator layers, layer elements and groups of layer elements. That is to say, they are special groups of sub-elements that have a limited number of attributes the user can control. The reason for the initial exceptional lack of functionality of the graph objects in Illustrator is that they are quite simply, ‘objects’. You’ll be surprised to discover that basic tasks like scaling and aligning are not instantly applicable on graphs. The Two Faces of Illustrator Graph FunctionalityĬreating graphs in Adobe Illustrator is generally a straightforward task but once you get into advanced techniques of graph design, functionality can get quite annoying. This might seem confusing at first but you’ll get used to it very quickly. Once you create this graph size and shape you will see that it’s available as a single element (layer) in the Layers panel, usually with the name. If you decide to type in the dimensions of the graph, you should bear in mind that those dimensions are applied to the whole graph object (including labels, legend and x, y values), not just the graph chart. It is also possible to type in the width and height of the graph, which is useful if you want to create graphs with specific dimensions. The only graph type that can’t be combined is the scatter graph.Ĭreating graphs in Illustrator is as simple as selecting the Graph Tool (from the Tools panel), clicking on your Artboard and dragging and thus forming the area size of the graph. There is also the possibility for making combinations from the existing graph types to achieve greater diversity. What Type of Graphs Can You Create in Illustrator?Īdobe Illustrator offers 9 graph types to visualize data. Illustrator’s Live Trace: Sketch to Vector.