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alistairk57537630
Inspiring
October 7, 2019
Answered

what are the best ways to integrate graphs and charts from Illustrator?

  • October 7, 2019
  • 4 replies
  • 1210 views

What's the best way to integrate graphs and charts from Illustrator?

 

I'd like to have the text and object styling, and colour palettes, set by the InDesign document both for consistency across the graphs in a document, and also for easy updates.

 

The best I've come up with so far is to delete all the text in Illustrator and then manually apply dozens of tiny text frames in InDesign, which isn't a feasible way to work when there are lots of graphs.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer teachbit

    You should import the charts, that only links the Illustrator file to the  indesign document and whenever ou do a changement in Illustrator the chart will be updated in InDesign. For the consistency of colors you can export a color palette as .ase document and import the colors from either Illustrator in InDesign or vice versa. 

    4 replies

    N
    Community Expert
    nigelfrenchCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 8, 2019

    Illustrators graphing tools haven't been improved in over a decade. While they still work, you might find them frustrating or limiting. The article Steve refers to is very informative, so if you plan on doing a lot of charts, I would definitely recommend reading that before you begin.

    Another solution, which depending on the complexity of your charts might work—would let you create the charts in InDesign, is to use the Chartwell font. There's a youtube video about it here: https://youtu.be/7Jtybq1NA9M 

    Steve Werner
    Community Expert
    Steve WernerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 7, 2019

    Yes, if you're using Illustrator Graph tools you need to do it in Illustrator. There are a couple tools which can be used in InDesign (which I can't describe because I don't use therm) but it's described in the current InDesignSecrets Magazine issue (which you would have to pay for if you don't have a subscription):

     

    https://indesignsecrets.com/indesign-magazine-issue-126-charts-and-graphs.php

     

      Steve Werner
      Community Expert
      Steve WernerCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      October 7, 2019

      It would have be done with Illustrator graphic styles (as in the Illustrator forum). You can share swatch colors, fonts and text with InDesign using the CC Libraries panel (importing into the Libraries panel in Illustrator.)

      A
      alistairk57537630Author
      Inspiring
      October 7, 2019
      OK, thanks. It seems that the fundamental principle is to do all of this in Illustrator.
      T
      teachbitCorrect answer
      Participating Frequently
      October 7, 2019

      You should import the charts, that only links the Illustrator file to the  indesign document and whenever ou do a changement in Illustrator the chart will be updated in InDesign. For the consistency of colors you can export a color palette as .ase document and import the colors from either Illustrator in InDesign or vice versa. 

      A
      alistairk57537630Author
      Inspiring
      October 7, 2019

      How do you recommend implementing document-wide styles for the axis and legend text?

      And is there a way to apply InDesign object styling to e.g. the bars on bar charts?

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