creating infographics
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Creating Infographics. What are infographics?. They blend text and images to convey information visually —illustrating facts with charts, map or diagrams. Once considered optional, they are now considered mandatory for effective publication design. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Creating Infographics
What are infographics? They blend text and images to convey information
visually —illustrating facts with charts, map or diagrams.
Once considered optional, they are now considered mandatory for effective publication design. Carve complicated material into bite-sized chunks. Offer attractive alternatives to gray text. Add reader appeal
Main types of infographics Fast facts Bio boxes Lists Checklists Q & A’s Surveys and Polls Charts and graphs Tables Timelines Maps
Fast facts Distill the who-what-
when-where-why of a story into a concise package.
Introduce basic facts without slowing down the text.
Provide supplemental information
Bio boxes Allows you to quickly
profile any person, place or thing.
Can stick or the basic who-what-where-when-why
Or they can spin off into specialized tangents.
Lists Can be used to itemize
tips, trends, winners, warnings and more.
Checklists Like lists,
but are more interactive
Try to make information as accessible and relevant as possible.
Q & A’s Help to capture the spirit
of an interview, making you feel as if you’re eavesdropping on someone else’s conversation
Surveys and Polls
Charts & Graphs When math gets heavy, charts and graphs come in
handy. They present numerical data in a simple, visual way. The simpler, the better.
The Bar Chart Compares two or more items
by sizing them as columns parked side by side.
Uses two basic components: A scale running either
horizontally or vertically showing data totals
Bars extending in the same direction representing the items being measured.
Fever or Line Charts Measures changing quantities
over time. Three components:
A scale running vertically along one edge, measuring amounts
A scale running horizontally along the bottom, measuring time
A jagged line connecting a series of points, showing rising or falling trends.
Pie charts Compares the parts that
make up a whole. Consists of
A circle that represents 100% of something
Several wedges that divide the circle into smaller percentages. Each “slice” is an accurate proportion.
Tables Half text, half chart Stack words and numbers in
rows to let readers make side-by-side comparisons.
Usually consist of: Headings running horizontally
across the top of the chart Categories running vertically
down the left side Lists grouped in columns
reading both across and down.
Timelines Put topics in perspective
by illustrating, step by step, how events unfolded.
Maps Keep maps simple Keep north pointing “up.” Add mileage scales whenever
possible Use type consistently
Don’t use type smaller than 8 point.
Decide where you’ll use all caps, italics, boldface
Guidelines to designing infographics Include the following elements:
A headline or title A credit line listing the source(s) of data or information Consistent type styles and sizes Text type 8 points or larger Label every line, number, circle and bar Strive for simplicity
Is this simple? Excessive slices that are
hard to tell apart Use of separate key to
show percentages, rather than labeling or pointing to each individual pie slice
Lastly, edit carefully Check all the totals,
percentages, year Check spelling Check grammar Check details: Do they
match what is in the story?
Sources Copy Editors Handbook for Newspapers The Newspaper Designer’s Handbook, by Tim
Harrower