Create an Easy-Peasy Pie Chart Template in InDesign

03/02/2017 CreateaSuperSimpleInfographicTemplateinAdobeInDesign
Create a Super Simple Infographic

Template in Adobe InDesign
byGrace Fussell 25 Sep 2014
Difculty: Beginner Length: Long Languages: English
Infographics Adobe InDesign Graphic Design Vector Adobe Illustrator
https://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/createasupersimpleinfographictemplateinadobeindesigncms22083 1/34
What You'll Be Creating
You must have had your head buried in the sand if you haven't noticed the infographic
invasion across the design world! Infographics are enjoying a surge in popularity, and
its easy to see whytheyre a colourful, engaging, and dynamic way of presenting large
amounts of information, and they lend visual punch to otherwise dull statistics and
data.
Infographic pros often use Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to create their statistical
concepts, but here we'll show how you can create a super simple and high-impact
infographic using just the tools available to you in Adobe InDesign. In this tutorial you
will create a reusable template for an infographic, and create interchangeable, exible
infographic elements for future projects.
Lets get started!
1.Set up your InDesign Document

You can create your infographic template for print or online, but for now well be setting
it up as a large print document.
Step 1
Open InDesignand selectFile > New Document. In theNew Documentwindow set
theIntenttoPrintand set theNo. of Pagesto1.Deselect Facing Pages.
UnderPage SizeselectCustom...from the drop-down menu to create a newCustom

Page Size. Name this new size 'Infographic and set theWidthto297
mmandHeightto600 mm. ClickAddand thenOK.
Back in theNew Documentwindow, keep theMarginsat their default value (12.7 mm)
and set theBleedto3 mmon all sides. ClickOK.
Step 2
To give your infographic elements a unied and professional look and feel, we can give
the document a colored background with a subtle gradient.
First, go to theLayerspanel(Window > Layers, if not already open) anddoubleclickon

the default Layer 1 name to open theLayer Optionswindow. Rename this layer
Background and clickOK.
Using theRectangle Tool (M), drag to create a frame that extends across the whole
page, and up to the edges of the bleed.
Open theSwatchespanel(Window > Color > Swatches) and selectNew Color

Swatch...from the drop-down menu in the panel. Create a newCMYK(selected from
theColor Modemenu)Swatch,C=63 M=10 Y=10 K=0, and clickOK. Set theFillof your
new frame to this new blue swatch, andStroketo[None].
As a nal touch, with the frame selected, go toObject > Effects > Gradient Featherand
set theTypetoRadial.
Step 3
Return to theLayerspanelandLockthe Background layer by clicking in the empty box
next to the eye icon. From the drop-down menu in the panel, selectNew Layer...Name
this layer Frame and clickOK.
Select theLine Tool (\)and, holdingShift, drag from left to right to create a straight line
extending from the left-hand bleed to the right-hand bleed.
With the line selected, open theStrokepanel (Window > Stroke) and set theWeightto8
mm. Set theStroke ColortoC=63 M=10 Y=10 K=0, as before. Position the line at the
top of the page.
Edit > Copy, andEdit > Pastethe line and position at the bottom of the page.
Step 4
Create a series of lines in different ice-cream shades by copying the line you created
inStep 3(Edit > Copy, Edit > Paste) ve more times.
Place the other four pasted lines on top of each other in a block atY position 56mm.
Add the followingSwatchesin theSwatchespanel and apply to the series of lines in
turn:
C=8 M=41 Y=12 K=0

C=8 M=5 Y=12 K=0
C=58 M=10 Y=40 K=0
C=49 M=41 Y=41 K=5
Step 5
Introduce a title for your infographic document. Return to theLayerspanel andLockthe
Frame layer. Create aNew Layerand rename it Title.
Choose a font that is fresh and jaunty, but clear to read (clarity and legibility on
infographics is especially important). Here, Ive usedJosen Sansthroughout
thedocument.
Select theType Tool (T)and drag to create a text frame297 mm in Widthand26mm

in Height. Type theTitle and (paragraph break) Sub-Titleof your document, and place
the frame centrally in the gap between the colored lines at the top of the page.
From theCharacter Formatting Controlspanel running along the top of your screen, set
theFonttoJosen Sans Regular,Size 35 pt,Leading 42 ptandFont ColortoC=49
M=41 Y=41 K=5.Set theOrientationtoAlign Center. You can also introduce a different
color into your sub-title if youd like.
2.Create an Easy-Peasy Pie Chart

The rst element in your infographic template will be a simple pie-chart diagram. You
can use this to give an overview of the data being analysed, and pull out specic
sections of the demographic for commentary.
Step 1
Return to theLayerspanel andLockthe Title layer. Create aNew Layer,name it Pie
Chart, and clickOK.
Go to theToolspaneland select theEllipse Tool (L).HoldingShift, drag to create a

perfect circle100 mminDiameter. Position this towards the top left of the page (below
the coloured lines) and set theFilltoC=49 M=41 Y=41 K=5. Drag guides from the top
and left-handRulers(View > Show Rulers) to mark the center of thecircle.
Step 2
With the circle selected, go toEdit > CopyandEdit > Paste in Placeand change
theFillof this second circle toC=63 M=10 Y=10 K=0.
Select theScissors Tool (C)and hover over the blue circle. Click once at the bottom
edge of the circle and once again on the right-hand edge, to create a separate section.
Click to select the larger part of the blue circle andDelete, so that the grey circle is once
again visible.
Depending on how large you want to make the section of your pie chart, you could
maintain the diameter of the section as it is, which is about a quarter of the whole. Or,
as Ive done here, you can divide it further into a sectionone-eighthof the whole. To do
this, use theScissors Tool (C)once again, and click once halfway along the outside
edge of the cut sections diameter, as shown below.
Discard one of the cut sections and, with the remaining section selected, select thePen
Tool (P). Click once in the center of the grey circle to create a pie-shaped section.
Step 3
Create another pie section by selecting the blue section andCopy >
EditandEdit>Paste.Change theFillto a different color, and position the sections into
a position youre happy with.
You can add a 3D effect by applying a subtleDrop Shadowto one of the pie sections.
Go toObject > Effects > Drop Shadowand set theOpacityto25%, and
theDistanceandSizeto2 mm.
Step 4
Add commentary to your pie chart by introducing a couple of text frames using theType
Tool (T). Set theFonttoJosen Sans SemiBold,Size 20 pt, and use matchingFont
Colorsto the corresponding sections.
Use theLine Tool (\), holdingShift, to create pointers. In theStrokepanel, set

theWeightto1 mm,TypetoJapanese Dotsand theEnd ValuetoCircleSolid.
3.Show Trends with a Directional Bar Chart

Step 1
Navigate a little down the page, so you are looking at the section of the page below the
pie chart. In theLayerspanel,Lockall existing layers and create aNew Layer, renaming
it Bar Chart.
Select theLine Tool (\)and, holdingShift, drag vertically to create a line

about120mminLength. From theStrokepanel, set theWeightto18 mm,Endvalue
toTriangleWideandStroke ColortoC=49 M=41 Y=41 K=5.
Step 2
Edit > CopyandEdit > Pastethis arrow several times, varying theStroke
ColorandLength. Arrange the arrows exactly alongside each other to create a tight,
layered look.
Step 3
To give a 3D look to the chart, introduce a horizontal line using theLine Tool (\). Ensure
theStrokehas someColorand aWeightof1 mm,then apply a drop shadow by going
toObject > Effects > Drop Shadow...and set theOpacityto75%.
Send the line behind the arrows, making the line itself invisible, byCtrl-Click (Mac) or
Right-Click (PC ) > Arrange > Send to Back.
Step 4
You can introduce a caption below the bar chart, as well as descriptions of percentages,
etc., on the chart itself by applying individual text frames on top of the chart and
entering your data values.
Set theFontin all instances toJosen Sansto stay consistent.
4.Create People Icons Without Using Illustrator

Focus on getting the most out of theShape Toolsoffered to you in InDesign. Its
amazing what you can create! Once you master creating a simple person silhouette, try
to use the Shape Tools to create other simple infographic icons.
Step 1
In theLayerspanel, ensure all the existing layers areLocked, before creating aNew
Layer.Name this Figures.
Navigate to thePasteboard, adjacent to the page on either the left or right side. You can
use this area to experiment with creating your shapes.
Use theRectangle Tool (M)to draw a frame about24 mm in Widthand50 mm in

Height. Set theFill ColortoC=49 M=41 Y=41 K=5for now.
With the frame selected, go toObject > Corner Optionsto open theCorner
Optionswindow. Set theSizeof all corners to5 mmandShapetoRounded. This frame
will form the torso of the gure.
NowEdit > CopyandEdit > Pastethis frame repeatedly and manipulate

theWidthandHeightto create narrower frames for the arms, legs and shoulders.Ctrl-
Click (Mac) or Right-Click (PC ) > Transform > Rotate...to adjust the orientation of the
shapes. HoldShiftwhile using theEllipse Tool (L)to create a head.
For ease of use, you can group the shapes together byCtrl-Click (Mac) or Right-Click
(PC ) > Group.
Step 2
Create a female gure by selecting the male gure and making a copy (Edit >
CopyandEdit > Paste). Set theFilltoC=8 M=5 Y=12 K=0. Rotate the left-side arm
to-21 degrees(Ctrl-Click (Mac) or Right-Click (PC ) > Rotate...) and rotate the right-
side arm to21 degreesto mirror the left arm.
Use theRectangle Tool (M)to create an additional square frame that extends across
the torso. To create a skirt shape, use theScissors Tool (C)to snip away the outer
edges (get rid of two upside-down triangles on either side, then go toObject > Paths >
Join, with the remaining paths of the frame selected, to create a trapezoid shape).
Step 3
Now you have created your gures, you can use them in all sorts of infographic
arrangements.
You can use them to show a gender demographic with simple arrows (similar to those
we created earlier for theBar Chart, simplyCopyandPasteand vary theStroke Color)
and text captions stating the data (set inJosen Sans SemiBold).
You can also reduce theSizeof a gure (holdShiftwhile resizing to maintain the same
proportions), andCopyandPaste, repeating in rows to give a sense of population data.
To replicate this effect, sit a number of repeated gures in a row along the same
baseline (drag down aGuidefrom the topRulerto get them all lined up exactly).
Introduce a horizontal line using theLine Tool (\), setting theTypetoDottedand

theWeightto1 mm, and sit the line between the edge of the gures and a text frame. In
the text frame (Type Tool [T]) type the percentage/data number, and set
theFonttoJosen Sans Bold, Size 80 pt.
To create a tear-drop shape at the start of a row of gures, use theEllipse Tool (L)to
create a perfect circle (holdShift). Separately, create aLineat an approximately45
degreeangle andEdit > Copy > Pasteto create a copy of the line.
Ctrl-Click (Mac) or Right-Click (PC ) > Transform > Flip Horizontaland position the
second line below the rst line, with their edges connecting. Go toObject > Paths >
Joinand set theFill Colorto the same swatch as the circle you just created. Place the
triangle over the circle, with the triangles edge edging out from the right-hand side of
the circle.Ctrl-Click (Mac) or Right-Click (PC ) > Groupthe two shapes together for
easy manouvering.
5.Annotate a Simple Map Graphic

On occasion, you may need to introduce more detailed icons or images from Illustrator
or Photoshop to your infographic, such as a map diagram. You can add annotations to
these in InDesign.
Step 1
File > Placea chosen EPS or Illustrator graphic into your document on aNewLayer.
Position this towards the top right of the page, beneath thePie Chartgraphic.
To add more dimension to your map, you can add circles of varying sizes to give a
sense of the different proportion of data across a geographical area (e.g. the
percentage of a population in a given region).
Use theEllipse Tool (L), holdingShift, to create three or four circles of different sizes
and colors, and position these over the map.
With the shapes selected, go toObject > Effects > Transparencyand set theOpacityof
the circles to85%.
For a pop-out, 3D effect, add a drop shadow by checking theDrop Shadowbox in

theEffectspanel. Set theOpacityto30%and increase theSizeto4 mm.
Step 2
Drop in text captions using theType Tool (T)and create connecting pointers using
theLine Tool (\), setting theWeightto1 mmand theTypetoJapanese Dots. In
theStrokepanel(Window > Stroke)set theEndvalue toCircleSolidto create a pointer
effect.
And there you have it! Great work!
Youve created a set of simple but super effective infographics, with a contemporary,
fresh aesthetic.
You can edit this basic infographic template to accomodate all sorts of basic data
about populations and demographics. You can also pull out elements from each
infographic to create your own custom infographic document. Have fun nding your
own ways of making information beautiful!

Create an Easy-Peasy Pie Chart Template in InDesign

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03/02/2017 CreateaSuperSimpleInfographicTemplateinAdobeInDesign

Create a Super Simple Infographic

Infographics Adobe InDesign Graphic Design Vector Adobe Illustrator

What You'll Be Creating

Lets get started!

1.Set up your InDesign Document

UnderPage SizeselectCustom...from the drop-down menu to create a newCustom

First, go to theLayerspanel(Window > Layers, if not already open) anddoubleclickon

Open theSwatchespanel(Window > Color > Swatches) and selectNew Color

C=8 M=41 Y=12 K=0

Select theType Tool (T)and drag to create a text frame297 mm in Widthand26mm

2.Create an Easy-Peasy Pie Chart

Go to theToolspaneland select theEllipse Tool (L).HoldingShift, drag to create a

Use theLine Tool (\), holdingShift, to create pointers. In theStrokepanel, set

3.Show Trends with a Directional Bar Chart

Select theLine Tool (\)and, holdingShift, drag vertically to create a line

Set theFontin all instances toJosen Sansto stay consistent.

4.Create People Icons Without Using Illustrator

Use theRectangle Tool (M)to draw a frame about24 mm in Widthand50 mm in

NowEdit > CopyandEdit > Pastethis frame repeatedly and manipulate

Introduce a horizontal line using theLine Tool (\), setting theTypetoDottedand

5.Annotate a Simple Map Graphic

For a pop-out, 3D effect, add a drop shadow by checking theDrop Shadowbox in

And there you have it! Great work!

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