Illustrator isn’t just for creating images and vector graphics, it can also create graphics. Graphics in Illustrator can be used for presentations and infographics. You can make adjustments to the graphics to make them look more attractive. Learn how to create 3D popup pie charts in Illustrator to make your pie charts even more attractive.
Exploding pie charts add interest to your presentation or infographic. There are two ways to add interest to your pie chart. Infographics and presentations need to look interesting to keep the audience interested.
How to Create a 3D Exploded Pie Chart in Illustrator
We’ll show you the regular 3D Exploding Pie Chart and then add another element to make the Pie Chart 3D Exploding better. The steps involved are:
- Open and prepare Illustrator
- Create the pie chart
- Add the data to the pie chart
- Change the color
- move slices apart
- Add 3D extrusion effect
- Edit chart data
1]Open and prepare Illustrator
Open Illustrator by clicking the icon.
When the New Document Options window appears, choose the options you want for the document, and then press OK to create the document. With the blank document created, it’s time to create the pie chart.
2]Create the pie chart
This is where you will create the pie chart. The created pie chart will be flat so you will need to follow the article to see how to convert it to a 3D pie chart.
To create the pie chart, go to the tools panel on the left and click the Pie Chart tool. If the Pie Chart tool isn’t showing, touch and hold any pie that’s on top to bring up the menu. There you will see a list of all the charts, click on the pie chart to select it.
With the Pie Chart tool selected, click on the canvas and drag to create the chart. The pie chart will be created with the table for the data. Since there is only one piece of data in the table, the pie chart will just be one big undivided pie.
You can also create the pie chart by clicking the Pie Chart tool and then clicking on the canvas. You will see a window appear for you to enter the width and height values of the pie chart. When you enter the values press OK to create the pie chart.
3]Add the data to the pie chart
With the blank pie chart created, it’s time to add the data. You would add the data to the table and it will be reflected in the pie chart.
Add the words for the legend that will represent each slice of the pie chart. Add the words to the first row. Then add the corresponding numbers under each word in the second row.
When you have finished entering the data, click the button Apply (check) to place the data on the pie chart. You’ll see the data and legend appear on the pie chart. You will notice that the pie chart is flat and all in one. The next step is to make it #d and look like it’s exploited.
4]Change the color of the pie chart
Before adding the other effects, you need to change the color of the pie chart. To change the color of the pie chart, click the direct selection in the left tool panel and select each item you want to change. When the item is selected, click the color swatch to add the color.
You can change the color of the words or leave them as they are. If you decide to change the color of the words, you would use the same direct selection tool to select each or all words. If you choose to make each one a different color, you would use the Direction tool to select each one and then choose the color. If you want all the words to have the same color, click the direct selection then drag all the words and select them. When the words are selected, choose the color you want.
5]Separate the cuts
Now that the pie chart is done and color has been added to it, it’s time for the explosion effect. To make the circular slices appear to explode, use the Direct Selection tool to move each slice away from the rest. Move at a distance that you are comfortable with.
To make the pieces zoom out more precisely, click each one with the Direct Selection Tool, and then use the arrow keys on your keyboard to move the pieces in the direction you want.
6]Add 3D extrusion effect
This is where you will add the 3D effect to the pie chart. You’ll click the Direct Selection tool, and then drag the pie chart excluding the legend and words. If you want, you can also add the 3D effect to the caption and words. However, in this article, the 3D effect will be added to the legend’s pastel and color swatches.
With the parts of the chart you want to convert to 3D selected, go to the top menu bar and click Effect so 3D so Extrude and bevelI
The 3D extrude and bevel options will appear for you to make the selections you want for the 3D pie chart. Check the Preview option to see the live changes that occur in the pie chart as you select the options. when Preview is checked, you will immediately see the changes in the pie chart.
You can adjust the 3D square you see and that will change the 3D angle of the pie chart. Just hold the 3D square and adjust it to the angle you want.
You can see more options for the 3D Extrude by clicking More Options and you will see the window expand to show more options.
This is what the pie chart looks like when you’re done. You’ll see the words blend in with the colors in the legend because the 3D changes the angle so they lean towards the words. You can change that by using the direct selection tool to select the word and zoom out. To ensure that words are the same distance apart, use a certain number of directional key taps for each one so that they are evenly spaced from the legend colors.
This is what the pie chart looks like with the words evenly spaced.
Now that the explosion graphic is complete, you can modify any aspect of it to fit your project. If you need to edit the data to change the chart, you can easily do so. To change the data, right-click the chart, and when the menu appears, click Data. When you click on Data, you will see the data table for the graph. You can change the words and numbers or both. When you have made your edits or added new data, press Apply (check) to see the changes in the graph. It then closes the data window to show the chart alone.
You will notice that the pie chart returns to being flat after you have applied the new data. Also, the new slice added to the cake returns to the basic color. You can use the direct selection tool to select this slice and change the color.
To get it back to 3D, just follow the steps in point six (6). You should make it back to 3D. To avoid having to do all of that again, make sure you have all the data you need and enter it before making the 3D chart.
When the chart is created, you can make it look more interesting by adding gradients instead of color. You can add other effects to make it stand out and attract viewers. You can also add a header to it to let the viewer know what the chart is about. Keep exploring the options available to make your pie chart look interesting.
This is the exploding pie chart with a header and background image.
7]Edit the chart data
To edit the data so that it is reflected in a pie chart that has already been created, right-click the pie chart, and then select Data. The date window will appear for you to enter new data or edit the previously entered data. When you have finished entering new data or editing old data, press the Apply (check) button to update the pie chart.
Edit the words in the legend without entering the data window
You can edit the words in the legend without entering data mode. Just go to the word you want to change, then double click on it and you can edit the word. The change to the word will not be reflected in the data window if you must go to data mode after editing the word.
Read: How to Make a Rotating 3D Globe Animation With Illustrator and Photoshop
How do you make a 3D graphic in Illustrator?
Making a 3D graphic in Illustrator is pretty easy to do and remember, and the steps are listed below.
- Create the graph and add the data.
- Select the graphic but not the words (if you don’t want the words to be 3D)
- Go to the top menu bar and click on effects so 3D so Extrude and bevel
- The 3D Extrude and Bevel Options window will appear
- Check the Preview option to activate it so that you can see the changes in the graph as you make changes in the options window.
- Make any necessary adjustments in the 3D Extrude and Bevel Options window, then press OK to apply the changes. The graph will now be 3D.
How do you change a pie chart to a 3D pie chart?
- Create the pie chart by clicking the Pie Chart tool and drawing it on the canvas. Add the data in the data window and apply the changes to the chart.
- With the pie chart created, select the pie chart elements.
- Go to the top menu bar and click on effects so 3D so Extrude and bevel
- The 3D Extrude and Bevel Options window will appear
- Check the Preview option to activate it so that you can see the changes in the graph as you make changes in the options window.
- Make any necessary adjustments in the 3D Extrude and Bevel Options window, then press OK to apply the changes. The graph will now be 3D.
