Infographics - a technique that has recently become increasingly popular. If the text lacks visibility, a chart or infographic will help. How to make images using this method of transmitting information? You will find the answer to this and other questions by reading the article. So how to learn how to make infographics?
The concept
Infographics are a great way to present information. Especially for modern users who are very reluctant to spend their time reading bulky texts, but they perceive graphic media well. Saving time and effort of the reader - all this allows you to achieve infographics. In which program to do it, we will tell a little below.
Infographics are easier and faster to perceive, easier to share, easy to create. In addition, according to statistics, more users pay attention to information in the form of a picture . A nice bonus is that creating infographics is not so complicated. If desired, it can be mastered without a significant investment of time.
Tips for Beginners
Creating infographics is a simple matter, but if you are a novice user who has never before been involved in the compilation of such things, you will find the following tips useful. So, what is the principle of a method like infographics? How to make clear and informative pictures?
Step 1. Decide what exactly you want to convey to the reader, and what goal you are pursuing. Highlighting the fundamental moments in all information - this is infographics. Templates or picture frames will be based on this.
Step 2. Next, the flow of information should be simplified as much as possible. If the data array is too large, divide it into sections, each of which supplement with a separate image or graph.
Step 3. The simplest presentation of information is infographics. How to make it visual? Choose the best visualization format for each resulting data array. The differences between them will only help consolidate the information presented by readers. In addition, infographics, the templates of which are provided on online resources in great abundance, are better remembered if its color scheme is correctly selected.
Step 4. When compiling infographics, always indicate the sources of data, as well as your authorship. It is important to note that there are no limits for creativity and a framework for imagination, but it is better to study what types of infographics exist, which we will do.
Infographic Types
So, all infographics are divided into 4 types.
Infographic instruction. Using this type, you can display a sequence of actions to explain a process or to teach something. To outline the entire array of information help symbolic schemes or graphics. In any kind of instructions, this type is used quite widely.
Dynamic infographics. This view is intended to reflect the dynamics of a process or development. Most often it is used to visualize social or economic indicators.
Static infographics. How to make numerical data and scientific facts clear, as well as their relationship to each other? Compose a static infographic. As a rule, they have the form of graphs, charts, diagrams and other simple forms.
Video infographics. It is one of the latest modern trends in the direction of infographics, which helps to visually present complex multi-level information to the viewer. It can combine almost all the variety of data visualization directions, fixing them in the human mind due to their reading. As a rule, about 80% of information is remembered from the first viewing. This type of infographic is one of the most effective in terms of perception and understanding by the viewer.
It should be noted that quite often several types of it can be intertwined in infographics. And how to make infographics readable?
The basic rules of readable infographics
- It is imperative that large, solid, and plain elements predominate in infographics.
- It is better to avoid elements that do not carry any information, but serve only for decoration - they can lead the reader astray.
- The picture should have an “anchor” - this is such an element of infographic that will make it visible and understandable.
- It is better to limit your palette, as the variety of colors will confuse the reader and prevent the eye from focusing on any one element.
So, now it is time to consider the main online resources with which you can create competent infographics without any special knowledge in this area.
Service No. 1 - easel.ly
This service is designed to simplify the creation of infographics using ready-made templates. It works on the principle of “drag and drop”: you drag blocks of information into the working field, giving them the necessary shape and size with the cursor. The only “but” - information will not be displayed in the form of graphs and charts, the user will need to enter deliberately structured data.
In addition, you can add your own images, photos, icons and more. Each of the website templates is nothing more than a starting point in your project. All elements of future infographics - that the background, that the graph, that the information block - are interchangeable. Which project can be saved in a convenient format - JPEG and PDF. Registration on the service is optional.
Service No. 2 - infogr.am
This service is one of the most user-friendly. Not without reason, its name resembles the notorious Instagram brand: the creators of the site proceeded from the idea of a simplified interface.
In order to create infographics on this service, you must either go through the quick registration procedure, or log in using your profile on Twitter or Facebook. Next, you need to choose one of the six templates offered by the service.
Even despite the fact that the interface of this resource is English-speaking, even a beginner will be able to understand the algorithm of actions. In the process of creating infographics, you can add the necessary photos, videos, charts and diagrams to the already prepared template. You will need to edit the data in a table that resembles an Excel document in structure. For it to appear, double-click in the graph field.