Expert: Amy - 5/25/2007

Question
QUESTION: I am trying to use a customized column graph design in Illustrator CS2 in a PC. I
can use the custom designs that Illustrator has, but I want to bring in another
graphic. I've tried bringing it in as a jpg and a gif. I draw a box, place the
graphic inside it, then go to Object, Graph, Design, New Design but I get this
error message: Graph designs cannot contain images or effects that create
images. What am I doing wrong? Thanks!

ANSWER: Hi Melinda.

I am "out of the office" for the Memorial Day weekend but I will look at this and see what I can find for you on Tuesday morning.

You want the bars to be a custom shape/object if I am understanding you correctly.

-Amy



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Right. For instance, I want to use a repeating image of a gas pump as the  
graphic that shows in a column chart. So to illustrate more gas use, there
might be five gas pumps stacked up next to a column with three gas pumps
to show less gas use.
I think the piece that I'm missing is how do I convert a graphic so that
Illustrator does not consider it an "image".  I also have Photoshop if I need to
take it into there. Thanks.

Answer
Without being able to access my copy of CS2 (work), I'm going to guess that you need to use an Illustrator object as the gas pump "icon."

Why don't you try using Illustrator's Live Trace on the gas pump image, which will create a vector object of the gas pump.

Then delete the gif and try creating the custom graph using the new vector object.

I'm pretty sure this will work but before you go through the trouble of using Live Trace, create a little Illustrator shape using the pencil tool and see if you can create a custom graph using that little shape.

Once I get to work on Tues, I'll see what else I can come up with.

-Amy