You also must consider the interval between the quantities of the data
you must plot on a chart when designing the chart's scale.
If the
quantities you must use have a small interval between them, the chart's
scale also must have small intervals with a large amount of space
allocated for the individual units. Again, if you use a scale that is
not properly designed, the chart will not give the correct interpretation
of the data.
Here, using a large scale with small increments of the
individual units misrepresents the data by compressing the difference
between the values and creates a problem when the reader tries to assign
a value to the plotted data. Additionally, you will find it difficult to
plot the data on the chart using a scale designed in this manner.
For example, you must construct a chart with the following values: A
equals 10 units, B equals 7 units, C equals 9 units and D equals 13
units. After reviewing the data you must plot, the best scale to use has
major increments of 5, with the major increments broken into individual
units of 1. Figure 1-6 used this scale and has the values plotted. Pay
particular attention to the size of the individual increments of the
scale. The size of the individual increments allows the reader to assign
values to the data presented readily and allow you, as the illustrator,
to plot the data easily.
Figure 1-6.
Small scale with large intervals
1-15
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