Process diagrams in Adobe Illustrator

May 9, 2013 11:28 AM

I need to draw some process diagrams in Adobe Illustrator, and my Google-fu is failing me! I need to have a circular flow to the main part of the diagram, with a couple of additional arrows (think something like these diagrams: one, two, three). There must be a simple way to do this!

I can draw lines between the nodes manually, but I can't figure out how to make them follow a consistent, circular path. I also can't figure out how to place the nodes at points equidistant around the main circular cycle. This has to be stupidly easy, but I just can't find the commands I need.

posted by philosophygeek to Computers & Internet (5 answers total)

There is no real circular arc tool in Illustrator, rather, you're using bezier curves. The way I'd do it is to draw a circle using the ellipse tool and cut it up, tacking on the arrow points to the chopped up circle.
posted by xingcat at 11:43 AM on May 9, 2013

Oh man. I've done these diagrams a lot and I could whip this out for you in no time, but to explain how...I don't have enough pixels. Illustrator has arrow brushes that can help you get what you want.
posted by Thorzdad at 11:52 AM on May 9, 2013

Response by poster: xingcat - I'm sorry to be stupid, but how do I chop up the circle?
posted by philosophygeek at 12:21 PM on May 9, 2013

You could cut it with the scissors tool...that's the easiest way.
posted by xingcat at 12:25 PM on May 9, 2013

There are many ways to chop-up a circle. If you need exact quarters, you can use the direct-selection tool (the "hollow" arrow) and select the path between two points (of the four points in a stock circle) and copy/paste. Tah-dah! An arc of one-quarter of the circle.

Additionally, you can add points to the circle (using the arrow+ tool) to mark-off the exact portion of the arc you need, and do the same copy/paste.
posted by Thorzdad at 7:22 AM on May 12, 2013