6 tools to make infographics
We show you a selection of six handy tools to create infographics.
Available in:
By Sasha Muñoz Vergara. Published July 19, 2021
A journalistic infographic is a resource that delivers information through images, whether photos, drawings, diagrams, or maps. Usually, the color patterns, the font, and the clarity of the concepts to be represented are given relevance. However, the objective is to explain something more complex simply and visually.
Although infographics came from fine arts and graphic design, it is now common for journalists to use this discipline to tell stories better or illustrate what otherwise would not be understood.
In the book, El arte funcional: Infografía y visualización de información (ES) by Alberto Cairo, it is made clear that the infographer must be specialized in design but considers the journalistic dimension of it essential, above the artistic facet, while other infographers believe that there must be a balance between information and plan for the complete understanding of a news story.
Check out this infographic by Datasketch on sexual violence in armed conflict.
Datasketch offers you the following tools to create your infographics.
1. Infogram
It is an intuitive visualization tool. It allows you to start from scratch or from a template you have liked. You can adjust objects to zoom, bounce, rotate, fade and slide effortlessly in your work. In addition, Infogram has infographics that allow for more interactivity with tooltips, tabs, clickable captions, links, and more.
To access, you must register with your Gmail account here. After that, you can get the free plan, and if you like the tool, you can pay for the Premium plan.
If you find this application interesting, you can watch all the video tutorials for beginners on their youtube channel.
2. Adioma
It is a tool specialized in infographics with templates designed to explain, educate and present information in an understandable and comprehensible way. It has a one-week free trial and a video tutorial for beginners that you can watch here. In addition, it contains icons, color palettes, and ready-to-use designs, so the user only has to include his information.
In this link, you can see examples of what other people have created.
3. Piktochart
This tool has a database of expertly designed templates and a free library of charts, design components, and icons. For example, suppose you need to include interactive maps to your infographic to highlight your main points. In that case, you can link an Excel or Google Sheets file to create charts that automatically update when your data does quickly.
When you register, you can sign up for a webinar to learn how to use this tool.
See examples here. You can search them according to your area of interest.
4. Visually
This collaborative platform allows you to work on a specific project with experts according to your objectives, audience, and infographic purpose. First, you must fill out a form, and then a Visually representative will contact you, quote, and deliver the whole idea so that your infographic expresses what you need.
Check this example of the Huffington Post for CVS. Check out more samples here.
5. Easelly
It is an interactive and easy-to-use tool. It allows you to get advice from professional designers and access a complete base of more than ten thousand templates to choose from to create your infographics. In addition, you can download your products without a watermark. To use it, you must register with one of your email addresses.
It also has courses to create infographics from scratch.
See some examples here https://www.easel.ly.
6. Visual Loop
It is a data visualization platform. It includes information design, cartography, and visual journalism.
Its differential characteristic is that It is a social network. In it, you could find designers, cartographers, and journalists who share resources, infographics, visualizations, portfolios, and other inspirations. Moreover, areas of interest are discussed among professionals and students through interviews and guest posts.
You can search for examples here and filter the infographics according to your area of interest.
Or search among recognized designers and media that can guide the creation of your infographic.
Some other tools to improve your journalistic pieces are available at Datasketch.