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Pie charts are used frequently in business presentations because they quickly show how a pie is divided into pieces. It might seem easy to make a pie chart, but some simple rules are easy to forget when making charts with a pie chart maker.
These tips will help your pie chart examples look professional and be effective at conveying information.
Tip #1: Don’t let the size of your pie graph segments dominate your chart.
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Make sure the slices do not overlap each other, which makes them difficult to read. Use contrasting colors for different segments, so it’s easy to tell each pie slice apart from the others on the chart. This also helps if you have many small pieces that make up one large piece on a pie chart. Or even use different pie charts for other pie slices.
Tip #2: Use a pie chart maker that allows you to add text to your chart.
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You can then label each pie slice with a number, letter, or name, so it’s clear what each pie segment represents. For example, if you show the amount of money in and out of a company in one chart and another pie chart shows different income streams for the same company. Label them clearly, so viewers don’t have to think about what they mean when presenting the pie charts in a business meeting.
Making curved lines on your pie segments makes them look more appealing than angular lines. Curved lines mimic actual shapes such as circles or ovals instead of looking like angles or triangles when straight lines are used on pie charts.
If you have a pie chart maker like Venngage that allows pie charts to rotate, then set your chart to have a horizontal orientation by default. This makes pie charts less biased towards those who prefer visualizing data from left to right instead of top to bottom. In other words, it’s more difficult for viewers of pie charts if they have to step out of their preferred way of viewing things and into another perspective when pie charts are not oriented correctly.
If you make pie charts vertically rather than horizontally, make sure there is a title at the top of the pie chart so someone reading your pie chart doesn’t assume it is about something else entirely different.
Tip #3: Don’t place text or numbers inside each slice when making a pie chart.
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If you place numbers inside pie segments, pie charts are harder to read because pie slices overlap. It is best if pie charts are kept simple by using small visuals or pie charts within pie charts that show additional information instead of placing text or numbers on each slice of a pie chart.
Tip #4: Use color for pie slices in creating a pie chart.
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When making your own pie chart, use yellow for one pie segment and blue for the other, so they don’t clash and become difficult to tell apart on a busy-looking pie chart. Choose contrasting colors so viewers won’t have trouble telling the difference between them when you’re presenting them in business meetings. Pie charts can be very effective at conveying information if they are made correctly. Using pie chart makers online like Venngage will make pie charts easy to create and share with others, too.
Tip #5: Keep it simple when making a pie graph.
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Use pie charts with pie pieces that show only one or two segments so viewers of your pie chart won’t get confused by complicated pie-chart visuals. Make sure each piece on a pie chart is labeled correctly, and the colors contrast sufficiently to make them easier to read. Don’t be afraid to include basic shapes such as triangles and squares within pie charts because this can add an exciting element if done correctly.
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Tip #6: Label each slice properly in the round chart
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Avoid putting text or numbers inside each slice unless it helps explain the number’s purpose within your overall pie chart. Keep pie charts simple by including only a few pie slices within pie charts unless additional pie slices enhance the pie-chart comprehension of your data. If you use a pie chart maker like Venngage, make sure it displays pie pieces horizontally instead of vertically so that viewers don’t have to step out of their preferred way of viewing pie charts from left to right and from top to bottom. Use contrasting colors for pie slices, so they are easier to read on busy-looking pie charts, too.
If possible, label each slice with a small visual or add extra pie charts on the inside of one larger pie even while making your own pie chart in PowerPoint or Excel. This gives people who view your graphic more information about what pie slices your pie pie-chart represents. If pie pieces are accessible to viewers of your pie chart, then pie charts will be easier to understand at a glance.
These tips will help you make more effective pie charts that communicate your data more effectively and don’t lead viewers on the wrong path as some pie charts do. With this information, you should now have an easier time making amazing pie charts. Head on to Venngage right now!