How to Use Color to Depict Gradient Changes?

[JohnL]

Hi everyone

I’m trying to re-design a gradient diagram for our transportation services. Rather than depicting the hill gradients in terms of ratio (eg 1:56, 1:57, 1:108, as depicted here), I want to use color on the hill profile. As an example, the steep part of the hill - 1:56 and 1:57 - might be dark red, while the shallow part would be light red, and the level part perhaps green. It would let us get rid of the clutter of numbers.

Does anyone have suggestions for the best way to go about doing this? I’m particularly keen to check out examples used elsewhere for a similar purpose. I’m also very open to suggestions for other ways of approaching the issue.

Thanks! John

[PrintDriver]

Apply a gradient to a stroke in Illustrator. Apply colors to the gradient bar in the interface palette as needed and fiddle with the location arrows until you have them where you want.
Or use line segments.

[JohnL]

Thank you. I see that Illustrator can integrate Excel data, which is a great start. I’ll find someone to tackle it rather than attempt to master Illustrator from scratch.