They can show exploded views, focusing attention on smaller parts of a larger assembly. Graphs depict the relationship of two or more variables and show how those variables change. They also permit comparisons and show trends. Maps show topographical relationships and indicate scale and distance. Photographs convey realism and show readers exactly what something looks like.
Tables permit quick comparisons of data by displaying information in rows and columns.
The many forms of visuals that are available give us a broad range of alternatives for transforming our ideas and data into meaningful visual representations. Visuals should be oriented horizontally and appropriately sized and formatted. Visuals should be oriented in similar fashion to the text in our document. The size and format of our visuals will depend upon the information we are presenting and the type of visual that has been selected. For example, a table with twice as many columns as rows requires a format with more width than height, e.g., half-page format or a foldout.