¶ Adding Images and Shapes: Enhancing Story Aesthetics in SAP Analytics Cloud
In SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC), the power of data visualization goes beyond charts and tables. To truly engage users and communicate insights effectively, the overall look and feel of a Story must be visually appealing and professionally designed. One of the key ways to enhance the aesthetics of your SAC Stories is through the strategic use of images and shapes.
This article explores how adding images and shapes can elevate your SAC Stories, improve user engagement, and make your analytical narratives more impactful.
Visual appeal plays a crucial role in how users perceive and interact with data. Well-designed Stories capture attention, improve readability, and help convey messages more clearly. Adding images and shapes contributes to:
- Creating a visually balanced layout
- Guiding the viewer’s eye to important content
- Reinforcing branding and corporate identity
- Highlighting key sections or insights within the Story
Images can serve multiple purposes in SAC Stories, from branding to contextual illustration:
- Corporate Logos: Include company logos to maintain brand consistency across all reports and dashboards.
- Background Images: Subtle backgrounds can improve visual appeal but should be used sparingly to avoid distraction.
- Icons and Illustrations: Use icons to represent concepts visually or to decorate sections, making them more intuitive.
- Screenshots or Photos: Enhance explanations or show real-world examples relevant to the data.
- Open your Story in edit mode.
- Click on the + (Add) icon in the toolbar.
- Select Image from the options.
- Upload an image file (supported formats include PNG, JPG, GIF).
- Resize and position the image on the canvas as needed.
¶ Using Shapes to Organize and Emphasize
Shapes such as rectangles, circles, lines, and arrows are versatile tools to organize content and emphasize key data points.
- Separators and Dividers: Use lines or rectangles to visually separate different sections or topics.
- Highlighting: Draw attention to specific numbers, charts, or insights with colored shapes or borders.
- Background Panels: Place shapes behind text or visuals to improve contrast and readability.
- Directional Flow: Arrows can indicate trends, processes, or steps within a narrative.
¶ How to Add and Customize Shapes in SAC:
- In Story edit mode, click the + (Add) button.
- Select Shape and choose from available options (rectangle, circle, triangle, line, arrow).
- Drag the shape onto the canvas.
- Customize the color, transparency, border style, and size through the properties panel.
- Layer shapes with other elements for a professional look by right-clicking and using options like “Bring to Front” or “Send to Back.”
¶ Best Practices for Using Images and Shapes in Stories
- Keep it Clean: Avoid clutter. Use images and shapes purposefully to enhance—not overwhelm—the story.
- Maintain Consistency: Use a consistent color palette and style aligned with your company branding.
- Optimize Image Size: Large images can slow down Story performance; resize images appropriately before upload.
- Accessibility: Ensure text placed over shapes or images has sufficient contrast for readability.
- Test Responsiveness: Verify that images and shapes display well across different devices and screen sizes.
Imagine a sales performance Story where the quarterly sales chart is accompanied by:
- A corporate logo at the top left for branding.
- A subtle gradient background image related to the sales region.
- Rectangular panels behind key KPIs for emphasis.
- Arrows pointing to growth trends in charts to highlight positive momentum.
Such thoughtful use of images and shapes makes the Story more engaging and easier to understand, boosting its impact on stakeholders.
Adding images and shapes in SAP Analytics Cloud Stories is a simple yet powerful way to enhance visual appeal and user engagement. By combining well-designed visuals with rich data insights, you can create Stories that not only inform but also inspire action.
Taking the extra step to polish your SAC Stories with images and shapes ensures that your analytics deliver maximum value and resonate strongly with your audience.