A study investigated the effects of chartoons--cartoon-like informational graphics--and three-dimensional graphs on the attractiveness of graphs and on the information gain from graphs. Subjects, 86 students from a mass communication course at the University of Texas, were randomly assigned to two experimental groups, each of which was shown a set of six graphs. The sets were counterbalanced so that if one group saw a particular graph in the chartoon version, the other group saw it in the plain version. Likewise, if one group saw a particular graph in the three-dimensional version, the other group saw it in the plain version. Subjects rated each graph on five semantic differential-type scales indicating interest and appeal of the graph, and answered 18 multiple choice questions based on information presented in the graphs. Results showed that both chartoons and three-dimensional graphs were found to be more appealing than plain graphs. This finding held up more strongly for chartoons than for three-dimensional graphs, with only two of the three-dimensional graphs rated as more appealing than their counterparts. Findings also indicated that chartoons and three-dimensional graphs led to an equal amount of information retention as plain graphs. Finally, findings did not indicate a positive correlation between readership of "USA Today" and information gain. (Five tables, 12 figures, and 13 notes are attached.) (ARH)