When to use

At a glance

ComfortableCompact

Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.

Clarity74

Persuasion90

Density40

Craft cost42

School fit78

Work fit88

LessMore

Color systems encodes values as hue, value and chroma mapped to category or magnitude. Munsell 1905; Brewer palettes (1994–) for maps; OKLCH in modern CSS.

In reports, ads and assignments it fits legends, brand systems, accessible data color. Skip it when rainbow defaults, or encoding two quantities in one hue.

Use when

• Use when 1 — Use Color systems when the story is legends, brand systems, accessible data color.
• Use when 2 — Build the first draft in Excel or Google Sheets, then restyle — do not screenshot.
• Use when 3 — In PowerPoint, one Color systems per slide, claim in the title.
• Use when 4 — For lab reports and poster boards, this form works when the question is comparison or process.
• Use when 5 — In Meta, Google and retail print, keep one number visible at thumbnail size.

Avoid when

• Avoid when 1 — Skip Color systems in cases like: rainbow defaults, or encoding two quantities in one hue.
• Avoid when 2 — 3-D, dual axes, rainbow scales
• Avoid when 3 — Undated numbers, undated time series
• Avoid when 4 — Four charts on one slide

Audiences

• Work — PowerPoint
• Ads — Meta, Google and retail print
• School — lab reports and poster boards

Color systems: honour hue, value and chroma mapped to category or magnitude, and switch when rainbow defaults, or encoding two quantities in one hue.

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