Colour

Colour can play a major role in visualisation and therefore it is important to understand how colour may facilitate as well as hinder effective data communication.

In visual communication, colour is a powerful conveyor of information, and colours of different hues, values and saturations can play a major role in the visualisation of data. The same applies to the absence of colour, whether or not that absence was preceded by a conscious choice.

Keep in mind that colour is not always necessary for an effective visualisation. Always ask yourself why you want to use colour, preferably early in the visualisation process. 

If and when you use colour as part of your visualisation process, you will have a few key decisions to make. While there is no right or wrong and no definitive rules to follow, keeping a few principles in mind might be helpful.

Learn more

By going through the module about colour in the University Library's open course on visualisation you will learn more about:

  • how colour can facilitate and hinder effective data communication
  • how colour might be used in exploratory and explanatory visualisations
  • aspects and principles to consider when using colour (i.e. established practices, physical conditions, cultural significance and aesthetics)
  • common colour accessibility issues, and tools that can help you evaluate and improve your colour palette.
Self-paced course on visualisation
Self-paced course on visualisation
Screenshot of Canvas startpage for the open course Visualise your data.

Self-paced course on visualisation

The University Library’s free, open online course on research data visualisation provides you with a basic introduction to the field. Through case studies and practical exercises, you will learn to graphically represent and communicate data in an effective and accessible way.

Explanation of terms

  • Colour is the specified colour, such as redyellow or green.

  • Value is the lightness of the specified colour, such as light green or dark green.

  • Saturation describes the clarity of the specified colour and how close the colour is to a grey of the same value.

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Last updated: 2024-09-09