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Colour in Graphics and Visualisation

Using colour on VDU displays for Using colour on VDU displays for graphical presentationsgraphical presentations

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Colour in Graphics and Visualisation

• ChartsCharts– line-graphicsline-graphics– Emphasising graphicsEmphasising graphics– ““3D” representations3D” representations– Bar-chartsBar-charts– Pie-chartsPie-charts

• Line and block drawingsLine and block drawings• VisualisationsVisualisations

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Two-dimensional charts

• Neutral background is preferred:Neutral background is preferred:– Lines will keep their colour Lines will keep their colour – Coloured background might confuse line Coloured background might confuse line

shapesshapes

• Use neutrals (black or white) for axesUse neutrals (black or white) for axes• Synchronise labelling and colour useSynchronise labelling and colour use• Design colour scheme for importanceDesign colour scheme for importance

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A/ Be careful in selecting colour;B/ Using secondary cues;C/Application depending colour schemeD/ Overlapping fields

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Colour in Bar- and Pie Charts

• Do not overdo!Do not overdo!• Associate to subject matterAssociate to subject matter• Use neutral or pale background coloursUse neutral or pale background colours• Use vivid colours only to emphasis Use vivid colours only to emphasis

most important subjectsmost important subjects• Use labels for better understandingUse labels for better understanding• Get it right in black and whiteGet it right in black and white

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Example of bad choice of colours

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Simple solution of coloured bar-chart

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Separating data with colour

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Pie-charts

• Separate slices with colourSeparate slices with colourItem 111% Item 2

7%

Item 322%

Item 49%

Item529%

Item 622%

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Colour in line and block drawigns

• Use colour sparingly where it has Use colour sparingly where it has specific function in relation to the dataspecific function in relation to the data

• Use colour forUse colour for– separationseparation– identificationidentification– emphasisemphasis

• Decide why to use colourDecide why to use colour

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Coloured block diagram: Bad example

• Over-colouredOver-coloured• Red power supply Red power supply

over-emphasisesover-emphasises• Too thin linesToo thin lines• Coloured Coloured

background - bad background - bad readabilityreadability

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Coloured block diagram:Good example

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Visualisation

• Visualise: to call up a clear visual imageVisualise: to call up a clear visual image– Raw numeric data translated into a spatial Raw numeric data translated into a spatial

or spatio-temporal patteror spatio-temporal patter– animationanimation– virtual “three-dimensional” imagesvirtual “three-dimensional” images

• Visualise forVisualise for– exploring dataexploring data– communicate resultscommunicate results

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Exploratory visualisation

• Try to understand the data by Try to understand the data by visualisationvisualisation– Experiment with different colouring Experiment with different colouring

schemesschemes– Be careful, do not let yourself misled by Be careful, do not let yourself misled by

by colour effectby colour effect

• If used for video or animation check If used for video or animation check for artefactsfor artefacts

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Colour scales for visualisation

• A sequence of data can be visualised A sequence of data can be visualised by a sequence of coloursby a sequence of colours– Rainbow Rainbow – Colour bar set of computerColour bar set of computer– Saturation scaleSaturation scale– Temperature scaleTemperature scale– Hot/Cold scaleHot/Cold scale– Geographic scaleGeographic scale

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Colour scales - 1

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Temperature and geogr. scales

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Temperature scale: over-coloured slide

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Hot/Cold pseudo colour scale

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Maps and contoured data

• Use overall neutral backgroundUse overall neutral background• Use desaturated colours for specific Use desaturated colours for specific

areasareas• Try to relate colours to data (woods, Try to relate colours to data (woods,

water, etc.)water, etc.)• Saturated colours: only small items, Saturated colours: only small items,

for emphasis (to find an item)for emphasis (to find an item)

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Geographic coloration

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False coloration

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Map with information in 3rd dimension

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Pseudo-colouring in an animated simulation

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3-D visualisation

Molecular structure model with highlights to emphasise spherical shapes

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Designing a kitchen

Main points of the design:

- Selecting items,- layout,- colouring from a palette (size effect!).

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Virtual Reality Displays

• Visual, auditory, etc. sensory inputsVisual, auditory, etc. sensory inputs• Helmet for stereoscopic imagesHelmet for stereoscopic images

– head motion detectedhead motion detected– stereo soundstereo sound– tactile gloves - clothingtactile gloves - clothing

• Simulated realitiesSimulated realities– colours stronger in virtual reality presentation colours stronger in virtual reality presentation

then on monitor screenthen on monitor screen

• Imagined realitiesImagined realities– psychological impact!psychological impact!

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Virtual reality displays

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