14. Using Color

Color can both help and hurt a data visualization. Three tips for using color effectively.

1. Before adding color to a visualization, start with black and white.
   
   
2. When using color, use less intense colors - not all the colors of the rainbow, which is the default in many software applications.
   
   
3. Color for communication. Use color to highlight your message and separate groups of interest. Don't add color just to have color in your visualization.