Audit a chart for non-data ink and remove the marks that compete with the data.
Data-ink is an attention budget. A chart becomes clearer when more of its visible weight is spent on data and less is spent on decoration. What counts as useful ink Useful ink does one of three jobs. It carries the values themselves. It helps the reader orient, such as a restrained axis or a direct label. Or it highlights a meaningful comparison, such as one reference line or one accent color on the series that matters. What usually becomes chartjunk The common offenders are not evil because they are ugly. They are harmful because they demand inspection without improving interpretation:…
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