Data Ink and Chart Junk

Learn about data ink and chart junk!

data ink/ pixels

ink used to represent the data, changes if the data changes

data ink ratio

data ink / total ink used for the visualisation

proportion of the visualisation that can be erased without loss of data driven information

1 - data ink ratio

general data ink ratio rule 1 (within reason)

maximise the data ink ratio

general data ink ratio rule 2 (within reason)

erase non data ink

general data ink ratio rule 3 (within reason)

erase redundant data ink

chart junk definition

visual embellishments not essentially necessary to understand the data

chart junk examples

excessive gridlines and labelling, unnecessary 3d effects

chart junk effects

no difference in accuracy of interpretation, better long term recall