Use clearer colors in the "Consumed bandwidth by Exit/Guard flag combination" graph

https://metrics.torproject.org/bwhist-flags.html

You see the three blue-or-sort-of-blue lines? Which one is which in the graph?

There are other colors in the world besides blue-or-sort-of-blue, and we should consider using some of them. :)

added component::metrics/website metrics-2018 owner::metrics-team priority::low resolution::wontfix severity::normal status::closed type::enhancement ux-team labels

Trac:
Cc: N/A to karsten

I chose these colors, because they're distinguishable for both color-blind and non-color-blind people. Are the two blues really that hard to distinguish?

It's light blue, dark blue, and dark Aqua here. Please try it on other screens, please.

Trac:
Priority: normal to minor

It's really difficult to find distinguishable colors for the colorblind. The ColorBrewer site only lists 1 set with 4 data classes for qualitative colors that is colorblind safe. I'm attaching a graph with those colors, but I'm not convinced that those colors are much better. Setting to needs_information. Suggestions welcome, four hex numbers of better colors even more so!

Trac:
Description: https://metrics.torproject.org/network.html#bwhist-flags

You see the three blue-or-sort-of-blue lines? Which one is which in the graph?

There are other colors in the world besides blue-or-sort-of-blue, and we should consider using some of them. :)

to

https://metrics.torproject.org/bwhist-flags.html

You see the three blue-or-sort-of-blue lines? Which one is which in the graph?

There are other colors in the world besides blue-or-sort-of-blue, and we should consider using some of them. :)
Severity: N/A to Normal
Status: new to needs_information
Sponsor: N/A to N/A
Reviewer: N/A to N/A

Trac:

Trac:
Summary: Need clearer colors on the metrics graphs to Use clearer colors in the "Consumed bandwidth by Exit/Guard flag combination" graph
Type: defect to enhancement

Trac:
Keywords: N/A deleted, ux-team added

Related to applying Tor Style guide (cf. #23383 (moved)). CC-ing Linda: Maybe, there are already well functioning color scales defined in the style guide, which could be useful here?

Trac:
Cc: karsten to karsten, linda

iwakeh:

Our style guide currently has color scales defined for graphing information.

I suggest using colors that are picked by your visualization tool for now. As long as someone isn't hand-picking the colors and we're okay with it not looking tor-tastic, it's okay with me. Graphing libraries generally choose colors that make sense and are easily distinguishable, because that's something that they need to be good at.

We'll definitely work on choosing colors, like OONI did, and add more to the style guide with time.

For additional clarity: I am not a color expert (on the level of choosing colors for graphing libraries), but FWIW, I think the current colors used on the metrics page look fine.

Blue is generally used more and different shades of blue are easier to distinguish than other colors. Since many are red/green colorblind, those aren't used so much. Red, orange, yellow, and green, also have connotations (red = bad, green = good, for instance), and are only used if the whole rainbow is there. Since purple is a mix of red + blue, different shades of purple (a warm purple and a cooler purple of similar saturation/lightness) are harder to distinguish, etc.

Trac:
Keywords: N/A deleted, metrics-2018 added

Trac:
Status: needs_information to assigned
Owner: N/A to metrics-team

Alright, I'll close this as wontfix. I still think the current colors are fine, and I haven't seen suggestions for better colors. Maybe a future Tor Metrics site will have an option to change colors from different sets, but for now these colors will do. Closing.

Trac:
Resolution: N/A to wontfix
Status: assigned to closed

closed