Unit 08.04: Greying out everything that is context

The cheapest hierarchy available is making everything except the point grey.

One series highlighted, the rest as context

Five series drawn at equal weight, and with one emphasised.

The code renders both.

SERIES = {"Our region": 118, "Region B": 104, "Region C": 99,
          "Region D": 96, "Region E": 91}

print("all series at equal weight:")
for name, value in SERIES.items():
    print(f"   {name:11} {'#' * (value // 8)}")

print("\none highlighted, the rest as context:")
for name, value in SERIES.items():
    mark = "#" if name == "Our region" else "."
    print(f"   {name:11} {mark * (value // 8)}")

print("""
The second version answers "how are we doing?" at a glance. The others are
still present, still readable, and no longer competing.

Greying out is the cheapest hierarchy you can apply, and it is reversible --
the reader can still see every series if they look.
""")

The second version answers "how are we doing?" at a glance while keeping every other series present and readable. Nothing was removed - the comparison is still there for anyone who looks.

That reversibility is what makes greying out better than filtering. A filtered chart has decided for the reader; a greyed chart has suggested.

The mistake this prevents

The mistake is deleting the context series to make the point clearer. The context is what makes the highlighted series meaningful - 118 means nothing without the others, and the reader loses the ability to check your claim.

Takeaway

Grey out the context rather than removing it. The comparison stays available, and the emphasis costs one colour decision.

Mark complete