20.3. Data visualization with graphs and tables: Customizing graphs (colors, legends, axes)

20.3. Visualizing Data with Charts and Tables: Customizing Charts

Data visualization is a crucial aspect of analyzing information, especially when working with spreadsheets like Google Sheets. Charts and tables not only make complex data sets easier to understand, but they also allow you to communicate your findings clearly and effectively. In this chapter, we'll explore how to customize charts in Google Sheets, covering aspects such as colors, legends, and axes to improve the presentation of your data.

Introduction to Chart Customization

When you insert a chart into Google Sheets, it comes with a default style that may not be ideal for your dataset or the message you want to convey. Customizing a chart means adjusting its appearance and functionality to meet your specific needs. Customization can include changing colors, tweaking legends, modifying axes, and more.

Color Change

The choice of color is one of the most impactful elements in data visualization. Colors can be used to highlight important information, differentiate categories, or simply make the chart more attractive. In Google Sheets, you can customize the colors of chart elements such as bars, lines, points, and areas.

To change colors, follow these steps:

1. Click on the chart you want to customize.
2. In the top right corner, click the three dots icon and select "Edit chart".
3. In the sidebar that appears, navigate to the "Customize" section.
4. Choose the section you want to change, such as "Series" or "Chart area."
5. Click on the color option and select the desired color or enter a hexadecimal color code for more precise customization.

Subtitle Customization

Captions are essential to help viewers understand what each element of the chart represents. In Google Sheets, you can customize the caption position, text, and background color to ensure it complements the chart and doesn't distract the viewer.

To customize subtitles, you must:

1. Click on the graph and access "Edit graph".
2. In the sidebar, go to the "Caption" section.
3. Choose the caption position from the drop-down menu. Options include "In" and "Outside" of the chart, as well as specific positions such as "Top" or "Bottom."
4. Change the text and font formatting if necessary.
5. If desired, change the background color of the legend to improve visibility or to align with the aesthetics of your chart.

Axis Modification

The axes of a graph are fundamental to understanding the scale and context of the data presented. Customizing the axes allows you to adjust the scale, range, number format, and axis title to improve the clarity and accuracy of the chart.

To modify the axes, follow these steps:

1. Select the chart and go to "Edit chart".
2. In the sidebar, click "Horizontal Axis" or "Vertical Axis", depending on which you want to adjust.
3. To change the axis title, type the new title in the "Axis title" text box.
4. Adjust the minimum and maximum scale if necessary to change the axis range.
5. Select the format of the axis numbers to match the type of data you are presenting, such as currency, percentage, or date.

Final Considerations

Customizing charts in Google Sheets is a powerful tool for improving data visualization. By adjusting colors, labels, and axes, you can create charts that not only present your data efficiently, but are also visually appealing and communicate your message clearly. Remember that personalization should always serve the purpose of improving data understanding, not just for aesthetic purposes.

Try different styles and settings to find what works best for your dataset and the audience for your report or presentation. With practice, you will become skilled at customizing charts in Google Sheets, which is a valuable skill for anyone working in data analysis.