I have to draw a diagram for dynamic data. Each category should have a different color, but I don't know how many categories the diagram is going to show.
I expect this number typically to be between 5 and 10, but more or less is possible. Is there a strategy for choosing the diagram colors in this case, so that
- they are distinguishable,
- they do not hurt the eye,
- they do not create affiliations where there are none?
I thought of the following:
Choose one color and use tints/shades
PRO: fits in well with the rest of the website
CON: hard to distinguish
Choose a few colors and use tints/shades
PRO: fits in well with the rest of the website, probably enough colors to be distinguishable for the expected amount of categories
CON: the different colors impose an unwanted meaning, e.g. greenish categories somehow belong together and are different from blueish categories
Choose a few colors and use additional patterns
PRO: like the above
CON: like the above, with meaning not only in colors but also in patterns
Choose a few colors and repeat
PRO: fits in well with the rest of the website
CON: one color stands for multiple categories
Try to find different colors for all categories (speaking of hues)
PRO: distinguishable for the expected amount of categories
CON: off-putting, not easy to calculate
There must be an approach to this problem? I've been searching and thinking for days, but couldn't find a satisfying solution.
You can think of the diagram as a (stacked) bar chart. Other types are possible, although I think this would not essentially change the question (or answers). Of course, the diagram will also be equipped with a legend and tooltips.