Data-Ink Calculator

Calculate the ratio of data-presenting ink to total ink.

JavaScript is required for this interactive calculator. Tufte's rule: Maximize the proportion of ink that represents data. Remove backgrounds, heavy grids, and borders.

Check all present elements:

Data Points / Bars / Lines (Required) X and Y Axes lines Heavy Grid Lines Background Color / Fill Chart Borders / Frames 3D Effects / Shadows Redundant Labels (e.g., axis scale AND data labels)

Data-Ink Ratio

Edward Tufte's Rules

Above all else show the data.
Maximize the data-ink ratio.
Erase non-data-ink.
Erase redundant data-ink.
Revise and edit.