The consistency and repeatability of colors are very important for any DataTile project as well as the correct choice of color scheme in general.
The color management in Database settings
A default color palette is created for every project when you upload a database. In case the default set of colors is not satisfying, it can be changed in Meta-Editor:
Go to Meta-Editor → Settings → Colors;
Here you can remove existing colors or change the HEX codes;
You can add new colors one by one. The default added color is always black, and since the system does not allow two similar colors, you need to change it before adding the next one:
by HEX code;
by RGB code;
by picking colors from the palette.
These colors will be used for any chart built on this project.
If you have administrator rights, you can change the color settings at the server level.
Color regimes for charts
The major color management is made by selecting color regimes in the chart settings.
There are 4 color regimes on the ‘Series’ tab when editing a chart or dashboard.
Sticky colors
This regime should be used when ‘color-series’ consistency is required across the entire dashboard. The sticky colors regime implies deliberately selecting a color for a series with a particular label, after which the color becomes 'sticky' and appears next to that label on other charts thereafter. To use sticky colors effectively you should have totally identical labels from chart to chart.
Sticky colors are marked with a small black arrow.
Note that in this color regime you can use any color, not necessarily from the set of colors defined in project settings.
To unstick colors click on the ‘Reset’ under the color menu.
Color palette
This regime is used when the default database palette should be applied. Every series on a chart will be colored with the next color from the project color set. If the color set contains fewer colors than the series on the chart, the colors start over. This can be detrimental to the visualization, so we suggest adding colors in the project settings.
Monochrome
All series will be colored in one chosen color, but after that, the editing will be available. It can be useful for some projects or separate charts that require a subdued color scheme. Alternatively, one series within the monochrome regime can be recolored to be more visible.
Please note, that conditional formatting is prior to the monochrome regime so the color will change in case the bar color is selected as the way of indication.
Colors that are edited in the monochrome regime become sticky and you should use the ‘Reset’ button if you want to return to monochrome again.
Gradient
Gradient mode differs from the monochrome mode in that the colors of the series will differ in color intensity, being shades of the same color - also a good choice for projects needing understated style.