As you’re overhauling your visualizations, consider removing unnecessary ink. I immediately begin deleting or lightening everything without a purpose: the border, the grid lines, and the tick marks. Visualization guru Edward Tufte calls this strategy the data:ink ratio; we’re intentionally removing any ink that isn’t directly related to the data itself. These edits ensure our viewers will focus attention where we need it: on the actual patterns, not on the software program’s outdated and clunky lines.
Read Muted Grid Lines: Small Details, Big Difference to explore before/after remakes in more detail.