Which technique helps make charts understandable for audiences who may struggle with color differentiation?

• A. Add more colors
• B. Include patterns or textures in graphs
• C. Remove all legends
• D. Use identical shapes for all data series

Answer: (B)

When audiences may have trouble distinguishing colors, the strongest way to keep a chart readable is to add patterns or textures to differentiate data series. Patterns provide a color-independent cue, so viewers can tell lines, bars, or areas apart even if colors look similar or the chart is viewed in grayscale or printed in black and white. Using distinct hatch or texture patterns (like stripes, dots, or crosshatches) helps maintain clarity across devices and formats, and it should be paired with a clear legend that maps each pattern to its series.

Relying on more colors can still pose problems for color-blind viewers or print scenarios, removing the advantage patterns provide. Removing legends removes a critical way to identify which pattern corresponds to which series, and using identical shapes for all series eliminates a primary differentiator, making the chart hard to read.