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Objects physically closer together are perceived as a group — before color, shape, or any other property is considered.
In data tables, column spacing communicates grouping more effectively than borders.
Objects of similar color, shape, or size are perceived as related — regardless of where they sit in space.
Alternating row shading creates grouping without any borders or lines.
Objects within a shared boundary — a line, box, or shaded region — are immediately perceived as belonging together.
Shaded chart regions draw the eye without adding visual noise.
When parts of a shape are missing, the brain fills in the gap and perceives a complete whole from the fragments.
Chart borders are often redundant — the plotted data implies its own boundary.
The eye seeks the smoothest path through a field of objects. We perceive flow and direction even across discrete, separate elements.
Removing gridlines lets the data's natural curve carry the eye without any visual scaffolding.
Objects joined by a line are perceived as a group — a stronger cue than color or size, but weaker than enclosure.
Line charts use connection to encode temporal sequence — dots alone don't show order.