Timelines: Color Significance
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TL;DR
As a quick summarize: i propose some changes to the Timeline Color Significance system. With these changes color will no longer show the significance of an event, but the size. Just as we are used to in normal timelines. We can use the colors to categorize the historical events, so we can easily understand how the events have brought forth one another. The size will show the significance, which will make the timeline much more organised and much easier to process. Our eyes will filter the smaller events out (as our eyes+brains do when we see big extensive things). All these changes will make it much more easier to navigate through (big) Timelines. If you think this is an interesting topic, but are not convinced yet if you should give it some nice AnvilCoins. Consider reading my argumentation below. I could go even more detailed into it, but i hope my case is clear. It is already long enough :) Have a good day and please consider supporting this proposal by using your AnvilCoins!
What is the current situation:
We all know the current Timeline system, but if you do not, i will explain it to you. As it is now, the color of the historical event shows the significance of the event in your timeline. Hereby all the events are evenly big in size. If you want to connect a organization or a person to an event, this is possible, but by doing this, you increase the size of the event - in the timeline - by 1/3. In this extended space there appears a "profile picture" of the person or organisation you just added. This is super ugly, not only the weird difference in size between the events, but also the ugly vanilla "profile picture" makes the whole event ugly.
What is the problem:
As i pointed out, the addition of a organisation or person to an event makes the event look really ugly. You can fix this by adding a custom "profile picture" to the organisation/person but not everyone is able to create such pictures, thus not a good option. A other problem you fix by adding a custom picture - which is not a option for everyone - is a organised and easy view of which organisation/person is which. Right now, because every org and person has the same picture, you have to put your cursor on top of the picture to even see which org/person is referenced/connected. This makes the whole timeline so much less efficiënt. Also the lack of difference between size/shape of the events make huge timelines a pain in the ass to read and understand. Our brain has to read everything because everything seems evenly important, while it is not. Our brain is used to connect the size of something to its importance, not a color.
Possible solution for color-problem:
Make it possible for the Timeline creator to give each event a color. My preference would be using color codes, which would give us access to all colors we would ever want to use, but around 6 common colors would be fine too. This color can be used too connect historical events with one another. This way we hop through a giant timeline much more efficiently.
Possible solution for the size-problem:
With color now being used for organisation, we need another way to determine the significance of the events. I believe we should do this the way every other chart creator does this. Size. Come on, its pretty obvious why. Our brain is used to filter out smaller things because it guesses it is not important. Think about your schoolbooks. There is a reason they make the most important words BOLD. Its shape or size should determine its significance.
What are some examples we can use this for:
Obviously we can use this color upgrade for faction/kingdom-style worlds. The creator can connect a color to a specific group of people/kingdom/faction. The reader can easily distinguish all the events from one another, just by looking at the color. But not only in these circumstances, but i believe this would be really helpful in almost all big timelines.
Timelines: Color Significance
What is the current situation:
We all know the current Timeline system, but if you do not, i will explain it to you. As it is now, the color of the historical event shows the significance of the event in your timeline. Hereby all the events are evenly big in size. If you want to connect a organization or a person to an event, this is possible, but by doing this, you increase the size of the event - in the timeline - by 1/3. In this extended space there appears a "profile picture" of the person or organisation you just added. This is super ugly, not only the weird difference in size between the events, but also the ugly vanilla "profile picture" makes the whole event ugly.
What is the problem:
As i pointed out, the addition of a organisation or person to an event makes the event look really ugly. You can fix this by adding a custom "profile picture" to the organisation/person but not everyone is able to create such pictures, thus not a good option. A other problem you fix by adding a custom picture - which is not a option for everyone - is a organised and easy view of which organisation/person is which. Right now, because every org and person has the same picture, you have to put your cursor on top of the picture to even see which org/person is referenced/connected. This makes the whole timeline so much less efficiënt. Also the lack of difference between size/shape of the events make huge timelines a pain in the ass to read and understand. Our brain has to read everything because everything seems evenly important, while it is not. Our brain is used to connect the size of something to its importance, not a color.
Possible solution for color-problem:
Make it possible for the Timeline creator to give each event a color. My preference would be using color codes, which would give us access to all colors we would ever want to use, but around 6 common colors would be fine too. This color can be used too connect historical events with one another. This way we hop through a giant timeline much more efficiently.
Possible solution for the size-problem:
With color now being used for organisation, we need another way to determine the significance of the events. I believe we should do this the way every other chart creator does this. Size. Come on, its pretty obvious why. Our brain is used to filter out smaller things because it guesses it is not important. Think about your schoolbooks. There is a reason they make the most important words BOLD. Its shape or size should determine its significance.
What are some examples we can use this for:
Obviously we can use this color upgrade for faction/kingdom-style worlds. The creator can connect a color to a specific group of people/kingdom/faction. The reader can easily distinguish all the events from one another, just by looking at the color. But not only in these circumstances, but i believe this would be really helpful in almost all big timelines.
Example to proof my point:
Look up any good chart (Timeline, Family tree, whatever) and you will see its using this Color and Size system. It is just how we are used to read these things. Check out this one: https://usefulcharts.com/products/greek-mythology-family-tree
You can see immediately which gods are the most important, which gods are in the same category, etc. It is just sooo much easier to understand and so much quicker to read.
Look up any good chart (Timeline, Family tree, whatever) and you will see its using this Color and Size system. It is just how we are used to read these things. Check out this one: https://usefulcharts.com/products/greek-mythology-family-tree
You can see immediately which gods are the most important, which gods are in the same category, etc. It is just sooo much easier to understand and so much quicker to read.
The Team's Response
This suggestion did not achieve sufficient support Some of those thougths will be implemented but not on the way suggested on the upcoming minor update to timelines. The suggestion as is - is declined due to the fact that it shows no understanding of backwards compatibility and the effect it will have in already created timelines
Current score
62/300 Votes · +7130 points
Votes Cast
-
+300
by WiseNyt
on 2021-05-25 19:00 -
+50
by Littlelangy
on 2021-05-25 13:16 -
+10
by Rhaelyx
on 2021-05-24 08:44 -
+100
by Original-Kraken
on 2021-05-20 22:41 -
+300
by karhall
on 2021-05-20 00:44 -
+50
by finnfen
on 2021-05-20 00:10 -
+300
by Tinybo
on 2021-05-19 20:19 -
+10
by Kanzler von Moosbach
on 2021-05-19 16:53 -
+10
by cottonic
on 2021-05-19 12:50 -
+100
by Lost_Nomad
on 2021-05-19 07:40 -
+200
by Fexal
on 2021-05-18 16:20 -
+300
by rrhiannon99
on 2021-05-18 15:16 -
+300
by TottiTrap
on 2021-05-17 15:25 -
+100
by robo368
on 2021-05-17 09:38 -
+20
by Unier
on 2021-05-17 09:08 -
+50
by Hammurabitheking
on 2021-05-14 02:15 -
+50
by Carshand
on 2021-05-12 20:00 -
+200
by Rowan Silveroak
on 2021-05-12 12:40 -
+100
by SilverLance
on 2021-05-11 23:27 -
+300
by mayorpunk
on 2021-05-11 02:39 -
+50
by Soundwavesghost
on 2021-05-10 23:23 -
+10
by Mr. Green Skin
on 2021-05-10 04:03 -
+20
by Jkaayy
on 2021-05-10 02:33 -
+100
by markgray2525
on 2021-05-09 22:52 -
+100
by voodrew
on 2021-05-09 20:02 -
+200
by Delagard
on 2021-05-09 16:01 -
+20
by Nanotide
on 2021-05-09 09:12 -
+300
by A Roaring Devil
on 2021-05-08 02:51I would also suggest maybe having the events spaced out to visually show the length of time between them. With the current system it can sometimes look like events that take place decades apart happened right after each other. Otherwise this is an excellent suggestion!
-
+300
by A Wild Kitten
on 2021-05-07 19:47 -
+10
by Spectral42
on 2021-05-07 19:21 -
+10
by Adcheryl
on 2021-05-07 07:35 -
+10
by AvalonFaery
on 2021-05-07 00:41 -
+20
by WilhuffTarkin
on 2021-05-06 19:59 -
+50
by Delphi
on 2021-05-06 19:49 -
+50
by light_like_Water
on 2021-05-06 18:58 -
+50
by Laria
on 2021-05-06 18:56 -
+50
by makonnen
on 2021-05-06 17:44 -
+20
by StardustScrapper
on 2021-05-06 17:18 -
+100
by Careen Ligh
on 2021-05-06 17:14 -
+100
by deletedflame
on 2021-05-06 16:50 -
+50
by GustavTheDm
on 2021-05-06 16:47 -
+100
by Trycealstrasza
on 2021-05-06 14:29 -
+20
by Egor888
on 2021-05-06 14:03 -
+20
by KajetanWrites
on 2021-05-06 13:35 -
+200
by Magdelas
on 2021-05-06 13:23 -
+300
by Kaahrad
on 2021-05-06 12:20 -
+20
by Vixen Windsong
on 2021-05-06 11:06 -
+100
by RibenLARP
on 2021-05-06 09:43 -
+100
by Autumn Fae
on 2021-05-06 09:40 -
+100
by FictionFan1995
on 2021-05-06 09:21 -
+10
by Michael Chandra
on 2021-05-06 08:11 -
+50
by brass_phoenix
on 2021-05-06 07:14 -
+50
by Informal_Informant
on 2021-05-06 05:23 -
+300
by _Rebag
on 2021-05-06 03:55 -
+100
by Natsumi W.
on 2021-05-06 03:47 -
+300
by Noah75438
on 2021-05-06 02:17 -
+20
by Polyduces
on 2021-05-06 01:50 -
+100
by Will Kloepfel
on 2021-05-06 01:41 -
+20
by GothVampyr
on 2021-05-06 00:47 -
+100
by trainhighway
on 2021-05-06 00:42 -
+300
by ShortandStoned
on 2021-05-06 00:36 -
+50
by lancesrulejr
on 2021-05-06 00:14 -
+300
by Tijmuhn
on 2021-05-05 23:45
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