Amazon QuickSight is an enterprise level, serverless, scalable business analytics service that is part of the Amazon Web Services (AWS) family. Known for its accessible user interface and robust capabilities, Amazon QuickSight is an excellent choice for organizations needing to visualize and analyze their data.
Recently, Amazon QuickSight has introduced pixel-based font sizing for Textbox, and text highlighting, creating opportunities for authors to create more engaging data-driven narratives. This guide introduces these features and discusses how to use them effectively.
Table of Contents¶
- Importance of Precise Text Configuration in Data Visualization
- Amazon QuickSight’s Pixel-Based Font Sizing for Textbox
- Text Highlighting in Amazon QuickSight
- Conclusion
Importance of Precise Text Configuration in Data Visualization¶
Before diving into pixel-based font sizing and text highlighting — let’s consider why precise text configuration is crucial in data visualization. Visualizations are primarily graphical representations of data, but text plays an equally critical role in conveying the message.
Without carefully optimized text, data visuals can be misinterpreted, leading to incorrect conclusions. The text in visualizations communicates data labels, titles, descriptions, and contextualizes charts and graphs.
By providing pixel-based font sizing and text highlighting, Amazon QuickSight empowers authors to fine-tune their presentations, improving legibility, aesthetics, and overall data comprehension.
Amazon QuickSight’s Pixel-Based Font Sizing for Textbox¶
Previous versions of Amazon QuickSight offered fixed font sizes, ranging from small to X-large. Now, the platform provides pixel-based font sizing, enabling users to specify the exact size of the font required.
Customizing Font Sizes in Amazon QuickSight¶
To set the font size in pixels, select a Textbox visual and then select the text to configure. In the property pane that appears, under ‘Text settings’, you’ll see the option to set the font size in pixels (for instance, “14px” for a relatively small type, or “32px” for a larger type).
Example:
“`
propertyPane
-> Text settings
-> Font Size
-> ’14px’ or ’32px’
“`
Advantages of Pixel-Based Font Sizing¶
The main advantage of this feature is the precision it affords. With pixel-based sizing, you’re no longer confined to broad estimations of ‘small’, ‘medium’, or ‘large’. Instead, you can fine-tune the size to fit perfectly within your design.
By being able to tweak the font size by the pixel, you can balance your text with the visual elements in your presentation, create hierarchy and emphasis, and improve the legibility and clarity of your text, especially when dealing with complex data visuals.
Text Highlighting in Amazon QuickSight¶
To supplement the pixel-based font sizing, Amazon QuickSight has launched a text highlighting feature. Much like the highlighting feature you’d find in a word processor or a PDF reader, this function lets you emphasize important passages or key points in your text.
Using Text Highlighting for Emphasizing Data¶
To highlight text in Amazon QuickSight, select the Textbox visual containing the text you want to emphasize. In the property pane, under ‘Text settings’, you can choose the highlighting color.
Example:
“`
propertyPane
-> Text settings
-> Highlighting
-> Choose color
“`
This feature can be an invaluable asset in creating data narratives. By highlighting specific pieces of text, you can draw your audience’s attention to crucial data points or explanations.
Together with the pixel-based font sizing, text highlighting gives a powerful toolset to coherently present and emphasize your findings in data visualization projects.
Conclusion¶
Amazon QuickSight’s pixel-based font sizing and text highlighting for Textbox visuals unlock new levels of customization and emphasis in data presentations. By enabling users to adjust font size down to the pixel and highlight key pieces of text, Amazon enhances its users’ ability to convey relevant insights accurately, clearly, and effectively.
Remember, while these features can significantly boost the impact of your presentations, they should be used sparingly to maintain a clean and professional look. Overusing them might result in a crowded and distracting visual.
Ultimately, Amazon QuickSight’s new features bring you closer to achieving clarity and precision in your data-driven narratives. By striking the right balance between visual elements and text, you can create potent and engaging data stories.