How to keep charts clean besides using necessary indicators?

<p id="isPasted">Maintaining a clean chart involves more than just limiting indicators; it requires optimizing visual hierarchy, managing drawings, and refining platform settings to reduce cognitive load.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>1. Optimize Visual Design</strong></p><p>The aesthetic setup of your chart directly impacts how quickly you can process information.&nbsp;</p><ul><li>High-Contrast Color Palettes: Use simple, high-contrast colors (e.g., bright green for up candles, crisp red for down candles) against a neutral background. Dark mode is often preferred for low-light environments to reduce eye strain.</li><li>Clear Fonts: Use bold, legible fonts for price labels and time axes to ensure numbers are easily readable at a glance.</li><li>Consistent Styling: Apply the same colors and styles for similar tools across all your charts to build visual continuity. </li></ul><p><strong>2. Manage Drawings and Overlays</strong></p><p>A chart can become cluttered with lines and zones even if indicators are minimal.&nbsp;</p><ul><li>Use Zones Over Lines: Instead of thin lines, use horizontal rectangles to mark support and resistance "zones". This acknowledges market volatility and prevents your chart from looking like a spiderweb.</li><li>Object Trees: Utilize the "Object Tree" or "Layers" feature (common in platforms like TradingView) to group drawings into folders. You can toggle entire groups (e.g., "Daily Levels") on and off to maintain clarity.</li><li>Visibility Settings: Set drawings to appear only on specific timeframes. For example, a 200-period MA might be vital on a daily chart but unnecessary clutter on a 1-minute scalping chart. </li></ul><p><strong>3. Streamline Workflow with Platform Features</strong></p><p>Leverage software-specific tools to clear space.&nbsp;</p><ul><li>Shortcut Keys: Use hotkeys to quickly hide all indicators or drawings when you want to focus strictly on pure price action.</li><li>Indicator Overlays: Instead of separate sub-panes for oscillators (like RSI), use scripts that overlay signals directly onto candles or change candle colors, saving vertical screen space.</li><li>Multiple Monitors or Layouts: Use multiple monitors to separate order entry windows from analysis charts. If using a single screen, utilize split-screen layouts to avoid constant zooming in and out. </li></ul><p><strong>4. Focus on Market Structure</strong></p><p>Shift your focus from reactive tools to foundational price movement.&nbsp;</p><ul><li>Stick to Key Levels: Identify and mark only the most obvious swing highs and lows. A clean chart with 2–3 major zones is often more effective than one with dozens of minor ones.</li><li>Price Action Foundation: Treat candlesticks as your primary "indicator". Learning to read momentum and rejection directly through candle wicks and bodies can replace the need for many lagging indicators. </li></ul>