How To Speak Data · Design study

Lower Third Breathing Room

CNN's election-night graphic packs every number against its box. The rebuilt graphic below stays exactly the size it aired at, so any padding you add comes out of the type. A design study by Andy Cotgreave, How To Speak Data.

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Black
Breaking News
Michigan Senate race too early to call
U.S. SenateNeeded to control51
53Democrats✓
42Republicans
7 pickups
U.S. HouseNeeded to control218
226Democrats✓
132Republicans
27 pickups
Montana Senate 74%Estimated vote
Alme175,77947.2%
Bodnar145,91839.1%
Live
Rebuilt graphic
76px
Seat-count numbers
50px
Montana vote totals
71px
Headline
100%
Type size vs. as aired

The aired lower third is cropped out of the screenshot and replaced by an HTML rebuild, fixed at 1776 × 329px (31% of a 1080p frame's height) whatever the settings. Sizes are pixels on a 1080p frame. Show original brings back the aired graphic. The CNN logo block is cut from the screenshot and does not change.