Clan MacMillan Heraldry Display

**Harold Cannon** · 10th April 13, 04:18 PM

After seeing a display that Joseph MacMillan did and a wonderful emblazonment the Romilly Squire did of our chief's arms I wanted to have a display for our clan tent of the armigers and arms connected to our clan. These images did not exist in a vector format so I had to create each coat of arms and then, with the help of my heraldic mentor, Scott MacMillan (MacMillan of Rathdown) I combined them all in a style similar to the front plate from McIan's book. I hope you all like it as it has been a long time in the making.

I plan to have prints made as well as a weather resistant version for use at clan tents. Also I am working on a key of the arms so if someone wants to know which arms belong to who they can find out.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS DISPLAY OF ARMS MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE CREATOR!

**Downunder Kilt** · 10th April 13, 04:22 PM

Fantastic and impressive creation Harold. With all the other work you have done in relation to your arms and tent display, I would be expecting that you would be picking up awards at whatever games you attend. Well done mate.

**Carlo** · 10th April 13, 04:24 PM

That looks really great. I don't know much about Scottish (British) heraldry but I do like it.

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 10th April 13, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by Harold Cannon

After seeing a display that Joseph MacMillan did and a wonderful emblazonment the Romilly Squire did of our chief's arms I wanted to have a display for our clan tent of the armigers and arms connected to our clan. These images did not exist in a vector format so I had to create each coat of arms and then, with the help of my heraldic mentor, Scott MacMillan (MacMillan of Rathdown) I combined them all in a style similar to the front plate from McIan's book. I hope you all like it as it has been a long time in the making.

I plan to have prints made as well as a weather resistant version for use at clan tents. Also I am working on a key of the arms so if someone wants to know which arms belong to who they can find out.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS DISPLAY OF ARMS MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONCENT OF THE CREATOR!

Harold, you really did an awesome job. Your work shows the beauty and utility of heraldry, useful even in the modern day, as it links together thirty-three distinct families, cousins and kinsmen all, spectacularly united in a vibrant and colourful celebration of their common heritage.

For those who may not be steeped in Scottish customs, each clan has a plant badge which quite often alludes to the ancient lands from which the clan emerged. The plant badge of Clan MacMillan is holly, and it quite rightly forms the background upon which Harold has displayed the heraldry of his clan.

**Tim Little** · 10th April 13, 06:43 PM

Splendid!

**Rob, ClanMacMillan, NM** · 11th April 13, 05:55 AM

That is rather mind-boggling, cousin.

Very well done!

Thank you.

Rob.

**Cygnus** · 11th April 13, 06:32 AM

Very impressive! I had never made the connection between the Squire arms and the MacMillan arms until I saw them presented on this lovely piece of artwork.

Very well done, as always, Harold!

**SlackerDrummer** · 11th April 13, 09:41 AM

Well done, Harold. An impressive display.

When you go to print this thing, you might try it with and without the "outer glow" you're using on the holly leaves. While a useful tool in providing some dimension on a computer screen, it often doesn't translate as well on paper.

**Tim Little** · 11th April 13, 10:51 AM

Ok, Harold, I do have to offer one critique:

The designer in me would recommend the choice of a chancery script or serif typeface for the body text ("The Arms... his followers."). The sans serif face shown above seems a little informal for the fine work of art you've created. A serif face would also improve legibility (not that seems to be a huge issue in this case).

A minor point, perhaps, but one I hope you don't mind my sharing.

**SlackerDrummer** · 11th April 13, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by Tim Little

Ok, Harold, I do have to offer one critique:

The designer in me would recommend the choice of a chancery script or serif typeface for the body text ("The Arms... his followers."). The sans serif face shown above seems a little informal for the fine work of art you've created. A serif face would also improve legibility (not that seems to be a huge issue in this case).

A minor point, perhaps, but one I hope you don't mind my sharing.

I just threw up a little in my mouth. Okay, serif I can agree with. Something with more elegance than Times New Roman. A decent font that comes standard on all computers, Harold, would be Book Antiqua. That is if you don't have any of the various Garamond typefaces or Palatino. Chancery scripts, though, really do require a great deal of knowledge of type to make them look good and when used poorly can make an otherwise nice document look like a dog's breakfast.