Creating a tartan for my college

[YOJiMBO20]

I recently decided that my college (San Diego State University) should have a tartan.

Our colours are black, scarlet, and white, with former school colours (at different times) of gold, blue, and purple.

Playing around on the scotweb tartan designer, I came up with this:



Something doesn't quite seem right with it, and I can't place my finger on what.

What are your thoughts, Rabble?

[Liam]

I'm curious, why you think there is a need for a tartan. Is there a Scottish connection? Does the U have a pipe band? Sometimes it is better to adopt an existing tartan, since it is far more available and also far cheaper, because it doesn't require a special weave.
I'm not being critical, just trying to understand.
Slainte

[Mathew MacKillop]

Well, I'm by no means an expert, but I have been playing around with that tartan maker, so I will offer a humble suggestion.
The black and scarlet pattern is very nice, and I would not change it. The gold, purple, blue and white, however, draw the eye very strongly. Since they are the former colours, I would suggest giving them less prominence, perhaps a single stripe of each. If it were me, I would have the gold centered, bordered by the white, the purple, and then the blue. If the school colours are meant to be in a different order, mind you, I'd follow that.
Again, I am not a professional by any stretch of the imagination, so take my suggestion as you will!

[YOJiMBO20]

I curious, why you think there is a need for a tartan. Is there a Scottish connection? Does the U have a pipe band? Sometimes it is better to adopt an existing tartan, since it is far more available and also far cheaper, because it doesn't require a special weave.
I'm not being critical, just trying to understand.
Slainte

No, but I know a number of pipers who attended the school or are currently there.

Also, San Diego and Edinburgh are sister cities, and thought it might be cool for the school to have its own tartan. That's all.

[YOJiMBO20]

Well, I'm by no means an expert, but I have been playing around with that tartan maker, so I will offer a humble suggestion.
The black and scarlet pattern is very nice, and I would not change it. The gold, purple, blue and white, however, draw the eye very strongly. Since they are the former colours, I would suggest giving them less prominence, perhaps a single stripe of each. If it were me, I would have the gold centered, bordered by the white, the purple, and then the blue. If the school colours are meant to be in a different order, mind you, I'd follow that.
Again, I am not a professional by any stretch of the imagination, so take my suggestion as you will!

White is still one of the colours (as was gold up until a year or two ago). The reason I have the stripes this way is the colours used to be blue, white, and gold, as well as purple, white, and gold (not sure about proper order on the old colours).

I'll keep playing around with it and see what I like.

[YOJiMBO20]

I did a quick switch of the purple and white between it and the gold and think this makes it nicer.


Now it looks more like a white band with blue, gold, and purple placed upon it. I tried it with still having a white between the gold and purple, but didn't like it as much:


I might adjust the width of the white strip between the purple and see how that goes.

[Liam]

No, but I know a number of pipers who attended the school or are currently there.

Also, San Diego and Edinburgh are sister cities, and thought it might be cool for the school to have its own tartan. That's all.

You may want to have a look at the existing City of Edinbugh tartan. To me it would seem an appropriate tartan to adopt.

[figheadair]

I very strongly support Liam's coments re the 'need' to design a tartan, especially for a college in a city in a State that already has its own tartan.

Is more stuff simply for the sake of it really necessary?

[YOJiMBO20]

Correct. There isn't a need, per se, of the school having a tartan. Yes, it's a school in a city with its own tartan in a state with its own tartan, but I still thought that it would be cool for the school to have its own tartan.

And, it wouldn't be alone. http://www.collegiatetartan.com/ shows quite a few schools with their own tartans. And I'm assuming these schools are in states that have their own tartans, and possibly cities with their own tartans as well.

[MacGumerait]

Something doesn't quite seem right with it, and I can't place my finger on what.

I understand what you are saying . It seems that the white , gold , blue and purple colors are being " laid down " on top of the scarlet and black tartan rather than being " incorporated " within it .

Perhaps you could use the tartan in your avatar as a guide and an inspiration for incorporating the additional colors . Just a thought .

Best of luck .

Cheers , Mike