Seeking tartan design input for my "Leaf Peeper" Tartan

[unixken]

Inspired by the region where my avatar photograph was taken, I am developing what I have tentatively called the "Leaf Peeper" Foliage Tartan, using Scotweb's neat little Tartan Design tool. The tartan, though not yet published to Scotweb's public gallery, can be viewed here:
http://www.scotweb.co.uk/tartandesign/details/52864

Leaf Peeper Foliage Tartan.jpg

I would appreciate any input from folks knowledgeable in tartan design, particularly in terms of whether you feel the colors are balanced, if you agree the potential is there for pleating to the stripe, and any other general commentary you might offer.

I would love to have something like this in a heavyweight tank, to bring on my next "leaf peeping" pilgrimage back to the area that inspired it.

Thoughts or commentary?

[EDIT: I forgot to mention, the sett size is currently 5.2"]

[sailortats]

Ken, having lived in the White Mountains (Glen) for many years I feel that I can comment on your tartan. I will say that to my eyes it is not a bad looking tartan, HOWEVER, I would also say that it is much too dark. I can understand the colors you picked, they certainly are colors you see in the fall back home. However, if you were to drive up through Pinkham Notch (Rte 16) or Crawford Notch (Rte 302) during prime leaf peeping time the colors you would see would be much much brighter than in your tartan.
I would say that the Mapleleaf tartan is closer in true colors to what you see. I guess what I am saying is that the dark green in you design is too overwhelming. Maples and birches out number the pines in a lot of the White Mountains.
When all is said, I like the look of the tartan but do not think it truly represents what you want it to represent.

[unixken]

I understand exactly what you are saying. I've spent considerable time in the region myself, so I do understand your points. However, I wanted to draw inspiration from those colors... not create something that was overwhelmingly "bright yellow" and "bright red" (ie: bright primary colors), and little else. I already have a Buchanan, in modern colors, that seems that way at times. LOL

Instead, I wanted something organic and earthy, in ways reminiscent of some of the alternate color palettes such as "reproduction", yet that would make the darker gold and red stand out. I'd also like to keep in mind the mechanics of pleating to the stripe (likely on the black pivot, guarded by white, that appears in the broad green areas.) The effect I'd prefer is a darker outer pleat that flashes the gold and red from the reveals when they open up... as opposed to something very bright and overpowering on the outside, that showed a darker color in the reveals.

Lastly, I'm working within the confines of the colors presented by the design tool itself, which offers three options: "Simple" (think an 8 color box of crayolas), "Weavers" (which offers the palette I worked from), or "Pro" (which allows you to specify exact tints with a color calibration wheel... but that comes with a huge surcharge to actually produce your custom dye lots.)

Working within the "Weavers" palette, here's what you get to choose from, for example, for browns and yellows. The selection is what it is:

yellows.jpg

Lastly, we need to remember that PC screens may differ quite a bit from actual yarn samples, and that actual yarn samples could differ from mill to mill.

I hope that explains what I'm looking to achieve.

[EDIT: Here's the Simple color selections offered by the design tool. Again, nothing as bright as you and I know the actual trees are capable of producing.]

Simple.png

[unixken]

In fairness, I went back into the tool and selected the brightest variants it offered, for the yellow and red, and lightened up the brown. The green, black, and white are all unchanged (though they now look dulled.) I left the thread counts the same. This just doesn't have the same punch as the original. Remember that every color affects every other color, where they intersect. Even the brightest red weft will appear bright red, only where it crosses the red warp. The green subdues everything. But to remove the green leaves the whole pattern too much yellow and too much red (and thus too much orange.)

Though brighter, this looks washed out and no longer suitable for pleating to the stripe (I'm picturing the dreaded lawn chair effect.) Seems too busy.

Bright Colors.jpg

[figheadair]

Why isn't this thread in the Tartan section?

[unixken]

Why isn't this thread in the Tartan section?

Ooops... you're right. I put this in the wrong place.
If a mod could move it for me, that would be most helpful.

[unixken]

I now have several variants of the tartan created...

The original Modern, plus Hunting, Ancient, and Dance/Dress variants, plus something I call Granite, the rock that gives "The Granite State" it's nickname.

[Barb T]

....particularly in terms of whether you feel the colors are balanced, if you agree the potential is there for pleating to the stripe, and any other general commentary you might offer.

[EDIT: I forgot to mention, the sett size is currently 5.2"]

5.2" is a very small sett. Any particular reason why you chose such a small sett?

[unixken]

5.2" is a very small sett. Any particular reason why you chose such a small sett?

Good timing. LOL I was just in the tool now, bumping up the thread counts to scale it up a bit. I'd like to see something closer to 6.5 - 7.

[unixken]

I've scaled the sett up to 7 inches. Thread counts for the pivot and guard stripes are unchanged, but all the broader areas scaled up easily. I think the reason it was initially so small was because it was the only way to see a bit more than just one full instance of the pattern, within the small editing window of the tool. Without constantly clicking the "Enlarge" option to take a quick peek, it was easier to get a feel of what the pattern would look like beyond just a single representation of the repeat. The larger sett size should yield deeper pleats, and offer a better chance for pleating on the stripe without risking "spear points" at the fell, I believe.