Parts of Tartan

[bookish]

Hi all,

I am sure that I have come across resources in the past on this topic, but for the life of me, my search engine skill seem to be lacking, and I can't seem to find what I am looking for.

I'd like to know how one classifies the constituent parts of tartan. I'll lay out what I think I know, and I would love correction and clarification.

I believe the dominant color of tartan fabric can be referred to as the "ground", since it often seems to be the base that other colors "stand on" or are supported by.

I believe that where the colors of warp and weft meet are called "check".

I do not know how to classify the intermediate spaces where colors are blended.

I do not know how to classify the relationship between the ground and the other colors, other than maybe to discuss the secondary, tertiary, etc., colors.

I have a degree in the fine arts, and I understand color theory and have a solid grasp of design language. I would like to extend that vocabulary for tartan and to be able to analyze tartan designs better.

Thanks for your assistance!

[figheadair]

Hi all,

I am sure that I have come across resources in the past on this topic, but for the life of me, my search engine skill seem to be lacking, and I can't seem to find what I am looking


I'd to know how one classifies the constituent parts of tartan. I'll lay out what I think I know, and I would love correction and clarification.

I believe the dominant color of tartan fabric can be referred to as the "ground", since it often seems to be the base that other colors "stand on" or are supported by.

Correct, but most tartans have more.than one ground colour. In the Balck Watch the blue.and green are the gound.colours; in the Grant it's the red and green.

[]

believe that where the colors of warp and weft meet are called "check".

No, they are called pure colours.

I do not know how to classify the intermediate spaces where colors are blended.

They are called half-tones.

I do not know how to classify the relationship between the ground and the other colors, other than maybe to discuss the secondary, tertiary, etc., colors.

Bars and overstripes, depending on the size and position.





]

[bookish]

Correct, but most tartans have more.than one ground colour. In the Balck Watch the blue.and green are the gound.colours; in the Grant it's the red and green.

[]


No, they are called pure colours.



They are called half-tones.



Bars and overstripes, depending on the size and position.





]

Thank you very much for the clarification!

I'll do some more targeted searching regarding "bars" and "overstripes". I have some graphic design terminology that I would like to explore in terms of tartan, and I think this info is enough to get me moving on that.

[Darrin1200]

I found this at the Tartan Registry. It doesn’t seem to use specific terminology, but it does discuss the relationships of the base colours and cross over points.

https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/threadcount

[figheadair]

Cross posting of something I wrote on my FB page.

Here's a graphic representation of how the 6 pure colours interact to produce 30 half tones in which diferent pure colours cross. It’s a wonderful example of the exponential growth in variations as another pure colour is added:

• 4 pure colours = 12 half tones.
• 5 pure colours = 20 half tones.
• 6 pure colours = 30 half tones.

The difference between combinations of the same two colours, for example; blue crossing green and green crossing blue is obvious.

[figheadair]

Connection to my previous post, here's a graphic representation of how the 4 pure colours interact to product 12 half tones. The difference between, for example; blue crossing green and green crossing blue is obvious.