Big announcement: new full Tartan Library showing all variant colourways

**Nick Fiddes** · 8th May 12, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by creagdhubh

I do like the overall look of the brown being added to the Macpherson 'hunting' tartan in place of the widely seen and adopted lighter grey, or white areas, next to the darker grey/black areas in the sett. I have not seen this specific colour combination of the dark grey and brown anywhere else before, and as far as I'm aware, this specific colour combination is not registered with the Scottish Tartans Authority. Very interesting nonetheless.

Thanks for these references, which we'll take a look at and see if adjustment is in order.

But such colour combinations wouldn't generally be recorded, either by the STA, or by its successor the Scottish Register of Tartans. With the odd exception such as corporate tartans who define precise colours, most tartans are only recorded as a set of typical colours, and historically have always been quite broadly interpreted when produced as cloth. Its mostly the sett pattern that actually defines the unique tartan. Weavers produce these recorded colours in various 'shifted' ways: variants like Modern, Ancient, and Reproduction styles are those weavers' interpretations. These seldom appear in the official records. But they're still the correct tartan as traditionally conceived.

**creagdhubh** · 8th May 12, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by Nick Fiddes

Thanks for these references, which we'll take a look at and see if adjustment is in order.

But such colour combinations wouldn't generally be recorded, either by the STA, or by its successor the Scottish Register of Tartans. With the odd exception such as corporate tartans who define precise colours, most tartans are only recorded as a set of typical colours, and historically have always been quite broadly interpreted when produced as cloth. Its mostly the sett pattern that actually defines the unique tartan. Weavers produce these recorded colours in various 'shifted' ways: variants like Modern, Ancient, and Reproduction styles are those weavers' interpretations. These seldom appear in the official records. But they're still the correct tartan as traditionally conceived.

You are correct Nick, thank you for the clarification!

Cheers,

**creagdhubh** · 8th May 12, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by Tobus

Is there any way you could allow the user to see a full-size image of the tartan instead of just a zoom window?

Good point Tobus. I am keen to know if there is any way to see the full-size image of the tartan as well, Nick.

Cheers,

**Nick Fiddes** · 8th May 12, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by Tobus

I think it's fabulous! And the yarn colours appear to be true, at least on my recently acquired Reproduction Colquhoun tartan.

Is there any way you could allow the user to see a full-size image of the tartan instead of just a zoom window?

You should be able to produce this by right-clicking on the main image or something like that...

**Steve Ashton** · 8th May 12, 11:53 AM

Nick, If I may comment.

Your thread count and color choices for the X Marks the Scot Tartan are incorrect.

There is also only one version of this Tartan There is no Ancient or Reproduction version authorized.

I also note that your list does not include the Victoria, City of Gardens Tartan, while it does include an incorrect thread count and color arrangement of the City of Victoria Tartan.

The Victoria, City of Gardens Tartan.

Thread count:
W4 K2 B2 R2 B2 R4 B50 R2 K8 R2 G50 R4 G2 R2 G2 K2 Y4

Again, there is no authorized Ancient, Weathered or Reproduction versions of this Tartan.

The City of Victoria Tartan.

Thread count:
ZR20 LG8 CLR8 K8 MY28 ZR8
This Tartan is subject to copyright fees.

**Nick Fiddes** · 8th May 12, 12:29 PM

Hi Steve,

I hadn't actually realised the XMTS was in there, and I presume the City of Victoria is your design too? (I'm at home now so have no access to office resources.) I see that you regard this more as a corporate tartan, which is entirely reasonable. So the easy solution is for us to remove these tartans altogether, just as we would for any other corporate tartan where the rights owner prefers to restrict its use. I'll get this attended to tomorrow. The system is really intended for traditional tartans, and those created to be freely shared with anyone wishing to express family or community affiliation.

Thanks for your feedback.

Nick

**Steve Ashton** · 8th May 12, 12:41 PM

No problem at all Nick. Just a few things I noticed in a quick look around your new feature.

The City of Victoria, ITI 4344, is not my Tartan. I do however know the designer and that is why I know that he holds the copyright. His copyright fee is $2.00cdn per meter, d/w.
.
My Tartan is the Victoria, City of Gardens Tartan. This is registered as ITI 7992. You can see in the STA site that this Tartan is restricted to be woven only by Marton Mills as they have the color range I wanted.

The X Marks Tartan is listed with the STA as a corporate Tartan. While it has been woven by three mills, each using slightly different yarn colors, all three are what is commonly referred to as 'modern'.
However, that is not what is wrong with your representation. The thread count on your site is what is incorrect. The primary background color is a dark blue. Just guarding the yellow and black are bands of a lighter blue. This is what is incorrect. In fact, in your modern version, the light blue is missing entirely, while in the 'Ancient' version the colors are reversed.

Good luck with this. I hope these comments help as you work through the bugs.

**Orvis** · 8th May 12, 12:43 PM

Mr. Fides - This is a great idea and that is sure to be useful to all that are interested in tartan.

I have one question - in addition to the three colorway ranges (modern, ancient, reproduction) that are included in the Tartan Library, do you intend to include variants in the color range used by Wilson and Sons during the 18th-19th centuries. I do not belong to a clan or family, and I am also a reenactor, so I tend to wear historic tartans in the "hard" finish. It would be a boon to see how these tartans would look in the historic Wilson colorway before ordering. Thank you for your service to the world of tartans.

**Tobus** · 8th May 12, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by Nick Fiddes

You should be able to produce this by right-clicking on the main image or something like that...

Nope, the right-click trick doesn't work. But I did figure it out. By hovering my mouse right at the border of the image (not far enough in to activate the zoom feature), I can actually click the image and it will take me to the full-size .jpg image of the tartan.

Nice work on the site! And by the way, the quality of your tartan fabric is outstanding.

**figheadair** · 8th May 12, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by Nick Fiddes

Hi Steve,

I hadn't actually realised the XMTS was in there, and I presume the City of Victoria is your design too? (I'm at home now so have no access to office resources.) I see that you regard this more as a corporate tartan, which is entirely reasonable. So the easy solution is for us to remove these tartans altogether, just as we would for any other corporate tartan where the rights owner prefers to restrict its use. I'll get this attended to tomorrow. The system is really intended for traditional tartans, and those created to be freely shared with anyone wishing to express family or community affiliation.

Thanks for your feedback.

Nick

Nick,

Nice idea and I too am going to have to spend some time looking around. One that is wrong/doesn't translate it the St. Columba -http://www.dcdalgliesh.co.uk/tartan_found.rpy?id=472443 that I designed (and retain copyright of) and which should only ever be woven in Wilsons' shades.

Peter