On The Fly Ribbon Creator

[John Asendorf]

Well, I've been working on a little script that will create a ribbon graphic from scratch. I designed it to be used with the measurement system The Institute of Heraldry uses... meaning that it assumes a ribbon width of 1 3/8" across and then uses fractions of an inch to designate stripe widths.

It currently only makes ribbons with three colors (I have to add more obviously) and only makes ribbons with vertical stripes. But, I thought it was interesting.

To make a ribbon, enter the total number of stripes, add the widths of each stripe (in fractions of an inch, for instance, 3/16) and select a color for each stripe.

Here it is if anyone wants to try it: http://ultimaterack.ajandj.com/tests/test_creator.php

[Guest]

Not bad. It took me a little playing around to figure out good widths, and I messed up the number of stripes a couple times but I managed to get what I was looking for. Now how do I add it to my rack?

[John Asendorf]

Well, you don't yet... sorry.

I'm kind of amazed you could create a real ribbon with only the three colors I've put in the program!

Like I said, it's only in the testing phase... hopefully soon though!


If someone's interested in helping me roll this feature out... I need to get a good group of colors. Anyone who'd like to help me hunt down a good list of military ribbon colors I'd appreciate it. Preferably with pictures or samples of the colors.

John

[Grahmbo]

John,

I'm really impressed by that gadget. I was able to create one of my National Guard ribbon using those three colors, too.

Since the TIOH awards and decorations pages each list the component colors of the ribbons, thats one way to get the colors, but it would be time consuming to go through each of them. Have you tried contacting TIOH for assistance? I would hope they might be willing to provide a complete list and samples. Just a thought.

Keep up the good work!

[John Asendorf]

Yeah, I'm going to have to put a feeler out to them... I just can't find those color designations anywhere on the web. I don't know if they're PANTONE colors or what... meh.

[Larry LaFleur]

While trying to create images of some Washington State National Guard ribbons, I found a pdf file that gives the TIOH coloc palette with the yarn color code and a PMS color code. The PMS gets you to Pantone.

I don't know how to post the pdf file in this reply so if you e-mail me at:

llafleur@ncasi.org

I will be happy to send you a copy.

Your rackbuilder has been a great help to me in researching my father and father-in-laws awards and ribbons.

Thansk for the great work!

[John Asendorf]

The Ribbon Creator has really undergone some big changes lately. I've added a ton of TIOH colors to the color palette. Also, I've added an option for "mirrored" ribbons hence cutting in half the amount of entries needed for ribbons which are an exact mirror.

This also aids in creating a perfectly symetrical ribbon since the program calculates what's left over and fills that space with the color selected. Before, it was taking the fractions and trying to stuff it into 105 pixels and worked from left to right... if you had a bunch of pin stripes it could get way off by the time you got to the right hand side... sometimes up to 2 or 3 pixels in some cases... this solves that problem by working from the inside out.

[wolves69]

Don't mean to bug everyone, but has the ribbon creator been modified to add the created ribbon to the rack?

Thanks!

[PA-SGT]

the ribbon creator will not put the ribbon into the rack, but if you create a ribbon and send it to John with the back ground as to where it belongs he can add it to an existing set so that it can be added to your rack. Let him know what type of devices are used as well this helps him when building the set

Thanks

Pa-Sgt

[wolves69]

Thanks PA-Sgt....from another PA-Sgt...only active duty.

Actually, I posted elsewhere about the status of the MUA which is the ribbon I now need. We were just notified we won that award and its not on the rack builder but it is on John's To-Do list.

Would it help if I used the ribbon creater and send it to him?

[PA-SGT]

I already sent him the grafics for both the new AF Unit awards. With all the changes he is working on I am sure that he has his hads full. Congrats on the award

PA-Sgt

[wolves69]

Thanks PA-Sgt. The ironic thing, is I had just submitted my order for the milthin ribbons. Luckily, they were able to "stop" the first order".

There were some "joke" medals circulating. One of the ribbons was, "I got my boss promoted ribbon". Sometimes, the AF unit awards are just that...awards for the commanders. They get promoted from the achievement. JMHO


BTW: Has any GUC been awarded? I haven't heard anything yet.

r.

[PA-SGT]

Yes it was awarded to a AFSOC unit last year, so far they are the only unit that I am aware of that has received it. I can't remember their unit ID at this time, but I am pretty sure they are out of Hurlburt. That makes them part of the 16SOW.

PA-Sgt