I hope this is the right place to put this. I truly hope a bunch of y'all find it useful and I'm trying to spread the word.
I've been working up a coat of arms designer that is easy to use and runs on a web page.
For players with a Knight type of character, this tool can be used to create that character's coat of arms. GMs can create coats of arms for NPCs such as other knights, dukes, barons, kings, and even city-states or organizations.
The website also has a bit of a primer on heraldry, including what many of the creatures and symbols usually mean so you can use that as a guide for what to include on a coat of arms.
Take a look at the examples to see what's possible, then open the instructions in one tab/window and then open the software designer in another web browser window. Feel free to look over the heraldry information on the other pages of the site as well.
Main Page: http://www.inkwellideas.com/heraldry/
Examples
Instructions
The design software
Please send me feedback (links on the website) or post constructive criticism or positive reviews here. Thanks! I'm planning on adding to it and making improvements every week or so for a while yet.
This is really cool! I look forward to playing around with it some more. I love the artwork you've collected for it...especially the "creatures." Did you create those yourself? I was thinking it might be neat to add stylized images of "D&D-related" creatures, too.
Thanks for the compliments.
The graphics were scanned in form a very old book where the copyright has expired, then converted into SVG graphics. Using SVG versions of the graphics (when they are drawn or converted properly) means they can scale nicely to large sizes. When I add the ability to save and print larger versions of the coat of arms they won't look jagged. The samples on the "Charges" page are just cropped screenshots of the graphics as created by the system.
I do plan on doing some more fantasy oriented graphics, but honestly I have about 5 times as many of the current ones to do. So realistically they probably won't be included for a few months. But maybe I'll pepper some in before that.
This thing is so cool, I'm going to use it for all of my noble characters!
As a DM, it is a cool way for me to present nobility, which will help in my Waterdeep campaign.
Thanks very much.
You're welcome! Thanks for your compliments.
I hope you can use it for organizations and governments also, if you wish.
The graphics were scanned in form a very old book where the copyright has expired, then converted into SVG graphics. Using SVG versions of the graphics (when they are drawn or converted properly) means they can scale nicely to large sizes. When I add the ability to save and print larger versions of the coat of arms they won't look jagged. The samples on the "Charges" page are just cropped screenshots of the graphics as created by the system.
What was the title of the book? You should probably still give credit to the original author and artists.
CJ
The graphics were scanned in form a very old book where the copyright has expired, then converted into SVG graphics. Using SVG versions of the graphics (when they are drawn or converted properly) means they can scale nicely to large sizes. When I add the ability to save and print larger versions of the coat of arms they won't look jagged. The samples on the "Charges" page are just cropped screenshots of the graphics as created by the system.What was the title of the book? You should probably still give credit to the original author and artists.
Fair point, thank you. I've added a "Sources" section to the page showing all the charges. I don't have the artist's name handy (that will have to wait for my next trip back to the library) but I did list the book and author.
I can't get the Java applet to load. :(
I've been looking for a program like the one you describe for 15 years. I used to have a shareware program that did that, way back when, but I've long since lost the program. *sigh*
A couple of ideas:
-Maybe there was a network hiccup or something and trying it again will work.-If you know how to pull up your web browser's Java Console, you can copy and paste that in an email to me. (joewetzel at gmail dot com)
-Maybe your Java is out of date. You can download and install the latest Java Runtime Environment at this location: http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp
This is a very interesting program. I'll be interested to see the possible applications once more symbols have been added. I found a list of some latin phrases that would serve well for the scrolls. A few substitutions of words in the correct places and some simple fantasy uses come into play.
For example, I played around with a coat of arms for a knightly order of Sarenrae. For the scroll I chose "Fide vincere tenebras." Translates to "Conquering darkness through faith."
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It's quite nice, although some of the graphics don't center properly for me. Great work.
Um.. the "Quick Tutorial" link above the Java Applet leads to an Amazon.com listing for a SAS book. Just FYI unless you really wanted to direct us there. (It was kinda deja vu wierd for me since I used to work at SAS.)
Neat-o. Thanks!
It's quite nice, although some of the graphics don't center properly for me. Great work.
If you adjust the horizontal and vertical settings, that should center the graphic.
Fair point, thank you. I've added a "Sources" section to the page showing all the charges. I don't have the artist's name handy (that will have to wait for my next trip back to the library) but I did list the book and author.
I thought I recognized Fox-Davies.
According to the copy on my shelf, the artist is Graham Johnston, Herald to the Lyon Court.
I know next to nothing about copyright law, but just an FYI, Fox-Davies (A Complete Guide to Heraldry), was last published at least as recently as 1978. So while the version you scanned might have been very old...it has seen recent publication. And Fox-Davies is THE authority on Old English Heraldry -- so it isn't like it is an obscure, moldy old book. You might want to get permission from the publisher (Gramercy Books, New York - Avenel) if you intend to commercialize your application.
CJ
This is a very interesting program. I'll be interested to see the possible applications once more symbols have been added. I found a list of some latin phrases that would serve well for the scrolls. A few substitutions of words in the correct places and some simple fantasy uses come into play.
For example, I played around with a coat of arms for a knightly order of Sarenrae. For the scroll I chose "Fide vincere tenebras." Translates to "Conquering darkness through faith."
Wouldn't it make sense to use something quasi-Arabic for a Knight Order of Sarenrae -- I think the religion is mostly centered in Qadira. At least that is what I got from the Gazetteer, the Campaign Guide might have better info.
CJ
Fair point, thank you. I've added a "Sources" section to the page showing all the charges. I don't have the artist's name handy (that will have to wait for my next trip back to the library) but I did list the book and author.I thought I recognized Fox-Davies.
According to the copy on my shelf, the artist is Graham Johnston, Herald to the Lyon Court.
I know next to nothing about copyright law, but just an FYI, Fox-Davies (A Complete Guide to Heraldry), was last published at least as recently as 1978. So while the version you scanned might have been very old...it has seen recent publication. And Fox-Davies is THE authority on Old English Heraldry -- so it isn't like it is an obscure, moldy old book. You might want to get permission from the publisher (Gramercy Books, New York - Avenel) if you intend to commercialize your application.
CJ
It was originally published (with the illustrations, I believe) in 1909. Anything printed before 1923 is public domain. The illustrations are also widely used throughout the web. (I know, that isn't proof they are public domain, but it helps give that credit.) In fact other publishers have reprinted that version and as far as I know without any agreement, because I believe it wasn't needed.
Here's a good chart summary on copyright term lengths: http://www.copyright.cornell.edu/public_domain/
(Basically, copyright particularly pre-1923 is based strictly on original publication. The fact that it has been reprinted doesn't matter.)
But if you still feel I may be in the wrong, please follow up here or in email (see the feedback page on the site.)
I've made a couple of big updates to the Coat of Arms Visual Designer software over the past couple of weeks. Here's a quick list:
* Added support for quartering the shield. Many arms use this method of marshaling (or combining) two sets of arms when a marriage between families occurs.
* Added 10 more charges (annulet, crescent, cross moline, double quatrefoil, label, martlet, martlet volent, monkey, mullet, quatrefoil). Many of these are used to designate that a set of arms belongs to the first son (label) or the 4th son (martlet), etc.
* Fixed a bug that caused the "flip" option to flip all creature and symbol charges instead of just the one you are editing.
* Moved the name/motto editor to a separate pop up window to free more space for editing the charges.
and...
* Added 10 more charges (battleaxe, lance, sword, owl, comet, cannon ball, cinquefoil, oaktree, Cross Maltese, and Cross Patee) to the software.
* Fixed a bug that caused the program to not run in some web browsers.
* Added the ability to do counter-charging for ordinaries.
Quartering and counter-charging are definitely major new features and should allow for unlimited new possible coats of arms.
Same links as above in the original post. Let me know if you have any issues or constructive criticism.