Camouflage Design Explained
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REPORT: BENSON ANG [email protected] T HREE weeks ago,the US Army said it was plan- ning to ditch the pixelated “digital camouflage” uniform. This came after reports that the uniform does not give its troops good cover in warzones. Some here too then wondered about the effectiveness of the uniform, which is similar to the one used by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). The SAF responded that the pixelated design of its uniforms is effective in making its troops harder to spot. Now, a US-based camouflage expert has spoken up for the design, saying that it is as effective, if not more, than other patterns. A pixelated camouflage pattern consists of many small squares and other geometric shapes. The expert’s comments come in the wake of news last month that the US Army is said to be ditching its grey-green digital camouflage, known as the Universal Camouflage Pattern, for a greenish, blended one called MultiCam . Responding to queries, some creators of camouflage designs said it is wrong to dismiss outright pixelated patterns as ineffective. Mr Guy Cramer, president and chief executive offic- er of HyperStealth Biotechnology Corp, referred The New Paper to his blog, where he mentions how the pixelated uniform controversy has hit Singapore. He also defends the pattern in his post. “(The) digital (design) works because it breaks up straight lines while also creating background ‘noise’ and allows for colours to mix, leading to a more natural effect at proper viewing distances,” he wrote. Mr Cramer, who has developed over 10,000 military camouflage patterns, pointed out that pixelated pat- terns have come out tops in US Army tests involving woodland, desert and mountainous terrains. But there is no one camouflage that can work in all environments, he wrote. Mr Lawrence Holsworth, the marketing director for Hyde Definition, which designs and manufactures cam- ouflage patterns, said many factors go into the creation of a military camouflage pattern. He gives us a how-to guide on creating such pat- terns for stealth and secrecy: The ideal pattern: ■ Must blend in with the colours, tones and textures of the environment where the soldiers operate in. ■ Must also disrupt the identifiable shape of the person or object that has been camouflaged. ■ Can be of a verdant, arid, arctic, urban or multi-ter- rain pattern. Step 1: Research ■ Analyse the environment where the pattern needs to work. ■ Observe and photograph the terrain, and analyse it for colours and textures. ■ Collect physical samples of vegetation in the area. ■ Analyse other patterns that might be used in the area, like those of friends and foes. ■ Research can take weeks or months, depending on the nature of the project. Step 2: Create the pattern Method 1: Break up a solid colour ■ Can be accomplished by brushing, spray painting or applying dye directly on the uniform. ■ Used during World War I and for Pathfinders in US airborne divisions during World War II. Method 2: Disrupt the wearer’s shape ■ Use artistic methods to mix colours and shapes to disrupt the shape of the wearer. ■ Can be done either by hand for an “analogue” pat- tern, or by using computer software for a “digital” one. Many digital patterns are pixelated. ■ A scientific approach can also be used, which in- volves more thorough and focused research and analy- sis. The resultant pattern should be more effective and better suited to the colour spectrum and textures of the operating environment. Method 3: Mimic the vegetation or terrain ■ Create a pattern based on reproducing the typical vegetation and colours of the environment. ■ Similar to the “sticks-and-leaves” camouflage used by hunters and outdoorsmen. Step 3: Test the pattern ■ Place the pattern, or people dressed in it, at set distances. ■ Measure how long it takes for an observer to spot the object or person. ■ Repeat the procedure in various environments and under different lighting conditions to get an overall result. ■ Adjust the optimal combination of colour, geometry, scale and texture for the target environment. ■ Photo simulation can also be used to provide more controlled testing and a greater number of observers. ■ Different countries and research organisations have come up with different evaluating systems. A consistent set of standards and protocol was recently agreed upon by North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries. US-based expert defends pixelated, digital camo uniforms MULTIFACETED: Mr Lawrence Holsworth, the marketing director for a camouflage design and manufacturing company, says many factors go into the creation of camouflage patterns. PICTURE COURTESY OF LAWRENCE HOLSWORTH News Hiding for pixels unfair WHERE’S WALLY? Despite the US Army’s reported plans to ditch the pixelated digital camo design, the SAF is confident its uniforms are effective in making its troops harder to spot. PICTURE: ST FILE 6 Monday, July 16 2012 ● THE NEW PAPER
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Article describing the Camouflage development process.
Transcript of Camouflage Design Explained
REPORT: BENSON [email protected]
THREE weeks ago,the US Army said it was plan-ning to ditch the pixelated “digital camouflage”uniform.
This came after reports that the uniform does notgive its troops good cover in warzones. Some here toothen wondered about the effectiveness of the uniform,which is similar to the one used by the SingaporeArmed Forces (SAF).
The SAF responded that the pixelated design of itsuniforms is effective in making its troops harder to spot.
Now, a US-based camouflage expert has spoken upfor the design, saying that it is as effective, if not more,than other patterns.
A pixelated camouflage pattern consists of manysmall squares and other geometric shapes.
The expert’s comments come in the wake of newslast month that the US Army is said to be ditching itsgrey-green digital camouflage, known as the UniversalCamouflage Pattern, for a greenish, blended one calledMultiCam .
Responding to queries, some creators of camouflagedesigns said it is wrong to dismiss outright pixelatedpatterns as ineffective.
Mr Guy Cramer, president and chief executive offic-er of HyperStealth Biotechnology Corp, referred TheNew Paper to his blog, where he mentions how thepixelated uniform controversy has hit Singapore. Healso defends the pattern in his post.
“(The) digital (design) works because it breaks upstraight lines while also creating background ‘noise’and allows for colours to mix, leading to a more naturaleffect at proper viewing distances,” he wrote.
Mr Cramer, who has developed over 10,000 militarycamouflage patterns, pointed out that pixelated pat-terns have come out tops in US Army tests involvingwoodland, desert and mountainous terrains.
But there is no one camouflage that can work in allenvironments, he wrote.
Mr Lawrence Holsworth, the marketing director for
Hyde Definition, which designs and manufactures cam-ouflage patterns, said many factors go into the creationof a military camouflage pattern.
He gives us a how-to guide on creating such pat-terns for stealth and secrecy:
Theidealpattern:■ Must blend in with the colours, tones and textures ofthe environment where the soldiers operate in.■ Must also disrupt the identifiable shape of the personor object that has been camouflaged.■ Can be of a verdant, arid, arctic, urban or multi-ter-rain pattern.
Step1:Research■ Analyse the environment where the pattern needs towork.■ Observe and photograph the terrain, and analyse itfor colours and textures.■ Collect physical samples of vegetation in the area.■ Analyse other patterns that might be used in the area,like those of friends and foes.
■ Research can take weeks or months, depending onthe nature of the project.
Step2:Createthepattern
Method 1: Break up a solid colour■ Can be accomplished by brushing, spray painting orapplying dye directly on the uniform.■ Used during World War I and for Pathfinders in USairborne divisions during World War II.Method 2: Disrupt the wearer’s shape■ Use artistic methods to mix colours and shapes todisrupt the shape of the wearer.■ Can be done either by hand for an “analogue” pat-tern, or by using computer software for a “digital” one.Many digital patterns are pixelated.■ A scientific approach can also be used, which in-volves more thorough and focused research and analy-sis. The resultant pattern should be more effective andbetter suited to the colour spectrum and textures of theoperating environment.Method 3: Mimic the vegetation or terrain■ Create a pattern based on reproducing the typicalvegetation and colours of the environment.■ Similar to the “sticks-and-leaves” camouflage usedby hunters and outdoorsmen.
Step3:Testthepattern■ Place the pattern, or people dressed in it, at setdistances.■ Measure how long it takes for an observer to spot theobject or person.■ Repeat the procedure in various environments andunder different lighting conditions to get an overallresult.■ Adjust the optimal combination of colour, geometry,scale and texture for the target environment.■ Photo simulation can also be used to provide morecontrolled testing and a greater number of observers.■ Different countries and research organisations havecome up with different evaluating systems. A consistentset of standards and protocol was recently agreed uponby North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries.
US-based expert defendspixelated, digital camo uniforms
MULTIFACETED: Mr Lawrence Holsworth, themarketing director for a camouflage design andmanufacturing company, says many factors go intothe creation of camouflage patterns. PICTURE COURTESY OF LAWRENCE HOLSWORTH
News
Hiding forpixels unfair
WHERE’SWALLY?Despite the USArmy’s reportedplans to ditchthe pixelateddigital camodesign, the SAFis confident itsuniforms areeffective inmaking itstroops harder tospot.
PICTURE: ST FILE
6 Monday, July 16 2012 ● THE NEW PAPER
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