Download - 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