TC pilots (from FM to CMDR) are allowed to wear squadron patches on their dress uniforms under the condition that the patches follow the below-given regulations and are approved by the Operations Office. Processing the submitted patches is currently duty of the OPSA.
The rules for the patches have been posted on the TC MB, but here they are again.
Please look through this carefully before submitting a patch for your squadron.
Following the regulations will not only ensure that your patch will be approved, it will also speed up the processing, as I won't have to spend so much time editing the patch before it can be used.
Squadron Patch Regulations
Creation:- There is not a technical size limitation for the squadron patches. However, it must be square or it will appear distorted. You also should not make it larger than 256x256 to keep the file size reasonably low (after all, I want to offer them for download here). It will be enough to give you a good level of detail on the output image.
- Every patch should have a coloured border to separate it from the uniform. In most cases, yellow should work best because it fits to the buttons and embroiderments. Alternatively you can use your ship's colour so that it fits with the other coloured borders. Of course you also can use a totally different colour but you should check how that goes with the rest of the uni before submitting it.
- TTT 2 can handle PNG and BMP patches. You can submit in different formats, though, then I'll convert it for you.
- Unless you want me take care of the transparency, you can set transparent areas by alpha channel (PNG format only), by using pure green (RGB 0, 255, 0) or the pixel colour of the leftmost uppermost (0, 0) pixel.
- Make the patch look "serious". Don't make it pink with green stripes.
- The patch must be submitted to the Assistant of the Operations Officer (OPSA) and CC'd to the Operations Officer (OPS) - if there is one in place - to be considered for approval. Make sure you have their correct e-mail addresses before submitting (one would think that wouldn't have to be mentioned...).
- Only Squadron Commanders may submit a patch on behalf of their Squadron. This is just to ensure that not every member of a squad decides to hand in his own patch.
- When using it with the dress uniform, you are not allowed to put the patch to anywhere else than the right sleeve. When using it on the helmet, you can put it wherever you want since there are no real regulations for the helmet. On the duty uniform, patches and other decorations are not allowed.
Some Tips
You don't have to obey the following tips and hints. But you would do me and yourself a favour. Me, because you reduce my work. You, because you won't have to wait long until your patch is approved.- Before submitting, test how your new patch looks on the uniform. Consider: It isn't enough to make your patch look good. It must look good on the uniform. For example, you might like bright yellow. But bright yellow put on a dark uniform distracts the eye and looks bad. This is just an example. Even if you use decent colours, put the patch on the uniform and test if you like it, then.
- Something I see quite often are that designers are fond of plastering their patches with text. Don't. Remember that when the patch is resized to be put on the uniform, small text will become an unreadable blur, looking just ugly. This situation has improved a lot with the new uniforms since the patches are now a lot larger, but still, don't write novels on your patch, it just looks silly. :P
