Coat of Arms Creator Update

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I’m ready to put make the link to the Coat of Arms Creator publicly available.  In this message I’ll list some caveats, give out the link, ask for feedback and give you an idea of what’s next.

Caveats

I’m calling this a late alpha release because there is still a lot I want to do.  But I also want to get more feedback and let people start using it with the understanding that several features are still in the works. (Those plans are at the bottom of this message.)

You will need a high-speed connection to use the software.  (It might take hours to load if you use a dial-up connection.) There are a number of fairly large libraries needed to display the graphics and these take some time to download.  On cable modems or DSL it may only take 1 minute or it may take 5 minutes.  That simply depends on the speed of your connection.  There are instructions on the web page that will load first, so please look at them while you’re downloading the program on the other side of the web page.  It should load faster if you return to the page later because these libraries should be already on your computer.

It is a Java Applet, which is a computer program that essentially runs inside a web-page. Therefore your web browser will need to have Java installed.  Most people already have this, even if they don’t know about it. However, if you don’t a message/link should appear on the web page and it should be a fairly easy installation process.

I am actively working on getting more creatures, symbols, and ordinaries into the system.  Also, creatures and symbols have a small graphic preview next to some of them.  I’m working on completing the previews even as I add more creatures and symbols.  I home to add 10-20 each week for the next few weeks.

My knowledge of Heraldry is probably just barely beyond the “beginner” level.  I became very interested in the topic a few months ago and this is a way for me to learn it.  Please bear with me and let me know if something I’m doing is wrong.

My target audience for this program is much larger than heraldry experts.  I want it to be a good tool for beginners as well.  But even more than that, it think it could be used by people who might want to create a logo for an organization, amateur sports team, a fictional country in a book series or fantasy game, a fictional character in a book or game, SCA members, etc.  Or at least people could use this tool to quickly develop a few ideas before meeting with a professional designer.

I am trying to go a little slow spreading the word about this tool.  I guess I still want some time to make fixes based on early feedback. Therefore, please don’t post the link on web sites quite yet.  I’ll be doing that as I am ready and once I can declare it “beta” (the next phase of software development) I would love the word to be spread.

Link

I figure people might not want to read much further before they try it out, so here’s the link:
http://www.inkwellideas.com/coat_of_arms/

Feedback Request

Thanks to everyone who wrote to me earlier and provided feedback on the earliest versions of this software!

As you can tell, I’m actively working to make this as complete as possible.  I know there are some significant things I need to add. Please let me know if there is something you can’t do using the tool AFTER checking the enhancements list below in case I already know about the issue.

Secondly, please let me know if you encounter any bugs.  Please try to describe the bug and what you were trying to do at the time.  (For example: “I was switching the type from a creature (a lion rampant that was 80% and 80% with a vertical of 20 and a horizontal of 10) to a bend ordinary and the bend ordinary that was displayed was shifted off of the shield.”)  Also, if you know how to send me a screenshot of your issue, please send it.

I’m looking for a better name that “Coat of Arms Creator.”  If you have a suggestion, please send it.

If you have a particular creature or symbol you’d like me to add to the system, please let me know.  I won’t be able to do every request quickly, but I will prioritize adding them based on requests.

This takes up just about all of my free time.  Please send words of encouragement as you see fit.

Planned Enhancements

This isn’t a complete list.

SHORT TERM (these should be done in the next few weeks)

  • Add more creatures and symbols
  • Build a small web site describing the basics of Heraldry
  • Pick better colors as the default (or more prominent in the color selector) heraldic colors
  • Add more ordinaries
  • Easy way to center charges
  • Drag to move charges
  • Mouseovers for meanings of the objects (I realize that not everyone believes in these meanings, and I’ll include a caveat about that.)Reduce the frequent updates to the graphic when the spinners are used to change the width, height, horizontal, and vertical settings.

MEDIUM TERM (1-4 months out)

  • Pop a window to see a larger version of shield
  • Saving graphics
  • Printing graphics
  • Support quartering
  • Support countercharges
  • Support varying partition lines
  • Perform a check for the rules of tincture

LONG TERM

  • Parse Blazon
  • Output Blazon

7 Comments on “Coat of Arms Creator Update”

  2. The hosting company changed some configuration last night. (I’m *NOT* happy with them.) I’ve fixed it as of about an hour ago.

  3. This is fantastic. My family name is quite obscure and even though I had a description of the arms and a tiny black and white drawing, I could NEVER find a rendition. You have allowed me to visualize this obscure Coat of Arms from the 16th century. Thank you. The only problem I have with the program is that all I could do was the Shield. No banner or Crest available to create a really pretty finished product. I’m not complaining since I have so much more than I started with. But the finishing touches would be nice. Thank you.

  4. Have tried to create a coat of arms using this information but without success. There must be some point I’m missing

  5. Rita: Thanks. I’m actively improving the program and the crest will be added eventually. (After I get the features of the shield more complete.) But the banner is currently part of the software. Go to “Tools” on the top menu, then choose “Set Name/Motto…”

    Desmond: You can email me at joewetzel at gmail com if you would like me to help you. Unfortunately you didn’t give me any details to try to diagnose the problem. (Does the program load at all? If not, what do you see and what browser are you using? Does the program load, but you don’t know how to start? etc.)

  6. I sound very stupid now but i cant find the link to nopen or buy the program, canyou pleace give it to me?

    greets Frans

  7. Go to the web address http://www.inkwellideas.com/coat_of_arms/ (It is linked in the text above, but you can type that in your web browser’s address area) then look for the “Design Software” tab. It should automatically load and appear in the middle of the web page that loads when you go to the “Design Software” page after clicking on that tab. If it doesn’t load/appear there automatically, you may need a new version of Java. Go to http://www.getjava.com to get it.