Name Lettering Color Question

[rac]

First, this question is totally pointless but I wondered about it so...

Why is the lettering on the shoulders required to be Blue as opposed to any other color? Is there some lost in the far distant past reason or is it just an arbitrary decision by the FIE?

[DHCJr]

It wouldn't be the far distant past as this is a fairly recent rule. The actual color is Dark Blue. It did use to be blue, but they changed that as they were getting a rainbow of blue. I had one in Aqua Blue. I think their reasoning was uniformity, especially considering the changes to M.25.3.

However, this is a guess.

[rac]

I understand the idea of specifying a certain color but my question is why (dark) Blue as opposed to say Red, Black, Green...

Just Curious.

[DHCJr]

This is a good question and all I have is a guess. I have a feeling you may have been right before and that is tradition. Fencing has been a Black and White sport. Sometimes the rules specified white sometime in our history it was black.

Black is now traditional for coaches, so that color was out. I am thinking they were trying to avoid color. So they decided on a color that would stand out against white, but would not be colorful.

I also would like to hear, if anyone else has any ideas.

[mifencer]

I told that this was the best color for tv cameras...

[Hollywood Troy]

Anyone know what happens if someone decides on a blue lame? They are legal now, right? Blue wouldn't show up too well against green, either.

[DHCJr]

Anyone know what happens if someone decides on a blue lame? They are legal now, right? Blue wouldn't show up too well against green, either.

If it is a 'Light' Blue, it is legal in USFA competitions. A Dark Blue would not be legal at a USFA competiton, but would be at a FIE competition.

Members of SEMI knows of this problem and has been wondering why they were not consulted on the change from the old 'light or white' rule.

Think what the letters would look like on a Rainbow lame', which is also legal, since they also got rid of the single color rule.

I hope someone tries it and see what RR does.

[tehcow]

If I am to believe what a teacher once told me, other than black, blue is the colour that stands out best against your typical white background. I would assume this would carry over somewhat on to the silvery/grey of the average lame, as well as many other coloured backgrounds.

[rac]

If I am to believe what a teacher once told me, other than black, blue is the colour that stands out best against your typical white background. I would assume this would carry over somewhat on to the silvery/grey of the average lame, as well as many other coloured backgrounds.

Do you recall why this is?

[pacer]

Do you recall why this is?
09-09-2006 04:48 AM

I can't comment on the rule in fencing, but years ago when I was a technical writer we relied on Le Courier's legibility table for determining the legibility of print color on a different color background. Based on that table, black on yellow background is the most legible,followed by green on white, red on white, then blue on white. Black on white is actually sixth.

[yeoldearmourer]

We used navy blue when we do name panels, Navy Blue is almost black looking until you look at it against black.

[die Fechterin]

Anyone know what happens if someone decides on a blue lame? They are legal now, right? Blue wouldn't show up too well against green, either.

Mostly what I've seen is people with colored lames have patches of silver lame with their name written in blue sewn on to their colored lame.

[DHCJr]

Mostly what I've seen is people with colored lames have patches of silver lame with their name written in blue sewn on to their colored lame.

But those lame' would be technically illegal in the U.S. since the USFA still has the single color rule.