Flag advice super thread

[The Universe World]

All I need to know is how to make a cool shaped flag, like Nepal's. However, when I try, the part I want to be transparent is white! How can I fix this?

Take a screenshot, crop that part out, and upload it.

[Mechanocracy]

What program are you using to make your flag?

I use this

If you delete all the layers on flag-creator.com, you'll see that it's actually starting from an undeletable white background rectangle. This is not an auspicious start. However, depending on what exactly you're trying to achieve, you could use Lunapic's transparency tool, which selects a similarly colored region on an existing .PNG image and deletes it, leaving behind a transparent area.

It still has the really ugly watermark, but that's not going away unless you pay Flag-Creator.com, remove the watermark yourself in a program like MSpaint (before the transparency step since MSpaint doesn't support transparency and will fill any transparency with white background), or switch to one of their competitor's services that has no watermarking.

[Sawenia]

What program are you using to make your flag?

https://keolot.com/
Useful for putting photos

Ideas are
https://flag-creator.com/user-design-gallery/

[Almonaster Nuevo]

I do everything in the GIMP.

As others have said, you need to be using a file type which supports transparency. In practice that means .png
You will also need an image editor on your device which can use that type. (Almost anything more recent than MS-Paint probably will.)

Download from the flag creator to your own device (If the site won't give you .png don't worry - you can re-export it from your image editor.) Depending on the editor, you may need to explicity allow transparency, since the image you are loading doesn't have any. Transparency is somtimes called alpha, so the option may be called something like "add an alpha channel". In the GIMP it's on the layers menu.

There will be various selection tools available, use these to select the relevant area and delete it. You also get rid of that annoying watermark. Get the colour of the surrounding area, then either use the paint tool to paint over it or select it (plus a small border) and flood fill that with the desired colour. Zooming in can be a useful option for accuracy.

Finally export the image under a new name (so you still have the source image), and upload that to NS.

[The Antarctic Sphere]

Any advice for my current flag (the one you see next to my username)?

[Dispertag]

Any advice for my current flag (the one you see next to my username)?

I like the concept very much. Maybe lower the contrast and simplify the left part a little bit so it's easier on the viewer. It gives me intergalactic nation vibes.

[The Antarctic Sphere]

NEVER in my life have I had more indecisive difficulty with choosing a national flag than now.

[Dispertag]

NEVER in my life have I had more indecisive difficulty with choosing a national flag than now.

I liked the one you had just three hour ago lol, just before this one, the best one you have had till now. I know that feeling of indecisiveness because I have changed my flag several times and still think about it sometimes, but don't worry. Just choose the one you like best, that's what matters at the end of the day.

[The Antarctic Sphere]

Here's the thing. My thought process is that if someone sees my flag and says "It reminds me of...", then I'm not being original enough. I've tried a dozen different different designs and none of them sit right with me. Nothing too complex yet nothing too similar to another flag... And I'm always having a hard time with that.

[Almonaster Nuevo]

Well you're well off heraldic norms, so there's little chance of being too similar to a RL flag.

I'm a big believer in simplicity. Most of your designts seem too intricate for a flag, which should be easily recognisable at a distance.

Given your nation name, how about some representation of a sphere (possibly with a white base) on a plain background?

[Dispertag]

Here's the thing. My thought process is that if someone sees my flag and says "It reminds me of...", then I'm not being original enough. I've tried a dozen different different designs and none of them sit right with me. Nothing too complex yet nothing too similar to another flag... And I'm always having a hard time with that.

The fact that you're flags had different and unique shapes made them special. If you're still undecided, I suggest sticking to a design that isn't squared or rectangular shaped. And don't worry too much about people being reminded of things when seeing your flag because there will always be something for people to be reminded of. You can't avoid that. Anyways, it's yours to decide.

[The Antarctic Sphere]

Is this one unique enough?

[Almonaster Nuevo]

I preferred the one you had up yesterday. Just use that ice blue for the irises and it would rock.

This one is a bit fussy.

[The Antarctic Sphere]

I preferred the one you had up yesterday. Just use that ice blue for the irises and it would rock.

This one is a bit fussy.

*groans* Really? Many thus far think that the other one sucks ass.

[Almonaster Nuevo]

Sorry. Simplicity is king for flags.

... don't worry. Just choose the one you like best, that's what matters at the end of the day.

/\ Sound advice.

Here's an option combining my suggestion with Sispertag's non-rectangular idea. (I've left a hint of your colours in the flaunches, but that could easily be removed.)

[The Antarctic Sphere]

Sorry. Simplicity is king for flags.

Flags used for the world stage, definitely.

[The Finnish Republic]

I like my flag nice and stylized

[UCE Watchdog of the Puppets]

Thoughts on the flag my country is currently using? I was thinking of making it the official for my main as a replacement for its current flag.
Edited to embed replacement flag design. And spoiler it...

[Almonaster Nuevo]

<snip> And spoiler it... ]

I would suggest a slightly darker background and/or lighter stars, but the design is good.

[Almonaster Nuevo]

I like my flag nice and stylized

So why are you posting here? This is an advice thread.

[UCE Watchdog of the Puppets]

<snip> And spoiler it... ]

I would suggest a slightly darker background and/or lighter stars, but the design is good.

Thank you very much! I do think the flag could do with more field contrast and a darker background would help in that respect.

[The Erishlands]

Any feedback on my flag?

[Almonaster Nuevo]

It's good as is. Nice and simple: 2 colours 1 symbol.

Was there a reason for choosing the square layout? (Not against: it helps make it distinctive. I'm just curious.)

[The Erishlands]

It's good as is. Nice and simple: 2 colours 1 symbol.

Was there a reason for choosing the square layout? (Not against: it helps make it distinctive. I'm just curious.)

Mostly because of the fact that my nation is just a Swiss Welfare state which is also the theme of my flag, but also I think distinction and creativity are even more pros to it.

But anyway, thanks for the feedback!

[Hen Ogleth]

So this is my current flag for the North of England, but I'm not happy with it and I'm kind of stumped for ideas. The current flag is based of the colours of the Northern Independence Party (UK), with the dimensions of the unofficial, unadopted and frankly unknown "Flag of the North of England" which is essentially just the English flag but with a Nordic cross instead of a St George's Cross.

Does anyone have suggestions? bonus points if you're from the north of England because while every area has it's own cultural identity, we have a shared "northern identity" and I honestly have no clue how to even begin to represent that without making a flag that looks like a patchwork blanket