tl;dr:
1. Keep it simple.
2. Don't be random.
3. High contrast is good.
4. NO LETTERING!
5. Be distinctive.
6. Be realistic.


This is a repost from the old forum, though I've made some modifications to relate it more to CN. Rules and imagery are originally courtesy the North American Vexillological Association.

The Six Rules of Good Flag Design:

The purpose of a flag is to be a clear, unique identifier for your nation/alliance. The following guidelines will help you design a flag that effectively accomplishes that goal.



1. Keep It Simple
A child should be able to draw your flag from memory.
Flags flap, drape and must be easily identifiable from a distance (and as very small "thumbnail" graphics). Under these circumstances, only simple designs are effective. Avoid the temptation to use photoshop effects - they are difficult to see and are unrealistic (see rule 6). Complicated flags are not only more difficult to identify, but cost more to make in the real world, which limits how widely they can be used. Most overly complicated flag designs have the elements of a great flag in them; they just need to be simplified by focusing on a single symbol and simple colors. Avoid the temptation to include a lot of different symbols for every group you're trying to represent, as that could clutter the design. Ideally the design will be reversible or at least recognizable from either side; don't put a different design on the back.

Good:

With bold, contrasting colors, large shapes, and parallel lines, this flag is also easily recognized when reversed. (Congo)

Bad:

Replete with stars, crescents, and the Sword of Ali, this 19th-century design's overwhelming complexity defeats its purpose. (Bey of Tunisia)


2. Use Meaningful Symbolism
The flag's images, colors, or patterns should relate to what it symbolizes.
Don't be random. Symbolism can be in the form of the "charge" or main graphic element, in the colors used, or sometimes even in the shapes or layout of the parts of the flag. Usually a single primary symbol is best, and try to avoid symbols that aren't unique, or aren't representative of anything. Colors often carry meanings: Red for blood or sacrifice, white for purity, blue for water or sky, etc. In cybernations team color can be an important symbol. Diagonal stripes are often used by former colonies as an alternative to the generally horizontal and vertical stripes of European countries.

Good:

"Hiawatha's Belt", a symbol for five tribes since before 1600, appears on the traditional blue of wampum shell beads. (Iroquois Confederacy)

Bad:

This flag depicts the flags of all the member countries. Not only is it unreadable, but it must be changed each time one joins, drops out, or changes its flag! (Organization of American States)


3. Use About 3 Solid, Contrasting Colors
To be easily identifiable, colors should be simple and highly contrasting.
The basic flag colors are Red, Blue, Green, Black, Yellow, and White. Other colors can be used (Purple, Orange, etc), but always use solid colors, never a gradient. Separate dark colors with a light color and light colors with a dark color to help create effective contrast. A good flag should also reproduce well in grayscale (black & white). More than four colors are hard to distinguish and make the flag unnecessarily complicated and expensive, so limit your palette.

Good:

These colors contrast well, even though the red and black are not separated by a light color. (Amsterdam)

Bad:

Too many colors! At the least, the yellow and white should be separating the dark colors so the various stripes contrast more. Also, the dragon is too complex to make out except from up close (see rules 1 and 4). (Chinese Admiral)


4. No Lettering or Seals
Never use writing or any detailed seals on a flag; they defeat the point and are hard to read.
Why not just write "U.S.A." on a flag instead of using the stars and stripes? Because flags are supposed to be graphic symbols; words defeat the purpose. Lettering is also nearly impossible to read from a distance, difficult to reduce to thumbnail image size, and hard to sew in the real world. Words are not reversible, which forces double or triple-thick fabric. Don't confuse a flag with a banner, such as what is carried in front of a marching band in a parade, draped behind a speaker's platform, or placed at the top of your alliance forum. Banners don't flap, don't have to be resized, and are seen from only one side, while flags are much more dynamic and therefore must be much simpler. Likewise, seals were designed for placement on paper to be read at close range. Most seals are very detailed, which makes then ineffective for flags. Better to use some single element from the seal rather than the seal itself. Occasionally logos, crests or shields can work, but usually they have the same problems as seals.

Good:

The palmetto tree represents "Palmetto State" far better than the state's seal could. The crescent moon is in the position of honor. (South Carolina)

Bad:

It's impossible to make out the details of the central seal in this flag. Even worse, since this flag uses a seal AND lettering, the name of the state actually appears twice. (South Dakota)


5. Be Distinctive or Be Related
Avoid duplicating other flags outright, but use similarities to show relationships
This is perhaps the most difficult principle, but it is very important. Sometimes the good designs are already "taken". Duplicating or recalling another flag's symbols, colors, or shapes can be a powerful way to show heritage, solidarity, or connectedness. This requires knowledge of other flags. Often the best way to start the design process can be looking to one's "roots" in flags by team, alliance or national identity.

Good:

Using the same colors as the flags of many other African countries, this flag shows a strong connection to its neighbors. You know it's an African flag right away. (Ghana)

Bad:

Except for its proportions, this flag is exactly the same as Monaco's (which had it first), but there is no connection between the two countries. Upside-down it is the same as Poland or as Cantabria, Spain. Simple is good, but this one takes it too far. (Indonesia)


6. Be Realistic

Shape: A rectangle is the standard flag shape. Keep the width/length proportions between 1:1.5 and 1:2. Canadian flags are usually 1:2; U.S. flags are usually 1:1.5 or 1:1.67. Square flags are unusual, and pennants even more so. Abandon normal rectangles only when meaningful.

Placement of symbols: Your most important symbols should be located where they will be most visible. The point of honor is the "canton" area in the upper left corner. This corresponds to the part of the flag that is seen when it hangs limp from a flagpole. The center or left-of-center position is the most visible spot for a symbol when the flag is flying. Discounting wind, Americans and Europeans read top-to-bottom and left-to-right, so when we look at a graphic, we naturally look first towards the upper left. Flags that break this consideration tend to look awkward and unrealistic.

Keep in mind real-life issues: Consider the fabrication methods. Curved lines add to the cost of sewn flags. Holes or "negative space" hurt a flag’s fly-ability and wear-ability. "Swallow-tail" shapes fray more easily. As with wind, these issues may not directly affect the cyberverse, but designs that don't take them into consideration won't look realistic.

Good:

This flag's only non-stripe graphical element is located where it will be visible most often. (Namibia)

Bad:

This flag will appear to be a blank green sheet unless the wind is blowing strongly. (Zambia)


Breaking The Rules

Only break the rules if you have a good reason: All rules have exceptions. Colorado's "C" is a stunning graphic element even though it's technically a letter; the fact that it is used as a symbol instead of a letter makes it more effective than normal writing. Maryland's complicated heraldic quarters produce a memorable and distinctive flag. You can break the rules, but do so only with caution and purpose.


Colorado


Maryland


Examples from CN:


Norden Verein's flag is clear and unmistakable at any size (rule 1). Its colors and shapes are easily distinguished (3), and its design reflects NoV's northern European focus (5).


The map on IRON's flag is difficult to make out at this scale (1). It has lots of lettering (4). What do the stars mean? It seems like they're there just to fill up space (2).


NpO's flag puts its most important symbol in the center (6), uses clear colors (3), and reflects Polar's Pacific heritage (5).


The black, maroon and deep gold stars on ONOS' flag don't contrast enough and are difficult to make out (3). Like IRON, it uses stars for no apparent reason except to fill space (2).


Wolfpack's complicated, heavily-photoshopped flag (left) is totally unidentifiable at small size (1). On the other hand, STA's flag (right, and below) is unmistakable due to to its simplicity (1) and highly contrasting colors (3). Even the relatively complicated tiger graphic is identifiable at small size, partly because it's a clean design (1) and partly because with a name like Siberian Tiger Alliance, you expect to see a tiger on the flag (2). Putting the graphic in the canton also ensures maximum visibility (6), and lets us know it is an important symbol.

Cirrus, you are brilliant. Heavily photoshopping something, shouldn't be for flags, save it for alliance announcement banners. NPO and NpO, in my opinion, have some of the best flags, along with VE and PPF.

I think my flag fits it well.



If CN allowed personal flags, that would be the Uberstein Empire's. The spade is Uberstein's personal symbol, and the X's are reactionary or revolutionary symbols in their own way.

Hmm...I don't like your flag - I don't think the brown goes with the red and I think it would look better if each half was separated by a central centre point (if you get me!), but yeah at least you made an effort.

Also, clubs, not spades.

EDIT: Here's mine:



Nothing special, but it's not a huge part of the game

King HordeOfDoom II's War Banner vaguely follows these guidelines.



His Peacetime flag is also

An important read that all alliances should follow. A testimonial:

When I joined Invicta in August by virtue of PAW merging into its ranks, this was Invicta's flag:

As you can tell, a lot of problems with it. Multiple colours, no dominant symbol, text on the flag (in three different fonts!) All in all, more suitable as a design for a coaster on which to set my can of Mountain Dew.

In October, Dawny opened a contest to all members asking them to design a simpler flag, along with me presenting these standards to the members. As a result, we selected a design by lost of Agrarian Aguacenta that we believe certainly and succinctly conveyed facets of our alliance:

The purple's actually purple, it only has three colours, we have a dominant symbol, no text, etc. Easily it stands out and can be replicated to still represent our alliance.

And since then, we've put that horse design to other locations, notably ribbons and our commonly accepted seal:

Lettering can work sometimes:


'pends on how it's done really.

Not on that flag, way too much text.

Why not just write "U.S.A." on a flag instead of using the stars and stripes? Because flags are supposed to be graphic symbols; words defeat the purpose. Lettering is also nearly impossible to read from a distance, hard to sew, and difficult to reduce to thumbnail image size. Words are not reversible, which forces double or triple-thick fabric. Don’t confuse a flag with a banner, such as what is carried in front of a marching band in a parade, or draped behind a speaker’s platform. Banners don’t flap and are seen from one side, while flags are much more dynamic and therefore must be much simpler.

All this applies to the communist flag above. It is not an exception just because the text is easy to read at that particular size. For the most part, the only exception to the no lettering rule is when you are using one letter as if it were a graphic symbol, as Sparta does with its flag:



I feel Sparta's flag could be improved upon in some ways, but it is a good example of what constitutes appropriate use of lettering.

OOC:

The only reason sparta uses the Lambda as their symbol is... that was the RL Sparta's symbol

OOC: You might also want to use Lybia's national flag as a bad flag. Sometimes, having a flag too simple is bad.

Edit: Also, in your opinion, would you consider the ENA flag to be a good one?

I think it has one too many colors. Or maybe it's the lack of contrast between the brown, red and black. Something isn't right, but it's close.

And yeah, obviously Libya is too simple. For those who don't know, Libya's flag is an undecorated solid green sheet.

We're breaking rules, but it's still hawt.

This is the flag of the Soviet Republic of Gallipoli. You like?

Let's see if I can remember the symbolism...

The red and black are the traditional colors of socialism and anarchism respectively (you knew that). Their arrangement indicates socialism's more exalted position in my nation while acknowledging anarchists' contributions, and also evokes the anarcho-syndicalist flag without being quite so ugly. The crescent moon is a symbol of Islam, but is turned to the left rather than the right as is the normal use. This is to show Gallipoli's turn towards laicism and secularism rather than religiosity or theocracy. The arrow is a symbol for Turks, and evokes a warrior past and a will to fight to maintain the gains of the socialist revolution. The star symbolizes the hope for a more just future.

P.S. you'll get a free shave if you know which RL flag is my flag's closest analogue

Turkey?

Angola.

Good flag.

I totally forgot about Angola.
Good call.
For those who can't google.

Congratulations, and thank you.

In which program did all of you made their flags? Paint?

Photoshop
GIMP
Paint Shop Pro

Paint will do it for you if it's super simple, I guess.

Or if you have the near-infinite patience required to go through thousands of pixels and make miniscule color changes to each one individually.

Another rather strange flag is the Mozambiqu flag



It depicts a hoe for farming which is quite unusual in Mozambique. The book is also quite startling to see on the flag as well in a country renown for poverty. However the symolism of the AK-47 with attached bayonet is unmatched on any other flag I've seen. If you noticed as well, the Russian red and star is also quite evident from when the USSR were the main protectors and suppliers of weapons to Mozambique. The Russian red is also quite evident on some of the other flags, like the Angolan one below. The green, black, white and yellow, in my opnion do a good job of capturing the African colours. Perhaps the only failing from the perscribed list above is that the left side of the flag is far more detailed than the right and center of the flag. However, if I heard right, they are planning on doing away with this flag - the AK portaits too much of a negaitive image. In some ways this is a real shame as it is perhaps a rare kind of flag that says so much just by a simple image and colouring. On the other hand, perhaps what Mozambique really needs in a clean break from the past... the arguements are endless.

I made that for a RP, I think it fits well. It has 3 Alchemic Symbols that represent words, the Green banner to reprsent farming, a major part of the nation, it's outlined in gold, showing Royalty or superiority. It's purple because I wanted it to be purple.

Nope, it follows rule #5. It was a US Colony.

^
That's Liberia, not Lybia. Different countries.

Here is a flag that breaks a few rules.


That is the Canadian Red Ensign. Though it was never officially Canada's flag, it was flown above the parliament buildings for many years and was used to represent our military over seas. I personally believe it is truly beautiful even if it does break many of the rules outlined in the OP.
The color red in the background of the flag symbolizes life and blood -- blood shed in the settlement of this country and in wars to preserve basic freedoms. The Union Jack is rather self explanatory. Canada was founded with strong ties to Great Britain. I won't get into the explanation of the Union Jack. Needless to say, it has tons of symbolism. All of which was translated into this flag as well.

The Canadian coat of arms is on the right side of the flag. This is the element of the flag which breaks the rules seeing as it is so detailed. It speaks greatly to Canadian history. The crest contains three maples leaves with stems joined. The three leaves represent the component peoples of Canada: the natives, the French and English original settlers, and the others, mostly European, who came later. The veins of the leaves are gold, symbolizing wealth -- wealth created through unity and passion for this land and hard work. The Maple Leaf, of course, also represents the forests of Canada -- a most important contributor to the nation's wealth.
The emblems within the crest reflect the origins of our founding peoples. the couchant lion (upper left), emblem of William of Normandy, has been used by the British monarchs since 1066. It represents both the British and French settlers. The red lion rampant (upper right) was the emblem of the Scottish monarchs. From Cape Breton to Glengarry County, Ontario, Scots, many refugees from the Highland clearances, were important early settlers and leaders (like Sir John A. Macdonald) in Canada. The harp (lower left) is a symbol of Ireland -- another important source of our founding people. The fleur de lis symbolizes the early French settlers of Canada, who brought this as an emblem of a royalist not a republican France.

I didn't intend for this explanation to get so long. As you can see the flag holds more symbolism that most. Being a Canadian, it means the world to me. Just goes to show you that even if a flag doesn't follow the rules, it can still hold just as much (if not more) meaning to those who reside under it.

This is a great guide.

The question, KillerTomato, is what the purpose of the flag is supposed to be. Being meaningful is good, but ultimately the point of a flag is to easily identify your group. Look at all the flags using exactly the same pattern of a red field with a Union Jack in the canton and a shield-shaped crest to the right. How are casual observers supposed to tell the difference?


Fiji Merchant Ensign


Manitoba


Bermuda


Ontario


South Africa (1910-1928)

Check out how many similar flags there are in the world. It's pretty amazing.

Ours is more of a banner than a flag.

Without your name on the flag, Itd be great

Can a 5 year old draw it? Heck, I couldn't. Way too complicated.

I'm pretty sure the guy that made it is a professional graphic designer.

Their similarity speaks to their purpose though. Nearly all the nations or territories/provinces using the ensign design (red ensign, blue ensign, white ensign, etc.) are historically British colonies or members of the British military.
Just as the New Polar Order's flag is very similar to that of the New Pacific Order. The design similarity of the flag speaks to it's roots and those who had a major hand in founding it.

What do you think of our Flag at The Empire?

I love that flag.
I don't love what it stands for.

If you have the time to learn Adobe Illustrator, it's the best program to design a flag in. It's all completely vector art (don't ask me to explain that one here, it would be far better to look it up); so you should end up with smooth lines and complete control of how large you would like it to be every time. It's used to create logos (so they can be resized later), and is generally a good test for a flag's design. If you can't recreate it in Illustrator (heavy photo effects and the like), it generally couldn't be mass-produced, and thus wouldn't be an effective flag. [OOC, all of that is generally irrelevant in a web-based game of course, but I suppose I'm a bit of a purist.]

The ORIGINAL German Empire actually wasn't all that bad, it was WWII Germany that was pure evil. The orignal German Empire tried to make a Navy and support their allies, and they got their arses handed to them for doing so.

That isn't what he meant, he is just a sour White Supremest we caught in The Empire and Ejected him. And The German Empire didn't get their arses handed to them, they fought very well, just with US Aid and such they lost.

Oh the baseless accusations sting!
Don't clutter up the thread with your tactless assault against my person.

I was not referring to to the German empire in the real world.
I am very aware of their noble existance.

The base shape design of the NPO and NpO flags are the same, thats it, the colours are different, the centre is different and they are more than distinguishable at a distance.

All of the British ensign flags look pretty much exactly the same.

And there is something to be said for that. But ultimately they need to be distinguishable from one another. Ideally they should all replace the shields with a simple, clear icon of some sort.

Here are some examples. (with the blue field instead of the red, but they could all just as easily be red)






These flags all retain their British heritage and are all clearly intended to be related to each other, but unlike the flags I posted earlier, anybody can tell these apart from one another.

It seems to me that the use of shields on flags is somewhat, well, redundant. Many of the rules for flag design are shared by heraldry, but heraldy has the added difficulty of creating increasingly complex designs to denote heratige. I just don't understand the desire to add "heratige" to "nationality" as they're generally linked in the first place. Plus, putting a "cluttered" image onto a largely "uncluttered" flag draws unwanted attention to it.



I feel very unscholarly now, as I consider myself to have an above-average knowlege of alchemy. I recognize gold and fire, but not the middle symbol. Is it salt?

I'm proud enough of my work to want to show here the AHEAD flag, as a good example of a CN flag:

1. It's simple enough, with a few elements that can be easily remembered: the four quadrants, the shield, the dove.
2. The flag symbols and colours are meaningful: Orange because AHEAD is "primarily" an Orange Alliance, and White because other colours are allowed (and widely used); White also because it represents Peace. The four Quadrants were chosen to recall a GPA flag that is used on a site of theirs, and part of the idea of AHEAD was inspired by looking at the GPA; the Shield is for Protection, the Dove is for Peace.
3. Orange and White have an excellent contrast.
4. No lettering on our flag (ok).
5. The flag is distinctive and unlike anything else (in CN or RL).
6. Despite the dove and the curved lines, the flag is still realistic: it could be reproduced in large quantities without being too expensive.

Also, the Dove is in canton, because Peace is the primary value of AHEAD.

I agree, that is a very good flag and it follows the rules very well.

What's your opinion on CSN's flag?

It's nice aside from the fact that the dove is somewhat hard to spot at first.


I looks nice; the colors mix well, and it's not too complicated either.

I disagree about CSN's flag. This may be a problem with my eyesight, but it's kind of hard to see the features on the globe unless you're rather close up.

Well yes, they did fight well, but you know a war is going badly when they are tearing pipes out of the streets to make bullets, and that was BEFORE the USA entered. Germans fought hard, but they just wern't ready for the war, nobody was.

Back to flags:

Opinion on this?

I'm afraid those stars are very hard to make out. The knife could be simplified rather than looking like a pencil drawing. Perhaps a white dagger outline on a brown background without a white stripe at all?