[MR] Heraldic Submission Warning

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Greetings to those gathered in the tavern from Gise in Sacred Stone, a sometime herald,

For those of you good gentles seeking to register armory with the College of Heralds of the SCA, a word of caution.

More and more submissions are coming in across the Known World colored with computer programs and produced on printers. While this seems a fine solution and looks really good when you put it in the envelope, unless you are using archival quality ink, the colors, especially red, yellow and purple, are likely to fade or shift.

The SCA registers the emblazon . . . the PICTURE on your form.

If it is not drawn recognizably it will be returned. If the colors of your printer ink shift, your submission will likely be returned . . . or registered incorrectly. And who wants that? 

I have worked with a kingdom submissions herald. I've opened the envelopes of submissions sent a few days or perhaps a few weeks earlier and I've seen with my own eyes the PURPLE had shifted to BLUE ... the YELLOW had shifted to SALMON or disappeared completely . . . the RED ink had faded to ORANGE or FUSHIA or LAVENDER. 

Don't ask me. I don't know. I just know what I saw.

By the time it reaches Wreath Herald's meeting to decide on the registration several months later? Who knows what colors are still on the paper and what tincture they actually are. When they're pulled out three years later to compare to a new submission? 

What Laurel has requested is that all armory submissions be colored with markers. The Heralds' standard is Crayola Classic although Roseart has been tested and does almost as well over time. DON'T USE THE WASHABLE markers. One drop of water and OIY!

Our heraldic submissions are important to us. The heralds are not out to ruin our fun, truly. But they need to know they're working with paperwork that accurately shows your intention. So, for your own good and the good of all heralds everywhere . . . use markers to color in your Armory Submissions NOT printers. Pretty Please.? =o)

~gise