Colour Alternatives

References

Heralds dislike repeating colours and will refer back to previous tinctures. The following such references are supported:

Of the field, of the first, of the second, of the third, of the fourth, of the last

In addition, if you do not provide a tincture where one is expected the next tincture encountered will be used in its place. E.g. in Azure a bend wavy and a chief sable the wavy bend will also be coloured sable.

Also note that of the field does not necessarily mean the same as of the first. If for example the field is Per bend azure and or then of the field refers to the whole division, while of the first means the first mentioned colour, which is azure.

Proper

Some charges may also be described as proper, in which case they will be given a tincture defined by Heraldic convention, for example a chough proper will be black with red beak and legs. This also demonstrates that both the main charge and any features may have their own proper colours.

Counterchanged

If the field of the shield consists of a two coloured division or a simple two colour treatment then an ordinary or charge on this field may be described as counterchanged. It will be coloured using the "opposite" colour from the underlying division. E.g. per bend azure and or, a fess counterchanged.

Additionally, if the field of the shield is split into 3 colours, for example tierced in pale azure, gules and or then you also use counterchanged and the "opposite" colours will be rotated through the range.

Herald's Notebook: Counterchanging a background of three colours does NOT have heraldic precendent. In addition, there are some things such as Furs which it would be legitimate to counterchange but are not currently supported. (issue #332)