This document summarizes a study conducted on developing a new camouflage pattern for the Indian Army. Imagery was collected from forest areas and processed in Photoshop to create a pixilated pattern with three colors. The new pattern, called INCAM, and an existing pattern were tested on users at different distances. Analysis found that users could detect INCAM at closer ranges compared to the existing pattern, showing it is more effective camouflage for the local environment. The process can be used to design patterns for other terrains.

1. Study of
Graphic Camouflage Patterns of Battle
Uniform
and
improving the pattern used by Indian Army
Supervisor
Mr. K.K. Balakrishnan
Co-supervisor
Dr. Jayesh Pillai
- Rohit Singh (M.Des.) I.I.I.T.

2. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-
War
• War exists as a continuous culture
since the human civilisation.
• Ethnic Superiority, Self Defence
have caused war.
• Operation strategy plays a crucial
role for winning the war.

3. http://cdn.isha.ws/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Battle-of-Kurukshetra-Manuscript-Illustration.jpg
Mahabharata

4. http://schnellmann.org/pic_counterjihad/mo_hamza_banu.jpg
Persian Warriors

5. http://www.about.com/sites/default/files/mongol_main.jpg
Mongol Wars

6. http://www.historytoday.com/sites/default/files/panipat_main.jpg
Mughal Battle

7. http://www.amedeoguillet.com/amedeo/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/infantry144.gifAdvent of Guns and Canons

8. http://cdn.lightgalleries.net/4bd5ebf721640/images/IRAQADDARIO042-1.jpg
War Methods
• With the advent of gun powder,
war changed drastically.
• No longer needed to come face to
face to the enemy.
• Concealment and surveillance
replaced old war skills.
• Better weapon technology push
better methods of concealment.

9. http://cdn.lightgalleries.net/4bd5ebf721640/images/IRAQADDARIO042-1.jpg
Camouflage
• Way to obscure the object from
enemy to render undetected.
• Concealment of soldier, war fare,
vehicles.
• A disruptive pattern that mimics
the background.
• Use of patterns over the body to
blend with the environment.

10. Nature Inspiration
• Idea of camouflage taken from
nature.
• Animals, Birds have disruptive
pattern over their body.
• Result of natural evolution over a
long period of time.
• In some cases, natural camouflage
is more dynamic.
http://commons.Wikimedia.org/wiki/FIle:Nature_photographer.jpg

11. History of
Military Camouflage
• Idea of concealment is as old as the
war is.
• Wooden horse of battle of troy is
such example.
• Deceiving the enemy has always
been the major war strategy.
• Graphic patterns over the dresses
started after world war I.
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5

12. History of
Military Camouflage
• British army first realized the
need of concealing their soldiers.
• Khaki Dress was first such
initiative.
• Replaced old red or blue war
jackets.
• The muddy land was the
inspiration to design this dress.

13. History of
Military Camouflage
• Germans made the first graphic
patterns to be used as camouflage.
• Contemporary Artists developed
these patterns based on their
skills.
• Following Germans, many nations
started developing their camo
patterns.
• Later, design testing was also
started to validate the design.

14. History of
Military Camouflage
• By the end of world war 2, several
nations started making their own
camouflage dresses.
• More research was supported for
better and more accurate camo
pattern.
• Canada came up with the more
disruptive and better working
digital or pixilated pattern
CADPAT.
http://camopedia.org_main.jpg

15. Context of
Indian Army
• One of the largest Land force
started using camo only in mid
1980s.
• Fought full time wars with
neighbours in 1948, 1965, 1971,
1999.
• Have fought one of the toughest
wars in War History.
• Safeguard National Borders
varying in different climatic
conditions.
http://cdn.isha.ws/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/KargilWar.jpg

16. Context of
Indian Army
• One of the largest Land force
started using camo only in mid
1980s.
• First started wearing Brush
Stroke Pattern from British army.
http://camopedia.org_main.jpg

17. Context of
Indian Army
• One of the largest Land force
started using camo only in mid
1980s.
• First started wearing Brush
Stroke Pattern from British army.
• Later in 1990s, started using
Woodland Pattern from US army
which they rejected to wear better
tested camo pattern.
http://camopedia.org_main.jpg

18. Problem
Identification
• Volatile political borders with the
neighbouring countries.
• Constant surveillance required for
which better Camo patterns should
be worn.
• Never used their own pattern
based on their working
environment but adopted from
others.
• Difference in the natural
vegetation of those regions over
which the adopted patterns are
based.
http://http://www.jonathansaruk.com/#/images/Indian_ArmyK_20081226_6625

19. Design Process
• Divided into four parts :
• Imagery Collection.
• New pattern preparation.
• Testing of new pattern.
• Data analysis
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:photogra

20. Design Process
Imagery collection
• Forest cover of Jabalpur was
selected as the site for image
collection.
• Different locations of the area was
recorded to have a look of all kinds
of shades of colour in the region.
• E.g. Area of direct sunlight, under
shadow, wet areas.

21. Design Process
New pattern Preparation
• The images were processed in
Adobe Photoshop.

22. Design Process
New pattern Preparation
• The images were processed in
Adobe Photoshop.
• Then, pixilated to maximum extent
to pick three colours i.e. primary,
secondary and background.

23. Design Process
New pattern Preparation
• The images were processed in
Adobe Photoshop.
• Then, pixilated to maximum extent
to pick three colours i.e. primary,
secondary and background.
• Cloud filter was applied on black
and white version to create Nosie
in the image.

24. Design Process
New pattern Preparation
• The images were processed in
Adobe Photoshop.
• Then, pixilated to maximum extent
to pick three colours i.e. primary,
secondary and background.
• Cloud filter was applied on black
and white version to create Nosie
in the image.
• Then, same shade portion was
selected in the re-pixilated version
and filled with above mentioned
three colours.

25. • The images were processed in
Adobe Photoshop.
• Then, pixilated to maximum extent
to pick three colours i.e. primary,
secondary and background.
• Cloud filter was applied on black
and white version to create Nosie
in the image.
• Then, same shade portion was
selected in the re-pixilated version
and filled with above mentioned
three colours.
• Different camouflage patterns based on different locations

26. Design Process
New pattern Preparation
• After optimizing the different
patterns, finally this pattern was
selected as the new pattern.
• Code Named as Indian
Camouflage (INCAM)

27. Design Validation
• The new pattern was tested in
comparison with the existing
pattern i.e. M81 Woodland.
• Both the pattern images were
taken to same environment.
• Both the pattern were
photographed at the same distance
consecutively at three different
location.
• Labelled as test 1, test 2, test 3.
• The range of distance in each test
was from 1 m to 40 m.

28. Design Validation
• All the images collected at various
distances were tested with the set
of users.
• The help of Eye-Tracking machine
was taken to check the visual
movement of user.
• Every image was taken at a
certain pre-noticed distance.
• Every two consecutive images was
3 m apart.

30. Design Validation
• The distance was noted at which
the user was first able to detect the
pattern in the environment.
• All these data was tabulated and
analysed.

31. Design Validation
• It was found that the new pattern
was detected at a closer range as
compared to old pattern.
• The median of the two results
came was:
Distance
from
pattern
Visual
Angle at
the given
distance
Test 1 Test 2 Test 3
40m 0.30°
37m 0.32°
34m 0.34°
31m 0.38°
28m 0.42°
25m 0.48°
22m 0.54° C G
19m 0.62°
16m 0.74° H, F, D E, C, I, F
13m 0.90° J, I, B, G D, H, A
10m 1.20° A, E J
7m 1.70° J, A
4m 3° G, F, D, C, B B
1m 12° I, E, H
Distanc
e from
pattern
Test 1 Test 2 Test 3
40m
37m E, H, I
34m
31m J, G G, A, F
28m I, B, F, H J
25m A, C, D, E B
22m D
19m C
16m I, J, B, A
13m H, E, D, G, F
10m C
7m
4m
1m
Test 1 Test 2 Test 3
Minimum
distance of
detection of
old pattern.
28 m 13 m 31 m
Minimum
distance of
detection of
new pattern.
13 m 4 m 13 m

32. Conclusion
• The pattern was found to be
effective for the particular region
i.e. Forest, as compared to the
current pattern used by Indian
Army.
• There is scope for future research
for more accurate result.
• This process can help to design
patterns for other locations also
like desert, urban areas etc.

33. Thank you

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6. India - Camopedia. (2014). Camopedia india. Retrieved July 28, 2014, from http://www.camopedia.org/index.php?title=India
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