Editing Flag of the United States (section)

==Design==

===Specifications===
[[File:Flag of the United States specification.svg|450px|Diagram of the flag's design]]

The basic design of the current flag is specified by {{usc|4|1}} (1947): "The flag of the United States shall be thirteen horizontal stripes, alternate red and white; and the union of the flag shall be forty-eight stars, white in a blue field." {{usc|4|2}} outlines the addition of new stars to represent new states, with no distinction made for the shape, size, or arrangement of the stars. [[s:Executive Order 10834|Executive Order 10834]] (1959) specifies a 50-star design for use after Hawaii was added as a state, and Federal Specification DDD-F-416F (2005) provides additional details about the production of physical flags for use by [[federal government of the United States|federal agencies]].<ref>[[General Services Administration]] "{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110514200019/https://assist.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch/basic_profile.cfm?ident_number=52554 Federal Specification DDD-F-416F]}}: Flag, National, United States of America and Flag, [[Jack of the United States|Union Jack]]". March 31, 2005. PDF [http://everyspec.com/FED_SPECS/F/DDD-F-416F_49205/ available from everyspec.com].</ref>

* Hoist (height) of the flag: ''A'' = 1.0
* Fly (width) of the flag: ''B'' = 1.9<ref>The flag ratio (''B''/''A'' in the diagram) is not absolutely fixed. Although the diagram in Executive Order 10834 gives a ratio of 1.9, earlier in the order is a list of flag sizes authorized for executive agencies. This list permits eleven specific flag sizes (specified by height and width) for such agencies: 20.00 × 38.00; 10.00 × 19.00; 8.95 × 17.00; 7.00 × 11.00; 5.00 × 9.50; 4.33 × 5.50; 3.50 × 6.65; {{nobr|3.00 × 4.00}}; {{nobr|3.00 × 5.70}}; {{nobr|2.37 × 4.50}}; and {{nobr|1.32 × 2.50}}. Eight of these sizes conform to the 1.9 ratio, within a small rounding error (less than 0.01). However, three of the authorized sizes vary significantly: 1.57 (for {{nobr|7.00 × 11.00}}), 1.27 (for {{nobr|4.33 × 5.50}}) and 1.33 (for {{nobr|3.00 × 4.00}}).</ref>
* Hoist (height) of the canton ("union"): ''C'' = 0.5385 (''A'' × 7/13, spanning seven stripes)
* Fly (width) of the canton: ''D'' = 0.76 (''B'' × 2/5, two-fifths of the flag width)
* ''E'' = ''F'' = 0.0538 (''C''/10, one-tenth of the height of the canton)
* ''G'' = ''H'' = 0.0633 (''D''/12, one twelfth of the width of the canton)
* Diameter of star: ''K'' = 0.0616 (approximately ''L'' × 4/5, four-fifths of the stripe width)
* Width of stripe: ''L'' = 0.0769 (''A''/13, one thirteenth of the flag height)

The executive order establishing these specifications directly governs only flags made for or by the federal government, but it is also used as the definition of the flag in the [[United States Flag Code|Flag Code]].<ref>[[s:Executive Order 10834|Ex. Ord. No. 10834]], August 21, 1959, 24 F.R. 6865 (governing flags "manufactured or purchased for the use of executive agencies", Section 22). Section 32 explains that, "As used in this order, the term 'executive agencies' means the executive departments and independent establishments in the executive branch of the Government, including wholly owned Government corporations.",{{usc|4|5}}</ref> In practice, most U.S. national flags available for sale to the public follow the federal star arrangement, but have a different width-to-height ratio; common sizes are {{nobr|2 × 3&nbsp;ft.}} or {{nobr|4 × 6&nbsp;ft.}} (flag ratio 1.5), {{nobr|2.5 × 4&nbsp;ft.}} or {{nobr|5 × 8&nbsp;ft.}} (1.6), or {{nobr|3 × 5&nbsp;ft.}} or {{nobr|6 × 10&nbsp;ft.}} (1.667). Even flags flown over the U.S. Capitol for sale to the public through Representatives or Senators are provided in these sizes.<ref>Architect of the Capitol: [https://www.aoc.gov/sites/default/files/flagform.pdf "Flag Request Form"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428060620/https://www.aoc.gov/sites/default/files/flagform.pdf |date=April 28, 2017 }}. Retrieved July 1, 2017.</ref> Flags that are made to the prescribed 1.9 ratio are often referred to as "G-spec" (for "government specification") flags.

===Colors===

Federal Specification DDD-F-416F specifies the exact red, white, and blue colors to be used for physical flags procured by federal agencies with reference to the [[Standard Color Reference of America]], 10th edition, a set of dyed silk fabric samples produced by [[The Color Association of the United States]]. The colors are "White", No. 70001; "Old Glory Red", No. 70180; and "Old Glory Blue", No. 70075.

[[CIE 1931 color space|CIE coordinates]] for the colors of the 9th edition of the Standard Color Reference were carefully measured and cross-checked by color scientists from the [[National Bureau of Standards]] in 1946, with the resulting coordinates adopted as a formal specification.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Reimann |first1=Genevieve |last2=Judd |first2=Deane B. |author2-link=Deane B. Judd |last3=Keegan |first3=Harry J. |year=1946 |title=Spectrophotometric and Colorimetric Determination of the Colors of the TCCA Standard Color Cards |journal=Journal of the Optical Society of America |volume=36 |number=3 |pages=128–159 |doi=10.1364/JOSA.36.000128 |pmid=21023091 |bibcode=1946JOSA...36..128R }}</ref> These colors form the standard for cloth, and there is no perfect way to convert them to [[RGB]] for display on screen or [[CMYK]] for printing. The "relative" coordinates in the following table were found by scaling the luminous reflectance relative to the flag's white.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right"
|+ Federal Specification DDD-F-416F cloth color specifications<ref>In the 9th edition of the Standard Color Card of America, "White", "Old Glory Red", and "Old Glory Blue" were, respectively, Cable No. 70001, Cable No. 70180, and Cable No. 70075. The Munsell renotation coordinates for these were taken directly from the Reimann ''et al.'' paper, the CIELAB ''D''<sub>65</sub> coordinates were found by converting the xyY values in that paper to be relative to CIE Illuminant ''D''<sub>65</sub> from Illuminant ''C'' using the CAT02 chromatic adaptation transform, and relative to a perfect diffuse reflector as white. The "relative" values in the table were found by taking Cable No. 70001's luminosity to be that of the white point and were converted to ''D''<sub>65</sub> or ''D''<sub>50</sub> also using the CAT02 transformation. The values for CMYK were found by converting from the CIELAB ''D''<sub>50</sub> values using the Adobe CMM and the GRACoL 2006 ICC profile in Adobe Photoshop.</ref>
|-
! rowspan="3" style="text-align:center; padding-left:.7em; padding-right:.7em"| Name
! style="text-align:center" colspan="6"| Absolute
! style="text-align:center" colspan="11"| '''''Relative'''''
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width:3em; min-width:3em" |
! style="text-align:center" colspan="3"| [[CIELAB]] ''D''<sub>65</sub>
! style="text-align:center" colspan="2"| [[Munsell color system|Munsell]]
! rowspan="2" style="width:3em; min-width:3em" |
! style="text-align:center" colspan="4"| [[sRGB]]
! style="text-align:center" colspan="4"| [[CMYK|GRACoL 2006]]
|-
! style="text-align:center"| ''L''* !! style="text-align:center"| ''a''* !! style="text-align:center"| ''b''*
! style="text-align:center"| ''H'' !! style="text-align:center"| ''V''/''C''
! style="text-align:center"| ''R'' !! style="text-align:center"| ''G'' !! style="text-align:center"| ''B'' !! style="text-align:center"| 8-bit hex
! style="text-align:center"| ''C'' !! style="text-align:center"| ''M'' !! style="text-align:center"| ''Y'' !! style="text-align:center"| ''K''
|-
| style="text-align:left"| {{nobr|White}}
| style="background:#e3ded4" title="#E3DED4"|
| 88.7 || −0.2 || 5.4
| style="text-align:left"| 2.5Y || style="text-align:left"| 8.8/0.7
| style="background:#fff" title="#FFFFFF"|
| 1.000 || 1.000 || 1.000 || {{code|#FFFFFF}}
| .000 || .000 || .000 || .000
|-
| style="text-align:left"| {{nobr|Old Glory Red}}
| style="background:#9b1c2c" title="#9B1C2C"|
| 33.9 || 51.2 || 24.7
| style="text-align:left"| 5.5R || style="text-align:left"| 3.3/11.1
| style="background:#b22234" title="#B22234"|
| .698 || .132 || .203 || {{code|#B22234}}
| .196 || 1.000 || .757 || .118
|-
| style="text-align:left"| {{nobr|Old Glory Blue}}
| style="background:#33335f" title="#33335F"|
| 23.2 || 13.1 || −26.4
| style="text-align:left"| 8.2PB || style="text-align:left"| 2.3/6.1
| style="background:#3c3b6e" title="#3C3B6E"|
| .234 || .233 || .430 || {{code|#3C3B6E}}
| .886 || .851 || .243 || .122
|}

{{gallery
| mode=nolines
| height=100
| width=210
| align=center
| Flag of the United States (DDD-F-416F specifications - absolute).svg|DDD-F-416F Absolute 
| Flag of the United States (DDD-F-416F specifications - relative).svg|DDD-F-416F Relative
}}
As with the design, the official colors are only officially required for flags produced for the U.S. federal government, and other colors are often used for mass-market flags, printed reproductions, and other products intended to evoke flag colors. The practice of using [[colorfulness|more saturated]] colors than the official cloth is not new. As Taylor, Knoche, and Granville wrote in 1950: "The color of the official wool bunting [of the blue field] is a very dark blue, but printed reproductions of the flag, as well as merchandise supposed to match the flag, present the color as a deep blue much brighter than the official wool."<ref>Helen Taylor, Lucille Knoche, and Walter Granville, eds. (1950), ''[[Descriptive Color Names Dictionary]]''. Container Corporation of America.</ref>

Sometimes, [[Pantone Matching System]] (PMS) alternatives to the dyed fabric colors are recommended by US government agencies for use in websites or printed documents. One set was given on the website of the [[U.S. Embassy, London|U.S. embassy in London]] as early as 1996; the website of the U.S. embassy in [[Stockholm]] claimed in 2001 that those had been suggested by Pantone, and that the [[United States Government Printing Office|U.S. Government Printing Office]] preferred a different set. A third red was suggested by a [[California Military Department]] document in 2002.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/19971014170401/http://www.usembassy.org.uk/rcflags.html In 1996, "U.S. Flag Facts"]}} at the website of the U.S. embassy in London listed the colors red PMS 193 and blue PMS 282 (presumably PMS solid coated colors). {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20021016055710/http://www.usembassy.org.uk/rcflags.html By October 2002]}}, these had changed to red PMS 193 and blue PMS 281. These latter PMS equivalents are listed on many websites including various other U.S. Government organizations, such as the [[Millennium Challenge Corporation]]'s [http://www.mcc.gov/mcc/press/branding/branding-mcc/index.shtml website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522114622/http://www.mcc.gov/mcc/press/branding/branding-mcc/index.shtml |date=May 22, 2010 }}. See also [https://www.fotw.info/flags/us.html "United States of America"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100713191619/http://www.fotw.us/flags/us.html |date=July 13, 2010 }}, ''[[Flags of the World (website)|Flags of the World]]''.<br />The website of the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm instead lists PMS 186 and PMS 288 as the colors specified by the U.S. Government Printing Office: [https://web.archive.org/web/20041021021046/http://stockholm.usembassy.gov/usflag/colors.html "Colors of the U.S. Flag"]. United States Embassy Stockholm. November 2001.<br />The [[California Military Department|Military Department]] of the [[California|State of California]] suggested PMS 200 for red in a 2002 document, [http://www.militarymuseum.org/Flags_Over_Ca.pdf "Flags over California, a history and guide"].</ref> In 2001, the Texas legislature specified that the colors of the Texas flag should be "(1) the same colors used in the United States flag; and (2) defined as numbers 193 (red) and 281 (dark blue) of the Pantone Matching System."<ref>[http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/GV/htm/GV.3100.htm#3100.002 The Government Code; Title 11. State Symbols and Honors; Subtitle A; Chapter 3100]. Statutes.legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved May 27, 2011.</ref> The current internal style guide of the [[United States Department of State|State Department]] [[Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs]] specifies PMS 282C blue and PMS 193C red, and gives RGB and CMYK conversions generated by [[Adobe InDesign]].<ref name="eca flag standards">
{{cite report |access-date=January 21, 2023 |date=January 2017 |title=ECA Design Guidelines |url=https://eca.state.gov/files/bureau/eca_design_guide.pdf |publisher=[[Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs]] Office of Public Affairs and Strategic Communications }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right"
|+ Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs style guidelines<ref name="eca flag standards" />
! rowspan="2" style="text-align:center" | Pantone Identifier
! rowspan="2" style="width:3em; min-width:3em" |
! colspan="4" style="text-align:center" | RGB
! colspan="4" style="text-align:center" | CMYK
|-
! style="text-align:center" | ''R'' !! style="text-align:center" | ''G'' !! style="text-align:center" | ''B'' !! style="text-align:center" | 8-bit hex
! style="text-align:center" | ''C'' !! style="text-align:center" | ''M'' !! style="text-align:center" | ''Y'' !! style="text-align:center" | ''K''
|-
| style="text-align:left" | {{nobr|White}}
| style="background:#fff" title="#FFFFFF" |
| 1.00 || 1.00 || 1.00 || {{code|#FFFFFF}}
| 0.00 || 0.00 || 0.00 || 0.00
|-
| style="text-align:left" | PMS 193C 
| style="background:#b31942" title="#B31942" |
| 0.72 || 0.10 || 0.26 || {{code|#B31942}}
| 0.00 || 1.00 || 0.66 || 0.13
|-
| style="text-align:left" | PMS 282C
| style="background:#0a3161" title="#0A3161" |
| 0.04 || 0.19 || 0.38 || {{code|#0A3161}}
| 1.00 || 0.68 || 0.00 || 0.54
|}
{{gallery
| mode=nolines
| height=100
| width=210
| align=center
| Flag of the United States (DoS ECA Color Standard).svg|DoS ECA color standard
}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right"
|+Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs standard with correct Pantone color data to display on the screen
! rowspan="2" style="text-align:center" | Pantone Identifier
! rowspan="2" style="width:3em; min-width:3em" |
! colspan="4" style="text-align:center" | RGB
! colspan="4" style="text-align:center" | CMYK
|-
! style="text-align:center" | ''R'' !! style="text-align:center" | ''G'' !! style="text-align:center" | ''B'' !! style="text-align:center" | [[Web colors|Web color]]<ref name=":3" />
! style="text-align:center" | ''C'' !! style="text-align:center" | ''M'' !! style="text-align:center" | ''Y'' !! style="text-align:center" | ''K''
|-
| style="text-align:left" | {{nobr|White}}
| style="background:#fff" title="#FFFFFF" |
| 1.00 || 1.00 || 1.00 || {{code|#FFFFFF}}
| 0.00 || 0.00 || 0.00 || 0.00
|-
| style="text-align:left" | PMS 193C<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 1, 2022 |title=PANTONE® USA {{!}} PANTONE® 193 C - Find a Pantone Color {{!}} Quick Online Color Tool |url=https://www.pantone.com/connect/193-C |access-date=February 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220801163342/https://www.pantone.com/connect/193-C |archive-date=August 1, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pantone / PMS 193 C / #bf0d3e Hex Color Code |url=https://encycolorpedia.com/bf0d3e |access-date=February 9, 2025 |website=encycolorpedia.com |language=en}}</ref>
| style="background:#BF0D3E" title="#BF0D3E" |
| 191 || 13 || 62 || {{code|#BF0D3E}}
| 0.00 || 0.932 || 0.675 || 0.251
|-
| style="text-align:left" | PMS 282C<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 28, 2022 |title=PANTONE® USA {{!}} PANTONE® 282 C - Find a Pantone Color {{!}} Quick Online Color Tool |url=https://www.pantone.com/connect/282-C |access-date=February 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928124440/https://www.pantone.com/connect/282-C |archive-date=September 28, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pantone / PMS 282 C / #041e42 Hex Color Code |url=https://encycolorpedia.com/041e42 |access-date=February 9, 2025 |website=encycolorpedia.com |language=en}}</ref>
| style="background:#041E42" title="#041E42" |
| 4 || 30 || 66 || {{code|#041E42}}
| 0.939 || 0.545 || 0.00 || 0.741
|}
{{gallery
| mode=nolines
| height=100
| width=210
| align=center
| Flag of the United States (DoS ECA Color Standard) (Pantone).svg|DoS ECA color standard with correct Pantone color data to display on the screen
}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Texas statute color standard<ref name="flaglaw">{{Cite web|url=http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/GV/htm/GV.3100.htm#3100.002|title=Government Code: Chapter 3100. State Flag |access-date=October 21, 2007 |date=September 1, 2001 |publisher=State of Texas |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013074003/http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/docs/GV/content/htm/gv.011.00.003100.00.htm|archive-date = October 13, 2007}}</ref>
|-
! Color
! [[Cable colors|Cable color]]
! [[Pantone]]<ref>The [[Pantone]] color equivalents for ''Old Glory'' Blue and Red are listed on [http://london.usembassy.gov/rcflags.html U.S. Flag Facts] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223231044/http://london.usembassy.gov/rcflags.html |date=February 23, 2009 }} at the U.S. Embassy's London site.</ref>
! [[Web colors|Web color]]<ref name=":3">The RGB color values are taken from the [http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/colorfinder.aspx Pantone Color Finder] at [http://www.pantone.com/ Pantone.com].</ref>
! RGB Values
|-
| {{Color box|#BF0D3E}} Red
| 70180
| 193 C
| <code>#BF0D3E</code>
| (191,13,62)
|-
| {{Color box|#FFFFFf}} White
| 70000
| Safe
| <code>#FFFFFF</code>
| (255,255,255)
|-
| {{Color box|#00205B}} Dark Blue
| 70075
| 281 C
| <code>#00205B</code>
| (0,32,91)
|}
{{gallery
| mode=nolines
| height=100
| width=210
| align=center
| Flag of the United States (Texas Color Standard).svg|Texas Color Standard
}}

===Decoration===
Traditionally, the flag may be decorated with golden [[fringe (trim)|fringe]] surrounding the perimeter of the flag as long as it does not deface the flag proper. Ceremonial displays of the flag, such as those in [[parade]]s or on indoor posts, often use fringe to enhance the flag's appearance. Traditionally, the Army and Air Force use a fringed flag for parades, [[Colour guard|color guard]] and indoor display, while the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard use a fringeless flag for all occasions.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

The first recorded use of fringe on a flag dates from 1835, and the [[United States Army|Army]] used it officially in 1895. No specific law governs the legality of fringe. Still, a 1925 opinion of the [[United States Attorney General]] addresses the use of fringe (and the number of stars) "is at the discretion of the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy" as quoted from a footnote in previous volumes of [[Title 4 of the United States Code]] law books. This opinion is a source for claims that a flag with fringe is a military ensign rather than a civilian. However, according to the Army [[Institute of Heraldry]], which has official custody of U.S. flag designs and makes any change ordered, there are no implications of symbolism in using fringe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tioh.army.mil/FAQs/Faqs.aspx?SectionID=101|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111020133/https://tioh.army.mil/FAQs/Faqs.aspx?SectionID=101|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 11, 2021| title=FAQs - U.S. Flag Etiquette| access-date = November 7, 2024 | website=The Institute of Heraldry, Department of the Army|quote=There is no record of an Act of Congress or Executive Order which either prescribes or prohibits the addition of fringe, nor is there any indication that any symbolism was ever associated with it.}}</ref>

Individuals associated with the [[sovereign citizen movement]] and [[tax protester conspiracy arguments]] have claimed, based on the military usage, that the presence of a fringed flag in a civilian courtroom changes the nature or jurisdiction of the court.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/12/30/sovereign-citizens-are-a-sometimes-violent-fringe-group-rejecting-all-government|title=Sovereign Citizens Are a Sometimes Violent Fringe Group Rejecting All Government|last=Ross|first=Winston|date=December 30, 2012|access-date=July 8, 2019|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">[http://evans-legal.com/dan/tpfaq.html#flagfringes Rebuttal of "martial law flag" claims by tax protesters] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160502182441/http://evans-legal.com/dan/tpfaq.html#flagfringes |date=May 2, 2016 }}. Evans-legal.com. Retrieved May 27, 2011.</ref> Federal and state courts have rejected this contention.<ref name=":0"/><ref>See ''McCann v. Greenway'', 952 [[Federal Supplement|F. Supp.]] 647 ([[United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri|W.D. Mo.]] 1997), which discusses various court opinions denying any significance related to trim used on a flag.</ref><ref name="state">{{cite web|url=http://www.courts.state.co.us/Courts/Court_of_Appeals/opinion/2010/08CA2664.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513011723/http://www.courts.state.co.us/Courts/Court_of_Appeals/opinion/2010/08CA2664.pdf |archive-date=May 13, 2014 |url-status=live |title=state.co.us: "Colorado Court of Appeals – Order Order Affirmed: Colorado v Drew" (Munsinger) 13 May 2010 |publisher=courts.state.co.us|access-date=April 19, 2015}}</ref>