NationStates Jolt Archive

Seeing a plight of stupid ass flags I thought now would be a good time to speak to you guys about the basic rules of designing flags.

#1. Keep it simple. Simple enough that a child can remember it.

#2. Use meaningful symbolism.

#3. Use 2-4 colours. Basic colours. We're talking Black, White, Light Gray, Dark Gray, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple.

#4. No lettering. No seals.

#5. Do not copy other flags. Use similararities to link two flags.

Let's take a gander at prime examples:



Example of rule #1:
Good flag:
http://www.nava.org/Publications/GFBF/gfbf-55.gif
It's a red dot on a green background. Even a retarded baby can remember that.
Bad flag:
http://www.nava.org/Publications/GFBF/gfbf-41.gif
This is one crazy ass flag. No-one has time enough to draw all that.

Example of rule #2:
Good flag:
http://www.nava.org/Publications/GFBF/gfbf-74.gif
This flag represents the blue sky over the golden wheat fields.
Bad flag:
http://www.nava.org/Publications/GFBF/gfbf-73.gif
This flag is a Katakana 'A'. Only Japanese people know what that symbol means. It needs to be more universial

Example of rule #3:
Good flag:
http://www.nava.org/Publications/GFBF/gfbf-910.gif
Two colours that stand out against eachother.
Bad flag:
http://www.nava.org/Publications/GFBF/gfbf-911.gif
This flag contains the colours of faded blue, sky blue, purple, yellow, brown, peach, white, black, red, gray, and green. 11! Eleven god-damn colours!

Example of rule #4:
Good flag:
http://www.nava.org/Publications/GFBF/gfbf-114.gif
No complicated seal or lettering.
Bad flag:
http://www.nava.org/Publications/GFBF/gfbf-115.gif
It looks more like a corporate logo than anything else.

Example of rule #5:
Good flag:
http://www.nava.org/Publications/GFBF/gfbf-13.gif
Liberia was founded by freed US slaves. It takes the premise of the US flag and makes it look different but similar.
Bad Flag:
http://www.nava.org/Publications/GFBF/gfbf-119.gif
This is Monaco's and Indonesia's flag. They are identical. If you flip it over you get Poland!

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So there; I hope you understand.

Then by your definition, many state flags (and some national flags in the RL world) would be "bad flags."

My flag (which Vilita designed for me based on my specifications) is one very large star surrounded by 22 smaller ones. The stars are one color (white) and the background is navy blue.

Would that be considered a good flag or a bad flag?

I've seen that on ...some site, presumably the original, before, and it was no less wrong and silly then than it is now. Who and what on earth says one can't put a seal on a flag? Nobody authoritative and nothing logical.

Flags aren't what they used to be, anyway. They're rarely the communication and identification aid they might have been on the battlefield or at sea, and can now cram more information on to their faces, instead. And a nation can use whatever colours it wants to, quite frankly.

Well, my flag is based on Star Trek. It is of the Mirror Universe Earth Empire, which is totally evil. i like my flag.

I think that a person has a right to choose their flag.

Although if everyone did their flag the same way, it would be boring.

My flag follows the guidelines, though. I got it from Equilism President Westwind.

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/the_phoenix_milita.jpg
good flag

Mine only gets 40%, then. Complicated, Colorful, and Lettered. My Puppet meets all of them, though.
Doomduckistan- http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/doomduckistan.jpg
Commarchic Duckistan- http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/commarchic_duckistan.jpg

http://img29.photobucket.com/albums/v87/Bad_Skeelz/SKZFlag.jpg

Here's my flag, and not to toot my own horn I think its pretty good. I like your list Foxxinnia, it makes sense and the "#5 Bad Flag" was amusing.

I love my flag!! I dont care what you guys say :P

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/albertifornication.jpg

How's mine?

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/automagfreek.jpg

The two E's are for the Excessively Armed Empire. I think it looks pretty cool.

http://img13.exs.cx/img13/1107/colerica.jpg

It just came to me one night when I was drawing...I really like the 'crooked-n" logo...

All of your guys' are good flags.

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/fluffywuffy.jpg

How about my flag?

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/fluffywuffy.jpg

How about my flag?
Yeah. It's good.

Er, what's the point of this thread? Is there a "flag rule" or something? We can't use whatever flag we want? Or is someone just being pissy because they think other peoples flags are "stupid"? Looking at all the flags to choose from when you first register a nation, many of them are highly detailed... so I don't get the reasoning of this "good flag" "bad flag" thread. I'm confuzzed :confused:



oh well ... i like my flag and i'm keeping it. i don't think it's stupid and it sure as heck looks MUCH nicer to me than a green rectangle with a big red dot in the middle!

Hm. Well, I've only got two colors, but I've got a symbol, so God only knows if this:

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/the_most_glorious_hack.jpg

...is a good flag.

However, most people tend to think that 1 Infinite Loop makes some of the best flags in the game, and they likely break all of your 'rules'. Also, most nations don't use flags that would ever be used in the real world, being more interested in capturing the country, as opposed to practicality. A prime example would be the flag of my colony:

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/the_caloris_basin.jpg

Hardly flag-like, multiple colors, and far from simple, but it nicely represents Elijah, the AI who controls everything. It really boils down to personal taste, as opposed to arbitrary rules.

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/aequatio.jpg

I think mine's pretty good. It's simple, bold and fitting.

my flag is the best.

http://members.lycos.co.uk/nspanooly/start.jpg

I like mine, I dont think I'll change it right away though.

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/octovonia.jpg

You can never go wrong with East Germany.

There here is my flag:

http://www.2and2.net/Uploads/Images/Buechorian Flag2.JPG

Note; The bottom bar, while it may not look like it, is the same size as the top one. w0wz0r5!

I guess the bars look to be different-sized because the star is off-center. Was that intentional, or did you decide "Oh, screw it"?

This is mine, and it suits me.

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/katganistan.jpg

Besides -- who else needs to draw it, other than the Katgani flag makers?

;)

I made the flag in MS Word. Once you move an object once or twice, it's fixed in that position. If you move it, it goes in an assigned position above under, right, left, etc. by 5 pixels and so on. It's funky. I couldn't center it anymore...

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/goobergunchia.jpg

*huggles the GIMP*

How about my flag? :D

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/spaam.jpg

http://www.nava.org/Publications/GFBF/gfbf-910.gif
This is, indeed, a most excellent flag. Viva Nuevo Mexico!

uh, I don't speak spanish, so if that's wrong, I don't care

I always thought part of the fun of nationstates was all of the complicated flags; after all where's the excitement in France-style striped flags? :)

I like my flag :)

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/vostokoslavia.jpg

Let me get this straight: someone who thinks Comic Sans is really cool, is giving us style lessons?

Well personally Dude can love whatever he wants and claim to know flag design,
I will continue to make flags, regardless of any guidlines he claims.
and Hack, I thank you for the Support there makes an old Loop feel good to be remembered and all.

also here is my Current Flag.
http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/1_infinite_loop.jpg
Note the image will change as I chande my flag, so I will not describe it here.

-----
Loop

Well, my mine should be recognised easily.
It's origin is fairly obvious.

The current flag of Mattikistan was created after the ability of computers to print things which can be applied to fabric. Thus, nobody has to draw it. A series of flags, including simpler ones, were put to the public for vote, and ours came through. It may not meet your criteria, but they felt it better suited the overall mood of the nation.

Minister for Foreign Affairs
The Confederacy of Mattikistan

#1. Keep it simple. Simple enough that a child can remember it.
...
Good flag:
Liberia was founded by freed US slaves. It takes the premise of the US flag and makes it look different but similar.

Actually, Liberia's test fails Rule No. 1, in that studies have shown that the average child (up to about age six or so) cannot distinguish the Liberian flag from the American one.

Anyhow, here's my flag:
http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/artoonia.jpg
It uses more than four colours (the top third is a white bar, which you may not be able to distinguish on a white background), and the average child probably couldn't distinguish it from, say, that of the Slovak Republic,
http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/slovakia.jpg
on which it was loosely based (plus those of two other RL nations, but I'll leave that as an exercise to the reader). It also figures into our puppets' flags, such as Jonestan:
http://www.mark-adams.com/artoonia/FlagoGxonestana.png
That adds several more colours to the mix, but I still think its symbolism (that it's an Artoonian colony in an Irish region) is simplistic enough that it's a worthwhile flag.

Ooh, flags. Verily, I had much fun making the flags for my nations. So how do they measure up, Foxxinia (and why do you use Comic MS Sans? Westminster! lol)

This is the flag of my main nation: not many colors, check, symbolic, CHECK, pretty easy to remember. I made it in Paint, and did the transparents in random freewares (pre-PSP8 ownership ;p)
http://anikari.zioncreation.com/arizona_nova3.gif
Ah, Nominor-sort of complicated, but I made it in Paint and divers freewares as well.
http://anikari.zioncreation.com/NOMINOR.JPG
Tinechordor has a good flag-the design in the middle is art from the RPG Baldur's Gate.
http://anikari.zioncreation.com/tinechordor.gif
Kerith Ravine's flag is not my original intellectual property, as KR was acquired from a bored NSer, and my reasons for wanting it are personal. I retouched the original flag in PSP8, doing a freestyle selection around the ravens, and doing a negative of the original flag, and adding the 4 stars, which ties it in quite nicely with Arizona Nova's flag.
http://anikari.zioncreation.com/kerith_ravine2.jpg

For more information about my flags, go tohttp://anikari.zioncreation.com/ariznova.htm

Let me get this straight: someone who thinks Comic Sans is really cool, is giving us style lessons?

:D

I LOVE the comic sans comment. It's biting and probably unnecessary but funny nonetheless.

My flag so rules.


http://www.geocities.com/tejada55/flag_of_tejad_LG.jpg

Yeah, I wish I had a place to Host all of my flags (all of the ones I have made, not just the Loop ones) and make a nice place for folks to come and get them or just look at them.

my flag is TEH GRATEST FLAG IN NATIONSTATS BOW DOWN BEFORE MAH FLAG

There is no such thing as a bad flag or a good flag! It's all a matter of opinion. What is a good flag to you might be poison to someone else.

btw, red dot on green background is Bangladesh.

This is my flag:

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/musiqfan.jpg

Personally, I like it....not sure about you guys.

i agree that good flags should be simple and whatnot, but who cares if people want complicated flags? let them if they want to, its not the end of the world. you cant just give people RULES, lol.

anyway, i think my flag's cool and i dont intend to change it, - ever. :D

http://www.martico.co.uk/assets/images/harrioaflag.jpg

I've seen loads of flags that are bigger than everyone else's! How do people DO that!!

My flag is thus:

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/ashtria.jpg

I was hoping to make it like one of those optical illusions where it is two things in one picture. i.e mine is an 'A' and if you look at it differently, it should resemble a face with hands interlacing in the middle!

Here are the flags of my six oldest nations, Endolantron, Futurus, Shugeria, Dakrov, Kazete, and Navigator. As you can see, I've made sure that some mathematical precistion makes its way into each of them. The Shugerian tree, for example, is a fractal pattern I put up a part of. Beyond that, I tend to ignore what the symbols and other designs mean. I just prefer that they look cool.

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/endolantron.jpg http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/futurus.jpg http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/shugeria.jpg
http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/dakrov.jpg http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/kazete.jpg http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/navigator.jpg

...and here are the flags of my other five nations, Goazedth, Zenar, Lazora, Jeivumtha, and Hibage. Yeah... I know Jeivumtha's flag looks a bit loosely drawn at the time of my posting. I'll probably redo it someday.

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/goazedth.jpg http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/zenar.jpg http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/lazora.jpg
http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/jeivumtha.jpg http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/hibage.jpg

I may also want to mention that these nation flags will be altered every few months, and the images uploaded here will change with them.

I like to be a bit different:
http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/vollmeria.jpg

I used to have the Tibet map maetopia (probably wrote it wrong) but this is my own work and i like it. In fact i like many original flags, players creations.

I've seen loads of flags that are bigger than everyone else's! How do people DO that!!

My flag is thus:

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/ashtria.jpg

I was hoping to make it like one of those optical illusions where it is two things in one picture. i.e mine is an 'A' and if you look at it differently, it should resemble a face with hands interlacing in the middle!

Magic, Yup, that is how I do it.
(there is a faq in teh archive explaining how Loop does it)

Bad flags get deleted. I like my flag (http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/tahar_joblis.jpg), personally, as well as the similar (if critically different in a few fashions) Tahar Joblissan Colonists' flag (that puppet is now dead, of course.)

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/tadjikistan.jpg

My flag http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/cocoa_islands.jpg

Barring Loop, I find it annoying when I am looking at a nation with a big flag, especially when that flag could have been resized to the 107x71 format without losing much, if any, detail.

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/maniaca.jpg

This is my flag! I used to have a flag that I made in paint but then it went all screwy and got replaced by a red X after about 3 months of compatibility. Anyway, I was too lazy to make another one so I just chose the FOXHOUND logo from the Metal Gear games. I think It's pretty cool.

My flag is original, follows the rules, AND is sweet.

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/aquiliana.jpg

I dont see a problem with someone creating there own flag. Mine's borrowed from Egypt. Who the hell cares if someone's flag is to colorful?

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/forcelia.jpg

What do all of you think of my flag.
It doesn't comply with all of the rules but I still like it.

What do you think of this one?

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/serconea.jpg

It's symbolic too:

The Green with the badge (the latter based on the Slovene flag) symbolises the Serconean flag during it's war of independence.
The Red is the blood of those who died in the war.
The White symbolises peace and freedom

Whole symbolism- Serconea went through bloodshed to peace and freedom.

Fear the Black Dragon.

Fear the Black Dragon.
Your flag is terrible.

My flag, on the other hand, owns.

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/unfree_people.jpg

Your flag is terrible.

My flag, on the other hand, owns.

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/unfree_people.jpg

Boooooorrrrrriiiiiiinnng

;)

Bad Flag:
http://www.nava.org/Publications/GFBF/gfbf-119.gif
This is Monaco's and Indonesia's flag. They are identical. If you flip it over you get Poland!

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So there; I hope you understand.



Nothing wrong with Polands flag, :).

My flag was made for me by a friend and is based on my name and the name of my nation, Aerou. Plus I used red and white because those are the colours used in Polands flag (get that I'm Polish yet?). And the black was used just so the arrow and curved line would stand out.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v258/Aerou/aerou.jpg

I like my flag, I think its original.

Would this (http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/pesonia.jpg) be considered a bad flag?

And this one?

(Happy to see you joined NS too, Esteban)

As has been said before, you ragged on the flags of numerous contries and states. And again, as has been said before, we have the right to choose. And now I have to say that that is one messed up Katakana "A." I mean, I couldn't even read it! "A" my rear...

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/the_zoogie_people.jpg

This would be pretty hard to draw with the bevel and such (that aren't supposed to be there...hmm)...but symbolism doesn't have to be universal. Flags are representative of the nation's heritage...and should represent it with symbolism that the nation understands.

Would it be a 'good' or 'bad' flag?

Aquiliana's flag is awesome :P

Well its not much, but its something. The flag of Crossman
http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/crossman.jpg

I agree with the premise that flags should have few colo(u)rs, and be high-contrast. Like street signs. I based my flag on the internationally-recognized symbol for "we welcome drunke here".

Simple black on yellow. I added the red pimento recently, then on a whim changed the olive to green. It still reproduces well in 2-colors.

A bit more about the flag:
Note the horizontal line across the top of the glass. Is that the rim, or the level of booze? Is the glass 100% empty or 100% full. Are you an optimist or a drunk?
Is that a gin martini, or a vodka martini?

The enigmas and paradoxes continue to baffle scholars.

Your flag is terrible.

My flag, on the other hand, owns.

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/unfree_people.jpg
And you should know, right? ;-)

(Heh heh ... when I posted that on the Flag Thief thread, little did I know ...)

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/furor_atlantis.jpg

I got to add more detail to it though.

As has been said before, you ragged on the flags of numerous contries and states. And again, as has been said before, we have the right to choose. And now I have to say that that is one messed up Katakana "A." I mean, I couldn't even read it! "A" my rear...

You're right. It's not a katakana "A". Looks more like an upside down hiragana "U", but not really, because the...umm, for lack of a better word, comma is out of place.

And yes, I totally agree. Foxxinnia, some of the flags that you bagged look quite good IMHO. (Though I do agree with your comment about that one that looks like a corporate logo)

Wonder what that would make mine?

This should be a "legal" flag.

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/ncc_pavesia.jpg

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/kryozerkia.jpg

I like my flag. ^_^

I'd say that these are , ahem, "more like guidelines than actual rules." Like many people have said, it's really a matter of opinion.

That said, some of the guidelines (particularly few colors, simplistic imagery) are generally good design rules for any sort of logo (well, among graphic designers, anyway). However, several of the examples of 'good design' in RL flags have been used over and over and over again. Three vertical or horizontal stripes is striking design, but there are so many flags that follow that template that the design really loses some punch.

Here's my flag, and I like it:

http://www.barehandsdesign.com/Excalibur/GFL.jpg

Goofoundland, nice flag!

Your gonna hate my flag then aren't ya...

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/holy_turnipia.jpg

The People's Republic of Scotistan was formed in a hurry - so a tartan flag seemed like a good idea. Yet some of us view this thread as a veiled threat to discredit our glorious flag of the people! On reading this thread, the Head of Secret Police has just stormed out in protest and even left her cigarettes(which is never a good sign).

We urge all involved to pass a resolution that no hostile actions shall be taken on the basis of clashing national colours or similar bourgeois adgendas.

In the name of the people!

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/microevil.jpg

How about my flag?

Uh... get rid of the swatika. QUICKLY. Or you'll be reported by someone and the Wrath of Mod will come on your head, and woe to he who faces the Wrath of Mod. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!

Uh... get rid of the swatika.
Uh... who are you talking to?

click ME's link. look really close.

Ah. Never noticed that.

The world's flags given letter grades (http://ahpc-jp30.st-and.ac.uk/~josh/flags/intro.html)
What Makes a Good Flag? (http://flagspot.net/flags/flagdesi.html)
HOW TO DESIGN A GREAT FLAG (http://www.nava.org/Publications/GFBF/gfbf-1.htm)
Seeing a plight of stupid ass flags I thought now would be a good time to speak to you guys about the basic rules of designing flags.Thank you!
I'd say that these are , ahem, "more like guidelines than actual rules." Like many people have said, it's really a matter of opinion.Indeed.

*Wishes flags were not required to be JPEGs* I can make a good 300-400 byte GIF flag, but as a JPEG the flag is ugly and at least two KB.

I rather like mine.

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/benzantium.jpg

*Wishes flags were not required to be JPEGs* I can make a good 300-400 byte GIF flag, but as a JPEG the flag is ugly and at least two KB.
I thought you could upload gifs?

I thought you could upload gifs?I think you can, but it's against the rules. (Or maybe it wasn't intended as a rule, but as a warning...)

Uh... get rid of the swatika. QUICKLY. Or you'll be reported by someone and the Wrath of Mod will come on your head, and woe to he who faces the Wrath of Mod. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!

Awwwww, seriously? That's kinda lame, especially cause it's a parody flag.

Awwwww, seriously? That's kinda lame, especially cause it's a parody flag.

Well, yeah. I won't report you, but someone who is either hyper-sensitive or just vindictive is bound to notice it sometime.
DISCLAIMER: I am not a Nazi. I have a profound dislike for Nazis. I just don't feel like tattling today, eh?

Yeah, I'm in the process of making a new one.

OK, for those of you who liked my flag, (http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/tahar_joblis.jpg) if there are any of you (ye stayed quiet), you may wish to check the colonial flag for the space colonies, which I've put back up on a fresh puppet, as well as several variations on the theme in the Colonial Conspiracy Center (http://www.nationstates.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi/target=display_region/region=colonial_conspiracy_center).

OK, for those of you who liked my flag
http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/tahar_joblis.jpg

A pool table?

Barentsburg, I like the first flag, but not the others, really. Not as flags.

Hack, if your pool table looks quite like that, I'm not putting down *any* money when I play there. :sniper:

This is my flag...

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/the_emperor_fenix.jpg

Some of you (all of you) may recognise it (a bit).
What do you think, i like it but it could do with being tidyed up.

here is my flag

my flag has gone through very extensive evolution going from stripes and a tirangle, to an eagle and finally the eye. I made it in paint i don't have photoshop so give me a break.

anyways this is what it represents. The black represents the corporations which controll the economy. Red represents the blood and sweat with which this nation was built and white represents the freedome that people have even under the rule of an authoritarian government. The Crown of Aelov or the red crown thingy is the national symbol. It has been in all my flags exept when aelov was democratically controlled >:(. Anyways it represents the Grand Chancellor of Aelov.

The Eye represents the all knowing all seeing government. Also it represents the infrastructure of Aelov. It represents what is able to flourish with Total Information Awareness. The corporations least importantly so they make up the outside of the eye. Then the government is able to flourish secondly so i gave it the inside of the eye. But most importantly freedom is able to flourish and thats why it is the iris. It is what drives Aelov.

The Ever Watchfull Eye Sees All
freedom through opression.

http://home.earthlink.net/~anonymous_angel/images/FlagWF.jpg

This is my flag based on my own design.

I do alot of imaging work, picture rebuilds, and design.
Anyone needing help, send me a TG

The Confederacy of South Puyallup is proud to unveil its new flag. While the nation's first flag, based on the Confederate States of America's national flag, was well-liked throughout the nation, our new flag captures the spirit and uniqueness of our great land.
The green background represents the lush evergreen forests that spread across our land.
The blue horizontal stripe represents the life-giving Puyallup River, which has its origins in nearby Mt. Rainier.
The vertical brown stripe on the fly represent the Cascade Mountains, which borders our nation to the east.
The five stars represent the five regions of our Confederacy. The stars are white to represent the liberty and purity that our people hold so dear. They are arranged in the form of a cross to represent the Christian heritage of our land.
May God bless the Confederacy of South Puyallup!

Here's my flag for consideration: http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/scandavian_states.jpg

How's this? I think it's pretty simple and straightforward.
http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/josephland.jpg
That's a white stripe at the top, by the way.

My flag for the nationstate of The Holy Republic of Tzorsland is based on the Franciscan Coat of Arms.

http://pic9.picturetrail.com/VOL291/1756382/3421442/47285845.jpg http://pic9.picturetrail.com/VOL291/1756382/3421442/54095540.jpg http://pic9.picturetrail.com/VOL291/1756382/3421442/47285867.jpg

There's a little Franciscan humor there, because the coat of arms has two arms on it. The first one, with the brown robe, represents Francis, the one in front without a robe is that of Christ. Behind the arms is the Tau, which is another representation of the cross, and stands for the greek letter Tau.

The angels on either side of the flag are not a part of the flag. Just a decoration because the flag is otherwise plain. :D

Here's my flag http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/carainia.jpg

My Flag:
http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/klonor.jpg

Despite the threatening appearance of this flag it actually represents peace and restraint, rather than force and violence.

The world's flags given letter grades (http://ahpc-jp30.st-and.ac.uk/~josh/flags/intro.html)
What Makes a Good Flag? (http://flagspot.net/flags/flagdesi.html)
HOW TO DESIGN A GREAT FLAG (http://www.nava.org/Publications/GFBF/gfbf-1.htm)

*Wishes flags were not required to be JPEGs* I can make a good 300-400 byte GIF flag, but as a JPEG the flag is ugly and at least two KB.
The site with the grades is ridiculous (example Chad: bad tricolour/ Romania: good, ITS THE SAME FLAG!!!)
Flagspot and Nava are good.

I'm sticking to my own flag.
http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/vollmeria.jpg

The site with the grades is ridiculous (example Chad: bad tricolour/ Romania: good, ITS THE SAME FLAG!!!)I think that's because of rule #3: Do not use a tricolour unless you are in Europe.

I dont know how my two nations flags would do on that...

Neopolicia:
http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/neopolicia.jpg

Red and black, with a Wyvern in the center, which is the country's national animal.. However, I think that might be a bit complicated.. But I dont care :P

Lowerpolicia:
http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/lowerpolicia.jpg

The colors are a bit bright, but thats because this is based off an "Invert colors" of the Neopolician flag :P