Why are there only three colors.

[Autistoid]

This is a case of choosing what looks good on TV over what made practical sense. Nothing wrong with that.

My point is that tactical is wearing the wrong color in tng.

For the record worf looks way better in red.

But back to the point.

Engineering deserves it's own color, blue is great for science and medicine.

But Command is the color for cadets as well as the top brass.

It makes perfect sense that red functions sorta like the default color when someone isn't in a specific area, or takes on a more traditional military role within the service.

My issue is if you include helm, cadets and people that don't fit under science or engineering why not include tactical officers.

 

[HIjol]

Sort of like Jirin said above, could it also have to do with what colors are appropriate/complimentary to the camera? Maybe some colors bleed and some blend incorrectly when put on film. Like Herringbone patterns "bledd and strobed" in the old days.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

My point is that tactical is wearing the wrong color in tng.

For the record worf looks way better in red.

Originally, Yar had to be the one looking good.

 

[Ithekro]

The thread title make me want to do this....

There. Are. Four. Colors.

 

[Trekkin]

Well, in TMP the Admirals had their own uniform colours. And the NuMovies had different outfits (that were slightly Enterprise jump-suit like) for cadets.

Wasn't Wes initially in a different kind of uniform?

When TV writers are basically making the system up as they go along, I don't think it's really possible for there to be 'wrong' colours. Just decisions we don't like.

 

[Autistoid]

My point is that tactical is wearing the wrong color in tng.

For the record worf looks way better in red.

Originally, Yar had to be the one looking good.

Lol I forgot that one detail.

All that for a character that couldn't make it through a season.


Anyways more annoying is having Data wear gold. He should of been wearing blue.

 

[SPCTRE]

My alternate reality multi-colored scheme for TNG, an evolution and diversification of the TOS scheme, was not well received on the board:

 

[HIjol]

Well, in TMP the Admirals had their own uniform colours. And the NuMovies had different outfits (that were slightly Enterprise jump-suit like) for cadets.

Wasn't Wes initially in a different kind of uniform?

<snip>

Yeah, I think he wore a Rainbow Bright Sweater-y Space Suit kinda thing.

 

[Trekkin]

Hmmm. Looks like there was the stupid rainbow jumper thing, and a blue pyjama jumpsuit ...thing.

That had to be intended to be the ensign uniform, didn't it? Nog had something similar later on, but it had the red shoulders instead of being all blue/grey.

 

[HIjol]

Well, in TMP the Admirals had their own uniform colours. And the NuMovies had different outfits (that were slightly Enterprise jump-suit like) for cadets.

Wasn't Wes initially in a different kind of uniform?

When TV writers are basically making the system up as they go along, I don't think it's really possible for there to be 'wrong' colours. Just decisions we don't like.

Hmmm. Looks like there was the stupid rainbow jumper thing, and a blue pyjama jumpsuit ...thing.

That had to be intended to be the ensign uniform, didn't it? Nog had something similar later on, but it had the red shoulders instead of being all blue/grey.

That's the one! Jeez, he was young. Do not know if it was supposed to be an "official" uniform, but it was...distinct.

 

[HIjol]

I like this one .... except for Picard. The Kirk Casual Green doesn't work for me.

--Alex

Gotta say, I do not hate the green at all! Nice to see them all, again.

Thanks for this.

 

[Granola Gwen]

Ranks aside, I say for Data color wise.

Yellow > Red > Blue

Riker looks good yellow or red too.

 

[Elder Knight]

...
perfectly okay, because Red-Yellow-Blue is an alternative three primary color scheme
...

As a kid, I figured that yellow > blue > red was a four-color, comic book-ish approximation of the Olympic medal metals in descending order, namely gold > silver > bronze.

Almost works, though green complicates things.

 

[fireproof78]

Well, in TMP the Admirals had their own uniform colours. And the NuMovies had different outfits (that were slightly Enterprise jump-suit like) for cadets.

Wasn't Wes initially in a different kind of uniform?

When TV writers are basically making the system up as they go along, I don't think it's really possible for there to be 'wrong' colours. Just decisions we don't like.

Hmmm. Looks like there was the stupid rainbow jumper thing, and a blue pyjama jumpsuit ...thing.

That had to be intended to be the ensign uniform, didn't it? Nog had something similar later on, but it had the red shoulders instead of being all blue/grey.

That's the one! Jeez, he was young. Do not know if it was supposed to be an "official" uniform, but it was...distinct.

Wesley was made an "acting ensign" in essence, a field promotion prior to his admission to the Academy. So, while not an official cadet, the outfit reflects the cadet style uniforms worn later on in "First Duty" and by Nog later on, with the gray body replacing the black body.

 

[eyeresist]

I agree with the OP that having engineering and security in the same uniform is needlessly confusing. In an emergency, you'd want to be able to identify a security officer immediately, without having to ask which department they're from.

Actually, in situations of low light levels, colours would not do you much good. An easily recognisable high contrast design would be more effective (e.g. cross, circle, triangle).

 

[Lance]

...
perfectly okay, because Red-Yellow-Blue is an alternative three primary color scheme
...

As a kid, I figured that yellow & blue & red was a four-color, comic book-ish approximation of the Olympic medal metals in descending order, namely gold & silver & bronze.

Almost works, though green complicates things.

Interesting idea.

I believe red-green-blue are simply attractive to the human eye (hence why they are the primary colors in the spectrum). Our brains are wired to perceive these colors more vibrantly than other pigmentations and variants.

A fourth color, although more logical for the 'verse, isn't so logical from the artistic viewpoint, as it would unbalance the three primary colors (red-gold-blue are each distinct, but whatever color #4 ended up being it would've been based on a pigment of two of the primary colors, throwing off the unique balance that three colors gives us.)

To use your own analogy, imagine if there were four medals: let's say Gold, Silver, Bronze and Aqua. Feels wrong somehow, doesn't it. There's a strange kind of psychological effect in the number 3, which 2 and 4 don't have.

I don't doubt Ware Theiss was using the science as a backdrop for his color choices, though it's worth noting that the specific allocation of colors was based on how good they looked on the actors. Which is why Spock went back to his original science blue after they changed him to command gold(ish) in 'Where No Man Has Gone Before', and why Uhura was switched to Red rather than Gold after a couple episodes, and why command and operations got switched over completely for TNG onwards, because it was determined that Patrick Stewart looked better in Red and Brent Spiner looked better in Gold.

 

[spockboy]

I wished the TMP costume designer used Kirk's admiral uniform as the MAIN uniform but colored them in TOS style with the metal insignia style of JJ Trek. like this.

Spockboy

 

[Lance]

^ I agree, that would've looked terrific.

 

[The Wormhole]

I agree with the OP that having engineering and security in the same uniform is needlessly confusing. In an emergency, you'd want to be able to identify a security officer immediately, without having to ask which department they're from.

The two departments wear the same colour because the receive similar training and the personnel are interchangeable, as proven when Jellico took command of the Enterprise and immediately transferred half of engineering to security

 

[Nerys Myk]

I'd be more convinced if he had transferred security personnel to engineering. Handing someone a gun and telling them "guard this" is easier than handing them a wrench and telling them "fix this".