You may be wondering why we’re covering a mobile device app inspired by and featuring the recent work of Sir Peter Blake, celebrated pop artist. Well, it all has to do with a bit of history in the application of camouflage.
This is an image of the USS West Mahomet, painted in Dazzle camouflage, which involves complex patterns of geometric shapes in contrasting colors, interrupting and intersecting each other. It was used by the British and United States principally during WWI, and was designed to make it difficult for enemy vessels to estimate a ship’s range, speed, and heading.
The Dazzle It app allows users to ‘Dazzle’ any image available on their phone, or taken by their camera, by putting it through any one of various filters. This new camouflage pattern can then be applied to a variety of virtual ships and other watercraft which displays as a 3D model. As you can see in the images, we decided to go a bit more contemporary, utilizing a MultiCam base and putting it through a ‘Kaleidoscope’ pattern.
We then applied this pattern to various ships, including the HMS President.
There’s even an augmented reality aspect of the app, which allows you to anchor the ship of your choosing to a live background. We found this to be a little wonky in practice, but that might have something to do with trying to place a camouflaged ship on a camouflage background.
The Dazzle It app is available through both iTunes and the Google Play store for free.
itunes.apple.com/us/app/dazzle-it/id1022780620
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.uk.corporationpop.dazzleships
This article was originally published on Soldier Systems Daily.