The Dumbest Camouflage Myth on the Internet 

You can get bogged down in physics and optics, or you can just admit that humans see shadows as BLACK.

Tigers,leopards, jaguars, zebra,bears, I could go on and on.

100%, tired of hearing this myth. Some of the best tried and true camouflage patterns have black in them starting from WWII German patterns into DPM, woodland, tiger stripe, flecktarn, on and on and on...

Black camouflage matters

Camo is less about color than breaking up recognizable patterns.

A tiger is orange with black stripes, in a mostly green environment - sneaks up on anything it wants to. When it comes to camoflague, movement will be your first & most important piece of it.

Yeah black doesn't exist in nature, it's just a coincidence that we have something called a black bear or you know a black mamba

Some animals don't see the same color spectrum as human beings.. they see more black and Grey then other colors.

Yes but since the (actually) green/brown trees appear black, so would your green based camo. With the additional benefit of still being decently camouflaged in spots which aren't completely sun blocked

Darker colors above lighter colors, darker colors appear as if something is creating a shadow, while lighter colors underneath appear as if nothing is creating a shadow

I have a pure black cat, she can be invisible -even to other cats.

Great, next the shadows will be asking for reparations

I was taught that dark colors are easier to spot movement from at a distance but I suppose it would depend on the backdrop. So I would avoid sharply contrasting colors when possible depending on your AO.

I notched while snowboarding that my friends who wore all black disappeared in the tree line, despite being surrounded by white because the tree trunks look so dark by contrast.

I remember saying the same thing when I was told this. I listed off such things like: black mold, black bears and shadows. and wasn't black one of the colors of cam-paint? Those sticks of colored pig fat lol

People just lack perspective man. They think that what they experience is the only thing that is real. I’ve hunted in places, like the badlands and open prairies, where black very rarely exist even in the shadows, I’ve also been to places in deep dark forests where black shadows and shades of black are the majority or the color landscape. It’s all fluid like water you have to be able to adapt, see the change and make it.

I firmly believe hunting camo will be more effective for the everyman than wearing military patterns. Pick what ever is appropriate for your environment and mix and match tops and bottoms if needed. …except tiger stripe and Rhodesian brushstroke, they get a cool factor pass.

Black bear must have left the conversation.

The reason many very successful camoflauges utilize black elements is that is to simulate shadows and give the pattern more texture at a distance. It's about breaking up the human silhouette and micro and macro patterns. However none of what i just said justifies multicam black or wearing all black gear. That is stupid.

Black is what makes woodland so effective...

Them: "Black does not exist in nature." Me: [Looks at the mirror] "HOW TF NOT?!?" 🤣

That may be true but show night vision on.. black stands out. That said having some black isnt horrible, but if you wear coyote or RG then you will also be black in the shadows.

Besides shadows and some animals, as a landscaper - I have seen quite a few different ornamental plants that are black. At first I thought they were fake or painted , turns out they're just overly expensive plants that just look kind of cool, so black does indeed exist in plant life. It may be uncommon, but they do exist lol

Black or near black exist in nature but the problem with black as a camouflage pattern is that it is hard to make dark colors lighter while it is easier to make light colors darker. So you can find black here or there because of shadows and such but those same shadows are very situational dependent and will turn any color "black" But if you have something that looks like a shadow and light is obviously hitting because your camouflage has black in it and then it's not really helpful is it?

Thank you! I’ve been saying that for years. Our Opfor uniforms were black and it worked great in the dark.

As a retired 19D4P, people are dumb azzes brother lol. Keep up the awesome work, Scouts Out!

Navy blue will blend in better with both shadows and the skyline at night

I never understood why they say black doesn't exist. Most bugs are black, shadows . . .

Some people never been out in the woods at night 😂

Black bears?!

Dog's noses, the pupils of everyone's eyes.

I met an SF guy once who used to add black to his green / brown issue face paint by burning paper and adding it to his face cam. He said much the same

Camouflage in conventional color patterns is totally overrated. The most important to do‘s are: Don’t move and disrupt your human silhouette and use subdued colors.

I remember this silliness back when some admin pukes were trying to foist UCP on the Army.

Who was living under a literal rock with an LED night light thinking that black doesn't occur in nature???

Thank you. Never could get on board with that. Here's another one. Maximum effective range of a 50 cal. "As far as the eye can see". I can see the moon, doubt I could put a round in it.

Dont get me wrong i DO agree that black shades are in nature. BUT... i prefer charcoal as a better alternative. It fits a broader spectrum from low light to bark in hardwood forests to shadows to urban and rocky outcrops. Its just my preference and what i see work better for me. Pure black has its place so im not discrediting but i find it more situational.

Nah dude. An all black object in a shadow would still stand out.

Black works even in snowy environments. Theres always a hill or trees sitting against the sun. Creating a perfect place to conceal yourself.and then, the cover of night. Though, for noght time, i have found it almost harder to see a dark navy blue, than black. Though, black is a universal camo tone. Without question.

Black adds depth which on camouflage would brake up the out line better

That myth gave us UCP.

I think it's the intensity of black coloring that's the issue; tends to create outlines even in very low light environments. However, he is entirely correct that lighter shades of black or darker shades of grey are effective in shadows or share. And given that most people trust have zero situational awareness, they probably don't have the wiring to notice someone standing out unless it's completely obvious.

Shadows aren’t black though. Shadows are when light is being blocked i.e. the absence (or reduction) of light. Shadows will dim all colors towards a blacker appearance. If you put a spot light on the tree (or waited until mid day the next day), I guarantee it wouldn’t be black. However, your black camouflage will always appear black. This is why it is more beneficial to use earth tone colors like greens and browns because they’ll blend in during the daytime, and then when the nighttime and shadows come around, the colors will appear blacker just like the environment.

My girlfriend did in fact say that the best thing you could wear while prone on the grassy knoll is a mix of black and green. You blend in better with shadows and you break up your outline with the grass

I swear people who say stuff like "black doesn't exist in nature" have never been in nature. Gah people are dumb. Thank you for always keeping it real.

As for hunting big game, My dad always said the most important thing is make sure deer cant silhouette you . Always have a backdrop behind you it will cover Your movement as well. This is why tent blinds work so well animals don't see you move when your sitting in dront of a black backdrop. We sometimes wear black while hunting these blinds.

Black is not a color. It is the absence of color due to a lack of light (or just not enough) being reflected back to your eye balls. Our eyes have a maximum dynamic range just like camera sensors. It’s no different than needing a flashlight to see in an unlit cave.

I once heard that VC jammies worked pretty darned well in Viet Nam….

"Shart black." 😂

I feel they say that to try to keep people from getting all black gear and black makes things appear smaller as well but sometimes it does make you stick out. Stick to shadows

I agree but have something to add. Can usually see a black object in a shadow from the contrast but i have a dog who is not black but extreme deep purple (you can see it with sun or a light behind her fur) and i cant see her at all in a shadow or shade. Its crazy.

In fact green absorbs so much sunlight that “shadow” in groves of trees can be black. Go into the mountains and look at a stand of Evergreen trees.. the interior is black. There is a reason that VC wore black pajama looking uniforms..

I guess that black leather seat is supernatural

Feels so good to hear someone else say it.

I suspect the "black camo" issue may be with night vision. White phosphorous NVDs don't pick up shadows very well, the green ones do it better. "Some say" black camo @ night seen thru white phosphor NVDs can be a giveaway.

Yep

I’m pretty sure wild big cats don’t have black stripes/spots as a fashion statement Also, folks say tiger stripe camo is dumb because foliage doesn’t grow horizontally. Except for ferns and tree branches. As well as shadows casted on the jungle floor from sunlight shining through the canopy.

Black camo is black in shadows, then black when the sun shines on it Green camo is black in shadows, then green when the sun shines on it.

I've heard that too and never understood why people think it.

Black Bears are very well camouflaged.

I agree, for practical purposes in this type of situation, its really not going to make much of a difference using black. However, its always good to learn something new😀. As a professor of art and design for the last 12 years, who teaches Color Theory almost every semester, ive thought about this "myth" or whatever you want to call it a lot. So im Gonna nerd out here for a monent. In theory, the only thing thats actually "black" would be a black hole. That wild Vanta Black paint gets close absorbing like 99.9 % of light. I also teach painting, and say i want to get my Bob Ross on and paint this scene in this video clip. Most accurate way to get those specific shadow colors as perfecly as possible would be by mixing complimentary colors together ( opposites on the color wheel) . For example, i want to match that EXACT shadow color of that tree or bushes...or whatever is green. This is simplifying It, but red is greens complimnet. When you mix compliments together, youll start to notice they begin to cancel eachother out, eventually ( with the right proportions) arriving at a perfect shadowy version of whatever color your going for. You can push it to where its basically black or whats called a "chromatic gray" . Ok im gonna stop here because im beint THAT guy 😂. I just love pointing and how color works. So again... wayyyy overkill for said purposes. Ok good talk, thanks.

No. The trees are brown and green but appear black. If you wair green and brown camo infront of the trees you blend in. Wair the same in the shadows and you'll appear black.

It can work if you stay in the shadows but the black spot in that bush would catch my attention.

Black glows like a light bulb under nods

The only thing about that is you have to be knowledgeable about where you are and make sure you’re still in the shadows. Where normal camouflage as long as you’re in the foliage, your gut this you actually have to make sure you’re in the shade. But other than that, I totally agree, and I think it’s one of the most dangerous ones to, for the prey obviously.

Disagree, you now know what the difference between shades and colors. Black does not exist in nature when it comes to physical properties but it does exist in the absence of light. However, no matter what you go up to that tree and it’s still green not black. So having black camouflage does not work. You need the colors and textures of your environment. The light shift with naturally cover you in shadow. Just like the other flora around your video. . Black is only used in camo for dense canopy to blend in with the shadow. Dark navy and purple being better options for night than black. What your eye is seeing at night is a dark navy not black, just like the sky isn’t white it’s blue.

Jumping from the “no black”, how about eyes? Eyes also break the “there’s no perfect circles in nature” myth. I can’t count how many times I’ve spotted deer because they looked at me or in my direction. That pattern of two eyes and nose stands out. Yes, the point still stands that you need to avoid showing circles, but saying they’re not naturally out there is just blatantly false.

I like to play a game when i out hiking on trails that usually have others on it. What i do is i stop and try to find them in the woods, and you know most hikers have bright colors, let me tell you its not easy seeing people even when they are not hiding with bright colors. Try it out next time you go hiking

It’s still ridiculous to wear all black. While wearing a green or brown color, you get darker with the shadows, but while wearing black, you stick out where there are no shadows

I always knew this. I incorporated Multicam Black in my gear for that reason. If I covered myself in a MultiCam Black Woobie, it works well

No sir, Its dark green and dependant on atmospheric conditions. BUT Black Does exist and a better example would be beetles, birds, bears insects, flowers, grasses, elderberry bushes.

The things in nature that look black in the shadowa arent themselves black. So if we stand in the shadows our clothing may look black without it being black depending on the fabric and hue. So why would we wear black?

Tiger stipe had it because of this very reason. I think it depends on the environment on how much black you want to use.

It most certainly does, not just as shadows.

Ninjas are the stealthiest, their uniform is black

White and green dissappear in the birch trees, use a blind such as an umbrella as well

i work in the bush and I've come up on bear stumps countless times. That stump is 100% a black bear....until you stare at it for 5 minutes without it moving 😂 black exists in nature. Look at slash piles, too. Rotting organic matter turns dark brown, grey, black.

If we're discussing camouflage I have heard and read the things that people say such as gray is a good Urban color or for example the Bushland camo brand has yellow in it. Both are right or correct but I've noticed in many places that if you had gray or grey vehicle that it was stand out against brick houses. The same way that people say black is a bad color I would question that because black and dark blue do make you less noticeable and you can't hide better than if you were wearing white so my point is I don't think you can perfectly match camouflage to a place you're going to you can only make adjustments when you are actually there

Sure, black exists and has a place in camo. But, let's acknowledge the danger it presents the moment it doesn't match or combines with shape-shine-silhouette issues. Example: at training Sat, a team member was seen through concealment when opfor saw a straight black line; rifle sling.

Ravens, beetles, bears, shall we continue?

The best lesson I ever got in camouflage and stalking came while bow hunting. I stalked a small herd of does playing and froze as they stopped, when they seemed to be turned away I took a knee. The hyper slow movement (like an inch or two) was all it took to spook them. I was wearing woodland camo from head to ankle but just a slight movement not in tune with my surroundings made all that useless.

I live in Alaska where the woods are very dark black multicam with works very well black bears blackbirds there's a lot of black in nature

Black print absolutely disappears in nature.

That looks like really dark green.

Lots of burnt areas in the woods where I live.

Sure I see your point but if your anywhere other than in the shadows and your a black blob you will stand out if your wearing any other earth tone as long as it fits your environment you will still appear as a shadow as long as your in the shadows it’s still best to stay away from it in my opinion

Black bears

We used to get in trouble for using black electrical tape to tape up excess straps because 'black doesn't exist in nature'!

Just as a heads up to those that arent aware, the majority of camoflage patterns stick out like they are fluorescent colors to some colorblind folks.

Goes to Atlanta - " that is black guys"

I never seen a ninja in multicam

THANK YOU!!! Season 1 GP Games Backpacker Pattern is a thing!!

yes your eyes pick it up as black but actual black would look separate. a dark green would still be better.

So black multicam isn’t useless! 🎉 😂 That is true though. Another thing people don’t seem to understand is that you don’t necessarily need black/dark camo at night. Natural color tones in the dark will work just fine… cause it’s dark lol. I believe ninjas actually work dark green/grey/blue a lot of the time.

You also look darker under the shadows with normal camo.

Black DOES exist in nature. The quote being referred to is actually a mis-quote. Black does not MOVE in nature. Shadows appear black to the eye depending ilon the amount of ambient light in the AO. But it moves with the angle changes of either the ambient light (i.e.: sunlight) or the changes in relative opsition of the person and their eyes. In nature black does not move quickly. And most animals will quickly “queue in” to any movement of black in their peripheral vision. More so than most other neutral colors like brown or green. That’s why black clothing at night seems unnatural once the person starts moving. medium gray and - believe it or not - OD green blend seamlessly into shaded areas and become all bit invisible in the waning light irrespective of movement, all things being equal. This is true both in urban or rural environments. And very straight forward to test.

I'll let black birds and the Coal Advisory Council know about that black thing.... And caves... And Black Bears.... And ravens... And we'll, you get the point.

Anybody ever seen a blacksnake disappear in the grass?

You right an you can use it to tr advantage but also in my video games i tend to move with shadows especially if theres tree lines so i wont be spotted as easy rather then being in light trying to hide

Go to Baltimore. Black is everywhere. 😂