The lines of partition can be used to alter the appearance of a divided field, or of an ordinary placed on the field. The images (PDF File) below should be the correct size to be traced over (when printed) to alter the line you need.

The following lines of partition are allowed in SCA Heraldry. Note that some lines found in other heraldry books are not allowed -- if they're not here, the College of Arms does not recognize them.

The lines of partition are shown here on a per pale line, as this will provide the longest version of each line. They are also shown on a per chevron line, because the top corner is often difficult to get "right". If you wish to use a Line of Partition on an Ordinary, please use the pages for Ordinaries, as they will contain all of the options for different lines for each ordinary, making it easier to trace the correct version.

Instructions (please read):
If you want to use this for your heraldic submission, or print it for any reason, click on the 'PDF File' link -- a new browser window will open, and you can print from there.

• When you print the PDF file, make sure that the option "Fit to page" is not selected, otherwise it may print the charges larger than expected.
• These should be sized to be close to the submission forms, and you can trace over them directly onto your form(s). For straight lines you might want to use a ruler to help.
• For charges that do not depend on the field for their shape the PDF contains multiple sizes of individual charges to assist in getting something close to what you might need for your armory. For charges that depend on the field (the heater/shield shape) for their shape, only one size is given.

Note that printing the GIF Files may not provide images that are the correct size for the heraldic submission forms.

Note: For multi-part fields, such as barry, paly, etc., see the Ordinaries section for the Lines of Partition for specific ordinaries. For example, for barry embattled, you will find a fess embattled, and you would use the line of partion as shown there. For a field barry bretessé, you would go to a fess, and use the lines for a fess bretessé, and so on.

Dovetailed		Like the woodworker's joining method of the same name
			PDF File
			PDF File
Embattled		Like the crenellations at the top of a castle or tower wall. When used on a fess, chevron, bend or bend sinister, embattled only refers to the top of the ordinary. There are special terms for embattled lines on either side of these ordinaries which will be displayed with those ordinaries.
			PDF File
			PDF File
Engrailed		Half-circle 'cuts' taken out of the line. This is named after a grail, so if you try to envision that the cuts are based on a cup, then when used in a horizontal or diagonal line, the points are up. When used in a vertical (pale, pale-wise) line, the points are to sinister. When used on a border, the points go inward toward the center of the shield. Friar1 states that the rule of thumb here is that the points of engrailed point outwards (away from the ordinary).
			PDF File
			PDF File
Indented		Think of this like a bunch of chevron divisions next to each other.
			PDF File
			PDF File
Invected		Similar to engrailed above, but "opposite". In other words, if engrailed would have the points to chief, invected would have the points to base, and if engrailed would have the points to sinister, invected would have the points to dexter. In the case of a bordure, the points go toward the edge of the shield (if it helps, think "infected" -- puffy ...). Friar1 states that the rule of thumb here is that the points of invected point inwards (toward the middle of the ordinary).
			PDF File
			PDF File
Nebuly		Parker2 says: "An undulating line of division, which being intended to represent clouds is drawn horizontally ... It may be applied to ordinaries such as the fess and chevron; but not to an ordinary so as to interfere with its horizontal position." (Strictly speaking, if this interpretation holds in the SCA, then you cannot have a field divided Per Pale Nebuly -- the image below is here so you have line that is Nebuly that you can trace over for other lines, such as Bend, Bend Sinister, etc.)
			PDF File
			PDF File
Potenty		This is basically a very squared off version of vair bells.
			PDF File
			PDF File
Raguly		Embattled, but leaning to one side. Friar1 and Parker2 both show raguly as being on both edges of an ordinary with the embattlements leaning in the same direction, but offset like embattled counter-embattled.
			PDF File
			PDF File
Rayonny		Like rays of light, or flames.
			PDF File
			PDF File
Urdy		Very much like vair-bells (the line shape used when drawing the fur vair.)
			PDF File
			PDF File
Wavy		What it sounds like, gentle, rolling ...
			PDF File
			PDF File

Footnotes:
¹ A Dictionary of Heraldry, Stephen Friar, Harmony Books, 1987, ISBN: 0-517-56665-6

² A Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry, James Parker, Tuttle, 1970, ISBN: 0-8048-0715-9

Disclaimer: All of these drawings are intended for use in the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., specifically for heraldic purposes. However, these pages do not delineate SCA College of Arms or West Kingdom College of Heralds policy. All attempts are made when describing or portraying the elements of armory used in these pages to be as accurate to both medieval and SCA usage as possible, but if you are not sure, you should check with the College of Arms or the College of Heralds. You may use these drawings "as is" for the purpose of designing heraldry for use within the SCA with this understanding. All decisions by the West Kingdom College of Heraldry and/or the SCA's College of Arms regarding the depictions used on your submission forms supercedes anything found here.

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