My Stylemasters finally arrived

[Doctor Strange]

I guess Akubra themselves aren't sure!

Honestly guys, I have been thinking that that photo is the Acorn Fawn with really poor color correction, not the Bluegrass Green.

According to the Akubra site, that generic photo is in fact bluegrass green, but clearly doesn't have a lot to do with Skyvue's hat. The acorn fawn has a ribbon that is a similar tone to the felt, so shouldn't look like that.

For some reason, this has continued to bother me, so I did some more digging!

Although some pages at Akubra's site identify their standard Stylemaster photo as Bluegrass Green -

http://www.akubra.com.au/products_fashion.html

The last page of the PDF file at this one identifies it as (apparently really badly color-corrected!) Acorn Fawn -

http://www.akubra.com.au/pdf/Akubra Stock Service Brochure.pdf

What I also think is funny is that the older version of this particular brochure, which I downloaded last year (shorter, didn't include the new Stingy Brim, etc.), has absolutely pin-sharp images of the hats, but the ones in this version are all fuzzy! Frankly, there's no excuse for this nowadays - it's not like they physically pasted it up using crappy xeroxes of the older images...

 

[Gilgamark]

Well, I was running late this morning and didn't get to look more closely at my navy Stylemaster, but I wore the bluegrass green one and it is definitely green, not green-grey.

It's close to a fatigue green, I'd say.

This photo is a camera-phone shot taken indoors, but it'll give some idea of the color.

Definitely more green than the Akubra photo, but I like it. That's a nice color. looks like it would be versatile.

 

[carldelo]

For some reason, this has continued to bother me, so I did some more digging!

Although some pages at Akubra's site identify their standard Stylemaster photo as Bluegrass Green -

http://www.akubra.com.au/products_fashion.html

The last page of the PDF file at this one identifies it as (apparently really badly color-corrected!) Acorn Fawn -

http://www.akubra.com.au/pdf/Akubra Stock Service Brochure.pdf

What I also think is funny is that the older version of this particular brochure, which I downloaded last year (shorter, didn't include the new Stingy Brim, etc.), has absolutely pin-sharp images of the hats, but the ones in this version are all fuzzy! Frankly, there's no excuse for this nowadays - it's not like they physically pasted it up using crappy xeroxes of the older images...

It's interesting that the brochure only lists two colors for the Stylemaster, but there are seven available at EA. Those pictures are truly terrible - it looks like they recently made the leap from film-based to digital printing without putting in the work needed to get a good final product. You used to see that a lot when digital printing was getting started - maybe they're late to the digital party?

For me, the best resource for Stylemaster colors was the Lounge, as it seems Akubra doesn't have a clue what color their own catalog shows. Perhaps the pictured hat was done in the notorious and now-discontinued 'Roo-Poo' color....

 

[Doctor Strange]

Well that particular brochure is just for stock items that they always have on hand for immediate delivery. All those other colors are special orders, though it would appear that certain dealers who do high volume sales try and maintain a supply of those colors in stock too.

I think Akubra probably made the leap to digital prepress long ago, like nearly everybody else. But likely some inexperienced intern did something dumb like take screenshots of the images in the previous brochure when preparing this one. You're right: there's really no excuse for stuff like this nowadays.

 

[Gilgamark]

For me, the best resource for Stylemaster colors was the Lounge, as it seems Akubra doesn't have a clue what color their own catalog shows.

Wholehearted agreement from me. FL has far better info on Akubras than the company offers. I don't think they've learned the art of photography yet. The colors are off. They take pics at funky angles, so you don't get a good view of the hat . . .

But, hey, they do the hats right. I'd rather have a lousy pic and a great hat than vice versa.

 

[jazzncocktails]

Not a bad idea, though I like the C bash on my Sydney better than the one on the Stylemaster. But I guess I could gently rework the Stylemaster a bit.

I still don't feel I have a handle on the center dent. Maybe I'll just take one or the other over to J.J. Hat Center and ask them to do it for me.

I know there was a how-to thread in the Lounge about achieving a diamond dent; is there such a thread for the center dent, too? If so, I've not found it.

Skyvue, check out this thread:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=10272

Matt offers images of the different hat creases on page one, very helpful for comparison. And on page 2, Dinerman provides a great how-to video. It's for creating a diamond bash, but he begins first with a center dent...so, if you follow that guideline and stop before putting in the diamond, you should be good. It has worked well on my open crowns; don't know how it will work with a re-bashed Stylemaster.