BANNotation

The Banner Algebraic¹ and Normalised Notation (BANNotation) is a notation system that I devised for communicating banner designs in Minecraft (Mojang, 2011). This page will describe this system, and provide some examples of its use.

Colours

The standard banner colours, and their notated forms, are defined in this table:

Colours sourced from Minecraft Wiki.

Patterns

The standard banner patterns (as displayed in-game on Minecraft: Java Edition²), and their notated forms, are defined in this table, along with their expanded meanings.

Pattern names sourced from Minecraft Wiki.

Syntax

A banner notation starts with a base, and then any number of patterns, in order of their application.

Base

For a more formal syntax definition, see Appendix: Syntax in EBNF.

A base banner is simply defined as $B$, where $B$ is the base colour.

Simple Patterns

A colour-pattern combination is defined as $C$-$P$, where $C$ is a colour, and $P$ is a pattern. For example, a Blue Chevron would be Bl-Tb (blue triangle bottom).

Combined Gradient Base

For simple gradient bases, instead of notating a base $C_A$ and a gradient bottom $C_B$ (or the other way with a gradient top), you can use the shorthand $C_A$+$C_B$-Gx., where Gx is the combined gradient pseudo-pattern, $C_A$ is the top colour, and $C_B$ is the bottom colour.

For example, a gradient that goes from blue at the top and red at the bottom would can be either:

• Rd. Bl-Gt., or
• Bl. Rd-Gb.

But with the combined gradient syntax, it would be:

• Bl+Rd-Gx.

Note that this only works if the gradient is applied immediately after the base. If there are any patterns that are applied in between, the normal gradient top/bottom should be used instead.

Examples

This example will define all of the banners on the stone brick wall in this screenshot, posted by Jeb on Twitter/X.

Going left-to-right, then top-to-bottom:

1. Bk. Lb-Cf.
   • Black Base
   • Light Blue Flower Charge
2. Wh. Bk-Cc. Pi-Tb+Tt.
   • White Base
   • Black Roundel
   • Pink Chevron
   • Pink Inverted Chevron
3. Bl. Wh-Sx.
   • Blue Base
   • White Saltire
4. Bl. Wh-Cs.
   • Black Base
   • White Skull Charge
5. Bl. Lb-Cb. Ye-Wtl.
   • Blue Base
   • Light Blue Field Masoned
   • Yellow Per Bend Sinister
6. Gn+Li-Gx. Bk-Cr.
   • Green-Lime Gradient
     • either:
       • Green Base
       • Lime Base Gradient
     • or:
       • Lime Base
       • Green Gradient
   • Black Creeper Charge
7. Wh. Rd-Sbar. Bk-Tmb+Tmt+Sch.
   • White Base
   • Red Paly
   • Black Base Indented
   • Black Chief Indented
   • Black Fess
8. Or. Ye-Btr+Bbl. Rd-Cc.
   • Orange Base
   • Yellow Chief Sinister Canton
   • Yellow Base Dexter Canton
   • Red Roundel
9. Bk.
   • Black Base
10. Rd.
    • Red Base
11. Lg.
    • Light Gray Base
12. Wh.
    • White Base
13. Li.
    • Lime Base
14. Or.
    • Orange Base
15. Cy.
    • Cyan Base
16. Pi.
    • Pink Base

Appendices

Syntax in EBNF

colour = "Wh"
       | "Lg"
       | "Gr"
       | "Bk"
       | "Br"
       | "Rd"
       | "Or"
       | "Ye"
       | "Li"
       | "Gn"
       | "Cy"
       | "Lb"
       | "Bl"
       | "Pu"
       | "Ma"
       | "Pi"

pattern = "Sb"
        | "St"
        | "Sl"
        | "Sr"
        | "Scv"
        | "Sch"
        | "Sdw"
        | "Suw"
        | "Sbar"
        | "Sx"
        | "Scr"
        | "Wtl"
        | "Wtr"
        | "Wbl"
        | "Wbr"
        | "Bl"
        | "Br"
        | "Bt"
        | "Bb"
        | "Bbl"
        | "Bbr"
        | "Btl"
        | "Btr"
        | "Tb"
        | "Tt"
        | "Tmb"
        | "Tmt"
        | "Cc"
        | "Cd"
        | "F"
        | "Fw"
        | "Cb"
        | "Gt"
        | "Gb"
        | "Cr"
        | "Cs"
        | "Cf"
        | "Cn"
        | "Cg"
        | "Cp"

solid = colour, "."
gradient = colour, "+", colour, "-Gx."
base = solid | gradient

pattern_set = pattern, { "+", pattern }
layer = colour, "-", pattern_set, "."

banner = base, { " ", layer }