Show HN: Open Source Constellation T-Shirts

[fredley]

It would be nice if the star positions had been taken from real star positions, picking an optimal set to match the desired shape (a fun data project for someone with more time than me), rather than just plonked down any old how.

[gregcoombe]

Yeah, I initially got excited by the link for this reason too. You might be able to do something with Astrometry.net (http://astrometry.net/gallery.html), by first converting the logo to a set of points. But they might just reject non-star images (or images where the points don't exactly match).

[azilnik]

I've always been interested in doing ACTUAL open-source clothing. Cuts, stitches, production process, etc. Let's make the best tshirt ever!

[joostdecock]

Have a look at freesewing.org, it's an open source platform for made-to-measure sewing patterns.

Full disclosure: I'm the maintainer

[nailer]

I do the same with laptop stickers: https://github.com/mikemaccana/stickers

[friendly_chap]

The snapchat for databases one caused me to laugh for at least a minute. Thank you!

[williamscales]

Hi Nailer, how do you use these? I can't seem to open a .sketch file on my Linux machine. Would you be willing to share a cross-platform version of your stickers?

[DrDamage]

but the t-shirts include a free concept of logo constellations, so it's more than just t-shirts ;)

[_TNT_]

snapchat :D good one!

[teddyh]

Note: Clothing designs are not copyrightable. Illustrations on a T-shirt may well be, though.

[dragonwriter]

> Clothing designs are not copyrightable.

In a number of (non-US, currently, though there are recurrant efforts in the US, too) jurisdictions, there is shorter-term, copyright-like protection for clothing design.

[bringtheaction]

Can patches be applied to my t-shirt after it’s been printed? ;)

(Sorry but I almost never make puns but I had to make this one.)

[pavel_lishin]

You can actually use diluted bleach to modify dark shirts pretty easily - so yes!

[saagarjha]

Can you put a copyright on constellations? You might be able to put a license on the code that produces the lines, but I don't think the final results should be copyrighted.

[wizardforhire]

INAL but from my limited understanding of copyright law you can't copyright facts. However original works in any medium are protected, so the code and also the images themselves would be copyrighted at the time of creation. But anyone could create another set of similar yet original code which could output similar images and not be in violation. Subsequently these new works would also be copywrited at the time of creation... Ad nauseam

[solarkraft]

I don't really find this to fit the name "Open Source". It's simply a project with published assets. A cool idea, yes, but even the process isn't even documented that well.

> Ultimately, we decided on a full-print T-shirt printed on both sides, which was made for us by a local, friendly printing house.

The one interesting part, where to acquire fully printed t-shirts in Europe, was left out.

[vandavv]

I think it's a nice start to see "Open Source" term used not only for developing purposes, but also for things we use every day. Nice job!

[solarkraft]

I love that it introduces people to it and gives them positive associations, however I think we risk watering down the term, not always being clear what "open source" means in a given context. This project itself is a good example in my opinion.

Refer to my top-level comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16386307

[jordonwii]

Heads up to anyone else following the "just buy the shirt" link, it won't work unless you prefix with https://.

Working link is: https://teonite.cupsell.com/

[zitterbewegung]

This statement doesn't apply to this project but remember organizations still have trademarks. See https://www.python.org/psf/trademarks/ for an example.

[vandavv]

yes, but they're not using the logo itself, it's just like an inspiration for creating constelations which are open source

[evanlivingston]

I was disappointed to see this was just for the graphic, not for the actual design of the t-shirt.

[dragonwriter]

In the US, an open source clothing design is superfluous since such designs are not usually protected (outside the scope of copyright, rarely qualify for patent, trade dress, or other protection.)

[joostdecock]

Im repeating myself, but have a look at freesewing.org, it's an open source platform for made-to-measure sewing patterns.

Full disclosure: I'm the maintainer

[teon]

What do you mean? There are actual print designs for t-shirt print shops!

[grenoire]

Well, does need some open-source improvement indeed. hasaatr printed wrong even on the shirts!

[Cyberdog]

In a way, you're open sourcing logo designs copyrighted by others, though. Some OSS projects may not care, but others can be just as protective of their branding as full-fledged companies, from what I've seen.

[teon]

I don’t think that a constellation - lines and dots is under any copyright. It’s like saying that python logo has a python so it validates all logos that has snakes in logos.. Remember, no actual logos were used, changed, modified...