Editing MARPAT (section)

==Design and colors==
Different ratios and variations of colors were tested before final candidate patterns were actually printed to textile for field trials. A modified version of Vietnam War–era [[tigerstripe|tiger stripe]] also made it to final trials but was eliminated due to MARPAT being superior in all environments. The purpose of the digitized pattern is to create visual "noise" and prevent the eye from identifying any visual templates. Thus, the pattern is intended to not register as any particular shape or pattern that could be distinguished.<ref>Kenneth G. Henley, [https://www.militarymorons.com/misc/camo.html "MARPAT - A Personal Tale - From one of the designers of the Marine Pattern camouflage"], ''MilitaryMorons'', Sept 2003</ref>

There were initially three MARPAT patterns tested: Woodland, Desert, and Urban. While keeping the rights for Urban, only the Woodland and Desert patterns were adopted by the Marine Corps for general issue, replacing the [[U.S. Woodland]] pattern and the [[Desert Camouflage Uniform|U.S. Three-Color Desert pattern]]. Webbing and equipment worn with MARPAT Woodland and MARPAT Desert is produced in Coyote Brown, a mid-tone color common to both the woodland and desert patterns. Although a digital snow pattern has also been adopted on cold-weather training over-garments, this uses a different pattern from the Canadian company Hyperstealth.<ref name="auto"/>

Authentic MARPAT material is distinguishable by a miniature "[[Eagle, Globe, and Anchor]]" emblem incorporated into the pattern above the letters "USMC", in both the woodland and desert patterns.<ref name="Magna">[https://web.archive.org/web/20060630184420/http://www.magnafabrics.com/images/invprints/836.jpg Eagle, Globe and Anchor] example, Magna Fabrics.</ref>

<gallery widths="200px" heights="145px">
File:3MCCUU.jpg|The three tested MARPAT patterns: Desert, Urban, and Woodland pattern
File:MARPAT MCCUU Prototypes Removable Sleeves.png|Two U.S. Marines test out early prototypes of the MCCUU in 2001. The two prototypes feature removable sleeves, a feature that was later abandoned on the finished production version. The uniform on the left features an early version of woodland MARPAT.
File:USMC M249 SAW PIP.jpg|[[Woodland]] variant of MARPAT
File:TANKSaimingin2041102.jpg|[[Desert]] variant of MARPAT
File:Scout sniper snow MARPAT.jpg|U.S. Marines wearing [[Snow camouflage|snow-patterned]] MARPAT overgarments at the [[Mountain Warfare Training Center]]
</gallery>