Best known for his development of electromagnetic theory, Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell dabbled in color theory throughout his life, eventually producing the first color photograph in 1861. Maxwell created the image of the tartan ribbon shown here by photographing it three times through red, blue, and yellow filters, then recombining the images into one color composite.
They are technically distinct. Tartans refer to specific crisscrossed patterns associated with Scottish heritage, whereas plaid is the generic term for that kind of crisscrossed pattern.
Found this on Nat Geo about the photograph:
Apparently tartan ribbon is just plaid ribbon.
They are technically distinct. Tartans refer to specific crisscrossed patterns associated with Scottish heritage, whereas plaid is the generic term for that kind of crisscrossed pattern.