Oceania · Diagonal bands
How to draw the flag of Papua New Guinea
The flag of Papua New Guinea is bands running corner to corner in red, black, yellow and white, with bird of paradise and Southern Cross. It flies at a ratio of 3:4.
Step by step
- Start with the right shape. Papua New Guinea flies at 3:4 — for every 4 units of width the flag is 3 tall. Sketch that rectangle first; a flag drawn too square is the fastest way to lose layout points.
- Block in the background. Fill the whole flag with red first, then build the rest on top of it. Working from the largest area to the smallest keeps the proportions honest.
- Add the black, yellow and white. Bands running corner to corner. Place these shapes by eye against the edges of the flag, not against each other.
- Finish with the bird of paradise and Southern Cross. Detail is the last ten percent of the score, so leave it until the colour blocks are down. Size and position count for more than drawing every line of it.
Papua New Guinea flag colours
The colour codes below are the ones to reach for if you are recreating the flag digitally.
| Colour | Hex | RGB |
|---|---|---|
| Red | #CE1126 | rgb(206, 17, 38) |
| Black | #000000 | rgb(0, 0, 0) |
| Yellow | #FCD116 | rgb(252, 209, 22) |
| White | #FFFFFF | rgb(255, 255, 255) |
Common mistakes
- The proportions are unusual: 3:4 is slightly squarer than the usual 2:3 rectangle.
A trick for remembering it
Anchor on the biggest shape: bands running corner to corner in red, black, yellow and white. Everything else on the flag hangs off that.
Questions about the Papua New Guinea flag
What colours are on the flag of Papua New Guinea?
Papua New Guinea uses 4 colours: red (#CE1126), black (#000000), yellow (#FCD116), white (#FFFFFF).
What are the proportions of the Papua New Guinea flag?
It flies at 3:4 (height to width). Drawing it at the wrong shape is one of the quickest ways to lose layout marks in the game.
How hard is the Papua New Guinea flag to draw from memory?
PlayVexle rates it 4 out of 5. There is detailed artwork in the middle, which is worth only 10% of the score — get the colour blocks right first.
