14
Colour
Palette
The core colour palette is shown opposite (middle row). It should be used on all our communications. A set of tonally darker and lighter colours have been developed in order to support the five core colours. These 10 supporting colours are designed to work with the core colours, in various combinations. They should be used to add depth and variety. There is no set colour for departments or areas of the University. Any of the fifteen colours within the palette may be used for any communication. Attention should be given to the use of appropriate colours. Minimal colour usage is often the most effective. Please see pages2933 for example applications.
PANTONE 284 C
lighter palette
PANTONE 142 C
PANTONE 583 C
PANTONE 5215 C
PANTONE 557 C
Cambridge Blue
Red Pantone 032 and Yellow Pantone 109 are unique to the University identifier and should not be used elsewhere on our communications.
PANTONE 285 C
core palette
PANTONE 158 C
PANTONE 369 C
PANTONE 513 C
PANTONE 7466 C
PANTONE 032 C
PANTONE 541 C
darker palette
PANTONE 718 C
PANTONE 574 C
PANTONE 669 C
PANTONE 5473 C
15
Colour
Palette Accessibility
Accessibility When choosing colour it is important to consider the best options from the palette that will project the information clearly, effectively and complement any chosen images. There must always be good contrast between text and the background colour. Dark colours on a white or very pale background are the most legible. White type should only be used on a very dark background for example Pantone 541, 574, 699 and 5473. Colours such as Pantone 285, 513 and 746 are suitable background colours for small quantities of text, such as headings, charts and diagrams or small blocks of text that you wish to highlight. All colours on the previous page are shown at values of 100%. To achieve paler tones, it is also possible to use any of the colours at lower percentages as illustrated here in the tints of Pantone 284.
100% 80% tint 60% tint 40% tint 20% tint
PANTONE 284 C
PANTONE 284 C
PANTONE 284 C
PANTONE 284 C
PANTONE 284 C
tints of colour from lighter palette
white text on a dark background
white text on a dark background
white text on a dark background
PANTONE 285 C
core palette
PANTONE 513 C
PANTONE 7466 C
white text on a dark background
white text on a dark background
white text on a dark background
white text on a dark background
PANTONE 541 C
darker palette
PANTONE 574 C
PANTONE 669 C
PANTONE 5473 C
16
Colour
Pantone and CMYK references
The Pantone and CMYK references for the palettes are: Pantone 284 Pantone 142 Pantone 583 Pantone 5215 Pantone 557 C.59 C.0 C.31 C.44 C.48 M.17 M.25 M.1 M.81 M.4 Y.00 Y.78 Y.100 Y.11 Y.35 K.0 K.0 K.10 K.51 K.10
PANTONE 284 C
lighter palette
PANTONE 142 C
PANTONE 583 C
PANTONE 5215 C
PANTONE 557 C
Pantone 285 Pantone 158 Pantone 369 Pantone 513 Pantone 7466
C.90 C.0 C.73 C.58 C.88
M.48 M.65 M.0 M.99 M.0
Y.0 Y.95 Y.100 Y.0 Y.29
K.0 K.0 K.0 K.0 K.0
PANTONE 285 C
Pantone 541 Pantone 718 Pantone 574 Pantone 669 Pantone 5473 C.100 C.0 C.58 C.89 C.88 M.58 M.76 M.22 M.97 M.20 Y.9 Y.100 Y.98 Y.8 Y.32 K.50 K.3 K.79 K.47 K.53 core palette
PANTONE 158 C
PANTONE 369 C
PANTONE 513 C
PANTONE 7466 C
PANTONE 541 C
darker palette
PANTONE 718 C
PANTONE 574 C
PANTONE 669 C
PANTONE 5473 C
17
Colour
RGB and websafe references
The RGB and web safe references for the colour palette are: Professional printing Pantone 284 Pantone 142 Pantone 583 Pantone 5215 Pantone 557 Desktop printing R.106 G.173 B.228 R.239 G.189 B.71 R.168 G.180 B.0 R.181 G.147 B.155 R.163 G.193 B.173 Web 6699ff ffcc33 99cc00 cc9999 a3c1ad
PANTONE 284 C
lighter palette
PANTONE 142 C
PANTONE 583 C
PANTONE 5215 C
PANTONE 557 C
Cambridge Blue
Pantone 285 Pantone 158 Pantone 369 Pantone 513 Pantone 7466
R.0 G.115 B.207 R.227 G.114 B.34 R.88 G.166 B.24 R.142 G.37 B.141 R.0 G.179 B.190
0066cc ff6600 669900 993399 00cccc
PANTONE 285 C
core palette
PANTONE 158 C
PANTONE 369 C
PANTONE 513 C
PANTONE 7466 C
Pantone 541 Pantone 718 Pantone 574 Pantone 669 Pantone 5473
R.0 G.62 B.114 R.200 G.78 B.0 R.67 G.81 B.37 R.65 G.45 B.93 R.21 G.101 B.112
003366 cc6600 336633 333366 006666
Use the RGB references above to change colours given on templates.
PANTONE 541 C
darker palette
PANTONE 718 C
PANTONE 574 C
PANTONE 669 C
PANTONE 5473 C
18
Colour
Working with the palette
The palette of 15 colours has been designed to work independently or together in various combinations. Each core colour has a corresponding lighter and darker colour. The lighter palette works well as a background, highlight or graphic. The darker palette is the most suitable for type. They can be used as individual colour sets ie just the blue palette. Or the colour sets can be effectively combined. For example, the blue set works visually with the orange/yellow set. There is no preordained colour for departments or areas within the University. When choosing colour please consider the most appropriate options from the palette that will project the information clearly, effectively and complement your chosen images. When designing suites of literature you may want to choose a consistent colour combined with a selection of alternative highlight colours to code the individual publications and create a family feel. Minimal colour usage is often the most graphically effective. Undisciplined colour usage and tonally inappropriate combinations will dilute the impact of our identity. Therefore you should only use colours from our palette. Some suggested colour combinations are shown opposite. There must always be good contrast between text and the background colour. Dark type on a white or very pale background are the most visually accessible. White type should only be used on a very dark background. (See page 15).
PANTONE 284 C PANTONE 285 C PANTONE 541 C
Name of division
01
Communication title
blue palette
PANTONE 142 C
PANTONE 158 C
PANTONE 718 C
Name of division
orange/yellow palette
02
PANTONE 5473 C PANTONE 7466 C PANTONE 557 C
Communication title
teal palette
Name of division
PANTONE 5215 C
PANTONE 513 C
PANTONE 669 C
purple palette
03
Communication title
PANTONE 583 C
PANTONE 574 C
PANTONE 369 C
green palette
colour combinations
suite of literature
