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Color

General Information
Color Values
Correct and Incorrect Use of Color With Logo

General Information

The Sunburst may not be used without the appropriate lettering, "Smithsonian Institution," "Smithsonian" and/or a Museum or other Organization Name. The lettering may only be black or white.

The Sunburst for the Smithsonian Institution usually consists of two elements: the sun and the circular "sky" around the sun. Occasionally, the sun can be used without the circular "sky."

The Sunburst is shown below in the preferred colors of blue and yellow. This version is recommended for use on a white, or light, background.

LogoC-large.gif (3922 bytes)

Where economy dictates, the Sunburst may be a white sun in a blue circle. This version is recommended for use on a white, or light, background. 

witesunbluecircle.gif (3123 bytes)

The Sunburst is shown here as a black-and-white version. When using the sun alone, without the sky, reversed out of a background, the sun may never be black. The sky is deleted, and the sun is white. If a light colored stock or background is used, the black-and-white version must be used. If the background is very dark, the white sun alone must be used.

black-and-white

black-and-white

When printing the black-and-white version of the logo on colored paper with black ink only, the sun will be the color of the paper on which it is printed. 

black-and-white

If printing in one color ink only that is not black, the Sunburst may be printed in that color, with the sun being white (or the color of the paper underneath) and the circle, or "sky," being the printed color.

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Color Values

PANTONE* colors (for printing on paper): 

Blue 3135C and UC
Yellow 116C and 109UC

*"PANTONE" is a registered trademark of PANTONE Inc.

Note: C means for use on "coated" paper, and UC means for use on "uncoated" paper.

CMYK process color breakdowns (for printing on coated or uncoated paper):

Blue C: 100
M: 6
Y: 0
K: 10
Yellow C: 0
M: 15
Y: 100
K: 0

Hexidecimal colors (for Web use):

Blue #0592A5
Yellow #FFD812

RGB 

Blue R: 5
G: 146
B: 165
Yellow R: 255
G: 216
B: 18

Vinyl (for use on signage):

3M/Gerber

3M Scotchcal Series 220

Smithsonian Blue = Teal

Smithsonian Yellow =
Bright  yellow 

 

3M Scotchcal Series 230; 3M Scotchlite Series 280/280i/1170; and 3M Scotchcal Series 210

These colors may not
be used.

Spar-cal Computer Graphic Films

Premium

Smithsonian Blue =
1634 Teal (24)

Smithsonian Yellow =
1510 Yellow (22)

 

Promo Plus

Smithsonian Blue =
2034 Teal

Smithsonian Yellow =
2050 Yellow

No other products from this manufacturer may be used.

Mactac

These colors do not match well and should not be used unless there is no alternative.

MACal 9800 S

Smithsonian Blue =
MACal 9849-17

Smithsonian Yellow =
MACal 9809-00

 

MACal 9700 S

Smithsonian Blue =
MACal 9748-03

Smithsonian Yellow =
9708-02

 

MACal 8900 S

Smithsonian Blue =
MACal 8939-07

Smithsonian Yellow =
MACal 8905-00

 

MACal 8400 S

These colors may not
be used
.

 

MACal 8000 S

These colors may not
be used
.

 

MACal 800 S

These colors may not be used.

Tape Technologies, Inc.

3 Mil Intermediate Film 4000 Series

Smithsonian Blue = 95 Bright Teal

Smithsonian Yellow =  52 Bright Yellow

 

2 Mil Cast Translucent Vinyl 7000 Series

Smithsonian Blue = 221 Bright Teal

Smithsonian Yellow = 209 Yellow

 

2 Mil High Performance Cast Film 2000 Series

Smithsonian Blue = 95 Bright Teal

Smithsonian Yellow = 52 Yellow

 

Metalized Films 9000 Series

These colors may not be used.

 

Flourescent Cast Film FL Series

These colors may not be used.

 

Commercial Grade Reflectives 5000 Series

These colors may not be used.

 

Engineer Grade Reflectives 6000 Series

These colors may not be used.

 

Neon Film 8000 Series

These colors may not be used.

 

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