Color Palette
The use of color is an important aspect of the Northeastern University identity. The identity system colors for Northeastern are a custom-mix Red, PMS Warm Gray 11, and Black.
In two-color versions of the graphic identity, the seal may be either PMS Warm Gray 11 or black and the logotype is always Northeastern Red, whether printed on coated or uncoated paper. Other shades of red and gray or other color combinations may never be used for the identifier.
One-color versions—both the primary arrangement with the seal and wordmark and the formal wordmark alone—are typically white knocking out of a medium or dark background or black against a white or light background. Printers may order the Northeastern Red ink formulas from the suppliers suggested below. For more information, contact the production director in the Office of Marketing and Communications at (617) 373-5741.
- Superior Ink, formula #8865; or 3D Ink, formula #D-28449 (for printing on coated stocks)
- 3D Ink, formula #D-28202 (for printing on uncoated stocks).
In all cases, drawdowns on the specified paper stock should be furnished for approval before printing. When reproducing the Northeastern identifier through four-color process printing, convert the colors according to these formulas:
- Northeastern Red= 100% magenta, 90% yellow, 5% black
- PMS Warm Gray 11 = 13% magenta, 30% yellow, 76% black
Whenever PMS colors or four-color process cannot be used (in the production of signs or banners, for instance), choose red and gray colors that approximate Northeastern Red and PMS Warm Gray 11 as closely as possible.
Northeastern Red should be used in all primary communications. Warm Gray 11 and black can act as secondary colors. Percentages of Warm Gray 11—from 10% to 100%—may be used as a supportive color.
Web
Web sites use the hexadecimal color system. The code for Northeastern Red is #CC0000. Rather than Warm Gray, we use a different shade of gray for Web sites, Cool Gray. The code is #666666. For more information, see Web Standards.