The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) brand identity relies on a carefully curated color palette, featuring both primary and secondary colors for use across all print and digital platforms. This guide, acting as your essential Pms Color Guide, ensures consistent and impactful visual representation of the UNC brand. Carolina Blue, the university’s signature color, takes center stage and must be incorporated in at least 10% of every design. The secondary palette serves as accent colors, enhancing the primary scheme without overshadowing it.
To maintain a unified brand image and maximize visual impact, it’s crucial to adhere to the following color reproduction guidelines. This PMS color guide provides the necessary specifications for accurate color representation in all your UNC-related projects.
Primary Color Palette
For web-specific alternatives, please refer to the Web Alternative Colors section below.
Carolina Blue PMS 542
CMYK 60, 19, 1, 4
Hex #4B9CD3
RGB 75, 156, 211
Digital Links #007FAE
Navy PMS 2767
CMYK 100, 90, 10, 77
Hex #13294B
RGB 19, 41, 75
Black PMS Black 3
CMYK 74, 52, 71, 90
Hex #151515
RGB 21, 21, 21
White
CMYK 0, 0, 0, 0
HEX #FFFFFF
RGB 255, 255, 255
Gray PMS Black 3 at 6%
CMYK 4, 3, 3, 0
HEX #F8F8F8
RGB 248, 248, 248
Secondary Color Palette
Dome Copper PMS 8920 (metallic) Infinity foil 62
NOTE: Use Pantone color or Infinity foil only. Not intended for digital use.
Basin Slate PMS 5405
CMYK 68, 35, 17, 40
HEX #4F758B
RGB 79, 117, 139
Campus Sandstone PMS 2309 at 50%
CMYK 3, 8, 11, 0
HEX #F4E8DD
RGB 244, 232, 221
Longleaf Pine PMS 561
CMYK 84, 20, 58, 54
HEX #00594C
RGB 0, 89, 76
Azalea Pink PMS 191
CMYK 0, 79, 36, 0
HEX #EF426F
RGB 239, 68, 111
Tile Teal PMS 7466
CMYK 97, 0, 30, 0
HEX #00A5AD
RGB 0, 165, 173
Sunburst Yellow PMS 109
CMYK 0, 10, 100, 0
HEX #FFD100
RGB 255, 209, 0
Davie Green PMS 382
CMYK 28, 0, 100, 0
HEX #C4D600
RGB 196, 214, 0
Web Alternative Colors
Carolina Blue, while iconic, requires special consideration for web accessibility due to its lightness. For users with low vision or colorblindness, the following web-alternative colors ensure inclusivity and meet accessibility standards when used as specified.
The font sizes recommended below are based on Web Carolina Blue used against a white background. Hyperlink Blue is exclusively for white backgrounds. Always utilize the WebAIM Color Contrast Checker to verify color contrast for your chosen combinations. Detailed guidelines on University color usage and accessibility are available on the Websites page.
Web Carolina Blue Hex #4B9CD3 RGB 75, 156, 211
NOTE: Use with font sizes larger than 24px (or 19px and bold).
Hyperlink Blue Hex #007FAE RGB 0, 127, 174
NOTE: Use on a white background only.
Guidelines for Usage
These guidelines are crucial for maintaining brand consistency. Always refer to this PMS color guide to ensure proper color usage.
Do
- Always incorporate at least 10% Carolina Blue in all designs.
- Utilize the correct color breakdowns (CMYK, RGB, Hex, PMS) based on the intended application (print or digital).
- Prioritize the primary color palette as the dominant colors in your designs.
- Employ the secondary color palette sparingly, strictly for accentuating primary colors.
- Ensure that text and background color combinations meet WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility guidelines for all web and digital content.
Don’t
- Never omit Carolina Blue from any design representing UNC.
- Avoid estimating or guessing color values; always use the provided PMS color guide and codes.
- Refrain from using secondary palette colors as primary design elements.
Contact
For further inquiries regarding the University’s official color palette and its application, please reach out to UNC Creative. This PMS color guide is your primary resource, but UNC Creative can provide additional support and clarification.
