Beyond our logo, color is the most recognizable aspect of our brand identity. Our brand colors reflect our bold, diverse community. Using color appropriately is one of the easiest ways to make sure our materials reflect a cohesive Berkeley brand.
| The Berkeley color palette has two layers: primary and secondary palettes, each with its own subgroupings of colors. Our color palette has been modified for use online. Six of our original brand colors—Founder’s Rock, Medalist, Lap Lane, Soybean, Pacific and Bay Fog—have been altered subtly to insure web accessibility. When using color builds, always use the color values listed. They were adjusted for the best reproduction in print and on screen and do not match Pantone® Color Bridge breakdowns. Primary Palettes
Secondary Palettes
New Web ColorsTwo colors—Background Gray and Web Gray—have been added to our basic palette and integrated into our web templates and to IST’s web template Open Berkeley.
Black and white backgroundsIf using black or white as a background, refer to the text options popup.
Using ColorIt is important to maintain a sense of hierarchy, balance and harmony when using the Berkeley color palette. Our color system is extremely flexible, but exercise restraint. Unique and exciting color palettes can be created from as few as three or four colors in addition to the primary Berkeley palette. View color guidelines Adobe Swatch Exchange (ASE) filesInDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop all support the exchange of colors via ASE files. Load these color files to your program to easily access the Berkeley color palette. |
Our Commitment to Web AccessibilityIn accordance with the systemwide UC Information Technology Accessibility Policy, and to help serve those with low vision, our web color palette is accessible online and in digital materials. |
Please use the following color guide:
HEX colors should be used when designing for screens or desktop printing.
CMYK color should be used when designing for 4-color printing (C=cyan, M=magenta, Y=yellow, K=black).
SPOT color is a single color created by Pantone and the most accurate representation of a color when printed.
Adobe COlor (ACO) files. A file with the ACO file extension is an Adobe Color file, created in Adobe Photoshop, that stores a collection of colors in HEX, RGB and CMYK color spaces.
Import instructions for Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator or InDesign:
- Find and download the ASE file.
- Open your swatches palette by clicking the menu > Window > Swatches
- Click the flyout menu and choose “Load swatches” or “Open Swatch Library/Other Library”
- Navigate to the ASE file
- Your swatches will open up in a new swatch palette
