Colors

The LMU color palette is grounded in the color traditions of the university's founding religious orders, the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) and the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (R.S.H.M.) LMU Crimson represents the Jesuit tradition and LMU Blue represents the R.S.H.M. and Marymount traditions.

The combination of both hues presents vivid, compatible color values that directly harken LMU's history and identity.

The LMU color palette is distinctive. The brightened and more vivid values are screen and mobile adaptive, even visible on a black background.

Color Values & Equivalencies

The LMU color palette features specific prescriptions for various production processes and mediums. In addition to exact color mixes in the Pantone Matching System (PMS), there are precise values for cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK) to achieve color accuracy in process printing. Last, six-digit hexadecimal codes are used when matching LMU colors on the web and in other digital environments (RGB).

Color Usage Ratios

LMU Crimson and LMU Blue should be used more than any other colors in the palette. The secondary colors are meant to act as complements to the primary colors, LMU Crimson and LMU Blue. The recommended ratio of use for all colors in the palette is shown here.

Logo Color Standards

Color is a critical component of any visual identity system. LMU is as identifiable by its Crimson and Blue tradition as any mark in its logo system. For this reason, it is critical that the color palette be deployed accurately.

Guidelines for acceptable logo color applications are shown here. The example used is the university primary lock-up but the guidelines apply to all marks and lock-ups in the LMU visual identity system.

Single-Color Logo Background Applications

Guidelines for acceptable identity backgrounds on one-color applications are shown here. The example used is the university acronym lock-up but the guidelines apply to all marks and lock-ups in the LMU visual identity system.

On all solid, one-color backgrounds, a white, reversed-out logo or lock-up is used. The one exception is on LMU Light Gray — a black logo is used on this background color.

Full-Color Logo Background Applications

Guidelines for acceptable identity backgrounds on full-color applications are shown here. The example used is the university acronym lock-up but the guidelines apply to all marks and lock-ups in the LMU visual identity system.

On all solid, one-color backgrounds, a full-color logo or lock-up can be used. A key to full-color execution is a "sticker version" of the primary mark. In this version, a white hairline around the perimeter of the shield graphic allows it to stand apart from the background. This is an acceptable color use on all LMU identity color backgrounds. The sticker version is a mandatory use on the LMU Blue background.

Logo Usage over Photographic Backgrounds

The LMU identity can be applied directly over photography and illustrations with non-competitive backgrounds, such as open sky or grass.

Incorrect Color Usage

Incorrect uses of color are shown below. Incorrect usage rules apply to all marks in the LMU identity toolkit.