Graphic Standards Guide

Graphic Standards Guide

Purpose of this document This graphic standards guide is designed to assist CACCN members, staff and contracted suppliers in maintaining a consistent usage of the elements of the CACCN s approved symbol and design elements. The primary purpose of this standard is to ensure consistency of image throughout the CACCN s publications, including correspondence, promotional materials, and electronic media. The graphic elements, including approved versions of the CACCN logo, are available in a variety of commonly acceptable electronic formats. No other versions of the CACCN logo are to be used. This graphic standards document has been approved and no deviation is permitted unless under the express direction of the board of directors or their designate. Please observe these guidelines. Contents 1. The CACCN logo 2. Corporate signature Colour 3. Stationery 4. Promotional items Reproduction standards 2

The CACCN Logo The CACCN logo symbolizes the Canadian Association of Critical Care Nurses in a graphic manner. It exists in two forms: 1) Horizontal in black, black and red, or process colour. This should be the standard logo used in most applications, including offset printing and online usage. 2) Vertical, also in black, black and red, or process colour. This logo is to be used when there is an insufficient amount of space for the association s entire name to be reproduced legibly. The two-colour version should be used whenever possible. All variations of the two logo formats are available in several commonly used formats. The use of any other version of the CACCN logo is expressly forbidden. Alternative uses of the logo The badge element of the logo may be used as a design element as long as the guidelines in this standard are observed. An example of this use would be a screen pattern (see below). 3

Corporate signature The combination of the badge logo and the approved typescript of Canadian Association of Critical Care Nurses or CACCN comprises the corporate signature. In order to establish a firm connection between the CACCN and its logo, this corporate signature must be used at least once in any publication. As long as this criteria is met, the badge logo may be used as a graphic element on its own within a given publication. The Canadian Association of Critical Care Nurses or CACCN typescript is always printed in Trajan Bold. The typescript may be in either black or the approved red. The typescript may not be compressed or otherwise stretched or modified. Incidental type or graphic elements should not encroach on the corporate signature. Colour The primary colour used in the CACCN logo is red. The Pantone Matching System number is PMS 1795. If Pantone matching colours are unavailable, care should be taken to ensure as close a match as possible. CMYK values are: C = 0; M = 94; Y = 100; K = 0. Pantone 1795 RGB values are: R = 92.8; G = 31.2; B = 29.8. Paper colour All material should be printed on white paper. A light tint is acceptable. Bright coloured paper or extremely dark paper should be avoided. If the appearance of coloured stock is required, the colour should be printed on white paper. Avoid highly textured papers when this can interfere with legibility. Photo reproduction Photos are always printed on white paper. Even lightly tinted papers should be avoided in the reproduction of photographs. If photos are not printed in process colour, they must be printed in black ink. Coloured ink is not to be used in photographic reproduction. If there are photos to be reproduced in a piece of printed material, black ink must be used. The only exception to this rule is a duotone photo where the ink colour is being used for effect. Reverse applications All design elements may be reversed, i.e., printed white on any of the approved colours. Care should be taken to maintain legibility of text. 4

Stationery Electronic artwork for various pieces of stationery is available from the CACCN head office. Stationery is always printed on white or lightly tinted paper in black and/or red (PMS 1795). 5

Promotional items The production and design of promotional items should follow the general standards set forth in this guide. The corporate signature, i.e., the logo and typescript in the approved configuration, must be used on any promotional items. Under no circumstances should the logo or corporate signature be stretched, compressed or otherwise modified. The designer should use the approved electronic artwork supplied. No other version of the logo or corporate signature is to be used. If the designer is unable to access the electronic file, the CACCN should be contacted and an approved version of the logo will be provided. Only approved colours, or the closest possible approximation of the approved colours, are to be used on any promotional items. Reproduction standards It is important in maintaining the desired corporate image that the CACCN logo and associated graphic production are reproduced in a competent manner. Raster, or bitmap images, i.e., JPG, TIF, PNG, etc., are not to be unduly enlarged beyond their original resolution. For print reproduction, bitmapped images should be rendered at a resolution of no less than 300 DPI at the final reproduction size. It is not acceptable to enlarge bitmapped images in a layout program beyond 125% of their supplied size. It is not acceptable to either stretch or scale bitmapped images beyond their initial size. Reduction is acceptable in the interest of conserving memory as long as the final version is 300 DPI at the reproduction size. Once resolution has been lost, it cannot be regained. Images may be used at 72 DPI for internet or on-screen applications. If the logo is to appear on a non-white background on-screen, use of a PNG file with transparent background is preferable. 6

Contents of the CACCN Graphic Standards 1. CACCN Logo Horizontal logo Vertical logo Badge logo Each version of the logo is available in EPS format for use in vector graphics programs, as well as CMYK TIF for offset printing, RGB JPG for in-house printing, and both RGB JPG and transparent PNG format for web use. Each version of the logo is available in black and white and two colour. EPS (CMYK) This is the fully-editable master file. All other files are what is called raster files. Raster files can lose quality if enlarged or reduced in size significantly, but the EPS vector file can be either reduced or enlarged using the correct software without any loss of quality. TIF (CMYK, 300 dpi) These files are to be used for print jobs sent to an offset printer. JPG (RGB, 300 dpi) Provided in three sizes: small, medium and large. This version is to be used for in-house printing, or for word processed documents. JPG (RGB, 72 dpi) Provided in three sizes: small, medium and large. These files should be used for on-screen applications when the logo is to appear on a white background. A small border has been added to the files to prevent adjacent artwork from colliding with the logo artwork. PNG (RGB, 72 dpi) Provided in three sizes: small, medium and large. These files have a transparent background and should be used for on-screen applications when the logo will appear on a non-white background. Please note that unlike the JPG files, there is no border added to the edge of the artwork the edge is cropped tight to the logo which should be taken into consideration when using these files. 2. Stationery Business card #10 envelope 9 12" envelope Letterhead (portrait format) Letterhead (landscape format) Each file is available as a print-ready PDF file, as well as a PDF without trim marks. The original InDesign files are also available. 7