The CSU Web Color Palette

While the University has an official color palette for printed materials, there is no official hexadecimal RGB color specification for Web. However, Colorado State University’s official colors (dark green and gold) must be the predominant colors of all web designs (for guidance, see the palette at right).

Why no RGB hex codes?

The Communicators Toolbox references spot colors utilizing CMYK, called PMS and there is no true match for this print specification in RGB. We could attempt to offer specific RGB hex codes as a web guidelines, but have elected not to do so. The information below provides more background on this decision.

RGB

Computer monitors (and TVs) emit red, green, and blue light, combined in various amounts, to produce colors within a certain range of the visible spectrum. RGB is also called "additive" color, because when you combine red, green, and blue light you get white light.

CMYK

Inked paper absorbs or reflects specific wavelengths. Cyan, magenta and yellow pigments serve as filters, subtracting varying degrees of red, green and blue from white light, to produce a range of color within a certain range of visible spectrum. CMYK is also called "subtractive" color, because if cyan, magenta, and yellow inks were printed on white paper, our eyes would receive no reflected light and we would perceive black (in a perfect world, anyway).

The difference

RGB and CMYK each have a slightly different possible spectrum range ("gamut") and the difference between these two ranges (they don't entirely overlap) is part of the reason why it's impossible to match color between the two. This is why the color of what you printed doesn't often exactly match the color on your screen.