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.