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).

LMU Crimson Swatch
LMU Crimson
PMS 207
C22 M100 Y84 K15
R171 G12 B47
#AB0C2F
LMU Blue Swatch
LMU Blue
PMS 2185
C100 M38 Y17 K2
R0 G118 B165
#0076A5
LMU Light Gray Swatch
LMU Light Gray
PMS Cool Gray 3
C8 M5 Y7 K16
R200 G201 B199
#C8C9C7
LMU Dark Gray Swatch
LMU Dark Gray
PMS Cool Gray 8
C23 M16 Y13 K46
R136 G139 B141
#888B8D
LMU Black Swatch
LMU Black
PMS Black 6
C60 M60 Y40 K100
R0 G0 B0
#000000

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.

Visualization of color usage ratios

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.

Primary Logo - Left-Justified - Positive - Full Color
Full Color
LMU Crimson and LMU Blue
Primary Logo - Left-Justified - Positive - Crimson
Single Color
LMU Crimson
Primary Logo - Left-Justified - Positive - Black
Single Color
LMU Black

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.

Primary Logo - Left-Justified - Reverse - White
LMU White "Sticker" Logo
Acceptable over LMU Crimson, LMU Blue, LMU Dark Gray and LMU Black
Not acceptable over LMU Light Gray
The Black Logo over LMU Light Gray
LMU Black Logo
Acceptable over LMU Light Gray

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.

The Full-Color Logo over LMU Crimson, LMU Black, LMU Light Gray and LMU Dark Gray
Full Color Logo
Acceptable over LMU Crimson, LMU Black, LMU Light Gray and LMU Dark Gray
Not acceptable over LMU Blue
Primary Logo - Left-Justified - Reverse - Full Color
Full Color "Sticker" Logo
Acceptable over LMU Crimson, LMU Blue, LMU Dark Gray and LMU Black
Not acceptable over LMU Light Gray

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.

White logo placed in clear space in the sky above palm trees

White logo over the grass in Sunken Garden

Incorrect Color Usage

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

Incorrect Color Usage 1

Don't place the identity over colored backgrounds that are not in the LMU palette.

Incorrect Color Usage 2

Don't change the color of the identity to colors that are not in the LMU palette.

Incorrect Color Usage 3

Don't place the identity over backgrounds with modified shades of LMU colors.

Incorrect Color Usage 4

Don't change the color of the identity to modified shades of LMU colors.

Incorrect Color Usage 5

Don't place the identity over patterned or other visually-competitive color backgrounds.

Incorrect Color Usage 6

Don't place the identity over visually-competitive image backgrounds.