Revised 7.16.2009 BRAND GUIDE

Revised 7.16.2009

BRAND GUIDE

This Brand Guide addresses three

areas critical to proper Marine Corps

branding. These elements are:

1. The Marine Corps Logo, which

is the proper combination of a

wordmark and the Marine Corps

Eagle, Globe and Anchor.

2. Typography, which consists of an

approved family of type fonts.

3. Color Usage, which consists of an

approved palette of specific colors.*

This is a guide to the correct use of United States

Marine Corps brand elements. It is intended to help

Marines and our marketing partners create content

that accurately communicates the brand essence

through consistent and proper use of carefully

deﬁned visual components. Using these Marine Corps

brand elements in the intended manner will enable

you to create a more immediately recognizable set of

communications in every instance, thereby increasing

the power of your communications and creating a

greater brand voice for the Marine Corps.

INTRODUCTION

CONTENTS

Introduction

The Brand

Overview

The Blues Test

Media 2.0

The Marine Corps Logo

Logo Elements

Eagle, Globe, and Anchor

Wordmarks

The Tagline

Minimum Size

Clearspace

Typography

Color Palette

Full-Color Applications

Using the Logo Over Photography

Line-Art Color Applications

Appendix

*NOTE: This Brand Guide was designed for

screen use or low-resolution output and may

not feature accurate color representation.

To ensure color precision, please refer to a

PANTONE® color swatch guide or contact

your printing vendor.

WORKING GROUP VERSION

THE BRAND

OVERVIEW

The basic promise of all prospect-directed Marine

Corps communication is transformation. Entry into

the Marine Corps offers the opportunity to become

completely transformed in mind, body and spirit.

Through an intense mental and physical indoctrination,

recruits are forced to look within themselves for strength

and learn to depend on those at their side. Price of

entry into the Corps is intentionally acknowledged to

be extremely high, and each recruit must endure this

“trial by fire” in order to be proven worthy to serve.

What makes Marines special: Nobility and Honor,

Courage and Commitment. Every Marine is regarded

as a respected member of an elite military organization

akin to a large family. Marines revel in the feeling of

closeness they share, and are steadfastly committed

to each other and to the country they serve. Through

the transformation process, Marines are instilled with

an extreme level of self-discipline and display poise,

character and leadership qualities beyond others.

The Marine Corps tradition is part of the bedrock

of this nation, and one of the constants that makes

every American hopeful for the future.

BRAND VISION

The United States Marine Corps and the individual

Marine should be viewed as the epitome of military

virtue. A group of smart, tough warriors who gain

strength of mind, body and character through

membership in an elite and proud Corps.

TONE AND EXECUTION

The Marine Corps brand voice is one of quiet power

and reverence befitting an institution this country has

looked to as its protector for more than two centuries.

It is not humorous, as the business of the Marine Corps

is very serious. It is not arrogant or flippant. It is

intelligent, bold and feels on the side of right.

THE BRAND

THE BLUES TEST

ENSURING A CONSISTENT PUBLIC IMAGE

The “Blues Test” is an ethical standard that the

Marine Corps applies before entering into any

advertising, publicity or promotional agreement.

It helps ensure that all marketing and public affairs

efforts are associated with organizations and companies

of the highest moral caliber. It is a subjective test,

but aims to steer the Marine Corps brand away from

objectionable content such as, but not limited to,

sexual references, criminal activity, extreme violence,

harsh language, political activism and any other

potentially controversial subject matter.

It is acknowledged that the “Blues Test” occasionally

limits where the Marine Corps brand can appear.

The payoff, however, is the consistent public image

communicated to the target audience—that a

United States Marine embodies integrity and strong

moral character. To maintain a noble public image

for the Marine Corps has always been, and will

continue to be, invaluable to all recruitment and

public affairs efforts.

THE BRAND

MEDIA 2.0

DEALING APPROPRIATELY WITH THE

MEDIA 2.0 LANDSCAPE:

In recent years, the rise of the World Wide Web has

created a nearly parallel media universe that is now taking

its place at the forefront of mass communication. Based

around the popularity of user-generated content and the

modern “blogosphere,” this media universe is populated

with unfiltered communication of every sort, from

anyone and everyone who chooses to offer it to the

world. This represents a staggering shift in paradigm.

Mass communication that was once the province of

brands and companies with the resources to disseminate

information via costly traditional media has now become

possible for anyone with a computer and the will to speak.

Consequently, the Media 2.0 landscape is a

minefield. Its main features are a constant and

opinionated buzz, along with the promise of instant

retribution for those who speak falsely or offer an

unpopular position. That certainly makes this dangerous

territory for any brand that doesn’t first weigh the risks

and rewards. Still, this environment is fast becoming the

populist medium of our time, and it can’t be ignored as a

potential channel for the Marine Corps message. Should

messaging be put in this environment, several things must

be considered and certain rules adhered to:

1) No communication should be released into the

environment that is not in the best interests of

the Marine Corps. The same questionable content

rules apply here as with any other Marine Corps

communication.

2) If there is an interesting message that includes

intriguing visual or audio communication, it will likely

become “viral.” That is, it may spread from site to site.

The message could become altered by anyone with

the technical skill to do so. Any communication offered is

also subject to being scrutinized by the media. Therefore,

make sure all communications are “blues worthy.”

3) Remember that the communication could very likely

be taking a center stage position in Marine Corps brand

communication. Make sure the message is consistent

with the brand message of transformation and/or the

“Longer Marine Corps Story” of service to country and to

each other. United States Marines embody integrity and

strong moral character. To maintain a noble public image

for the Marine Corps has always been, and will continue

to be, invaluable to all recruitment and public affairs

efforts.

THE MARINE

CORPS LOGO

The Marine Corps logo is composed of two elements:

1. The Eagle, Globe and Anchor—the universally

recognized symbol of the United States Marine Corps.

2. A wordmark.

The Eagle, Globe and Anchor may be placed either to the

left of the wordmark or centered directly over it, depending

on whether a vertical or horizontal treatment is preferred.

From a brand perspective, the logo is the “signature”

of any Marine Corps communication. It is used to give

the communication an official voice and authorization.

Although there are several approved-for-use versions

of the Marine Corps logo, the two versions below are

recommended for general use in full-color applications.

Other versions of the logo and their specific uses are

addressed later in this Guide.

The following pages address the individual elements that make up the logo, describe acceptable variants and explain correct usage.

VERTICAL LOGO HORIZONTAL LOGO

Eagle, Globe

and Anchor

Wordmark

Eagle, Globe

and Anchor

Wordmark

LOGO

ELEMENTS

EAGLE, GLOBE

AND ANCHOR

FULL COLOR

The full-color Eagle, Globe and Anchor in the Marine

Corps logo is an actual photograph of the emblem

taken from the dress blue uniform. It is a compelling

visual and is very recognizable. However, two

important considerations should be taken into account

when using this photo as part of a logo element:

1. To maintain its accuracy, the photographic Eagle,

Globe and Anchor can only be printed using a

full-color printing process.

2. To prevent the Eagle, Globe and Anchor from

losing its detail, it should never be reproduced at

a size that sacrifices its resolution thereby

causing the emblem to be pixilated (see page 8).

LINE ART

The line art version of the Eagle, Globe and Anchor

is a two-dimensional interpretation of the original and

reproduces nicely at any size. It may be reproduced

in black, white or one of several approved brand

colors (see page 14). The line-art version of the

Eagle, Globe and Anchor is a completely acceptable

alternative to the photographic Eagle, Globe and

Anchor in appropriate situations.

These include:

1. When the Eagle, Globe and Anchor cannot be

printed in a full-color process.

2. When the end-use size is too large for the

photographic artwork to reproduce properly.

3. When the eventual print quality is suspect.

4. When the communication is directed at internal

Marine Corps audiences. These audiences often

include both Officers and Enlisted personnel, and the

line art offers a neutrality that appeals to everyone.

USING THE EAGLE, GLOBE AND ANCHOR ON

ITS OWN

There are instances that call for the Eagle, Globe

and Anchor to be used as the complete logo, without

any accompanying wordmark. An example of this

is television, an environment allowing the word

“Marines” to be voiced rather than appearing in type.

However, most print situations currently call for a

more substantial brand identification.

THE CORRECT EAGLE, GLOBE AND ANCHOR TO USE

In full-color communications directed toward the

general public, the Officer Eagle, Globe and Anchor

or line art version should always be used, no matter

whether the subject matter pertains to Enlisted Marines

or Officers. In communications directed specifically

toward an Enlisted Marine audience, the gold

Enlisted Eagle, Globe and Anchor may be used.

Full-Color Ofﬁcer Eagle, Globe and

Anchor (photographic image)

Full-Color Enlisted Eagle, Globe and

Anchor (photographic image)

One-Color Eagle, Globe and Anchor

(line art)

LOGO

ELEMENTS

WORDMARKS

NOTE: The wordmarks above are shown within the full-color horizontal logo versions. They may also be used in vertical logo versions,

and with the line-art Eagle, Globe and Anchor.

VARIATIONS OF THE WORDMARK

WITHIN THE LOGO

The combination of the Eagle, Globe and Anchor

with the MARINES wordmark and tagline (“The Few.

The Proud.”) is considered standard for most general

applications. However, it should be noted that there

are four alternate wordmarks that may be used in

combination with the Eagle, Globe and Anchor to create

the Marine Corps logo. Always use the wordmark that

best suits the needs of the particular project.

SIZE AND SPACING

The Eagle, Globe and Anchor (discussed in detail on

the previous page) may appear either to the left of the

wordmark or above it. Specific guidelines for size ratio

and spacing between the wordmark and the Eagle,

Globe and Anchor can be found in Appendix B.

All wordmarks are fixed elements. They should never

be kerned or have any spacing added.

COLOR USAGE

In order to maintain a consistent Marine Corps brand

identity, there are a limited number of approved colors

that may be applied to the wordmarks. Please refer to

pages 14-15 for more details.

LOGO WITH GENERAL-USE WORDMARK

LOGO WITH ALTERNATE WORDMARK

LOGO

ELEMENTS

THE TAGLINE

THE MARINE CORPS BRAND TAGLINE

The Marine Corps brand uses one officially recognized

tagline, which is a featured element in most brand

communications. This line is: The Few. The Proud.

The general-use wordmark shown on the previous

page includes this tagline. This wordmark version

is recommended, provided its use adheres to the

minimum clearspace and size specifications (see pages

9-10). However, its use in this form is optional, since the

tagline often appears in text. In these situations, using

the tagline within the logo may become redundant.

As with all wordmarks, the wordmark bearing the

Marine Corps tagline should be used in proper

conjunction with the Eagle, Globe and Anchor.

The integrity of the Marine Corps tagline is very

important to the brand, and the tagline is intended

to always function as a stand-alone phrase.

It should never be altered to include another phrase

or be incorporated into other phrasing. Additionally,

the tagline should never be a part of the logo when

the Eagle, Globe and Anchor is paired with the

MARINES.COM, MARINEOFFICER.COM, or

MARINE RESERVE wordmarks.

1.25" minimum size

(181 pixels*)

.33"

(50 pixels*)

MINIMUM SIZE

WORDMARKS

The five Marine Corps wordmarks are designed to retain

their legibility in a wide range of sizes. But when sized

too small, the legibility is diminished, as is the impact.

The minimum size of the wordmark is determined by

width. Never reproduce any of the wordmarks where

the word “MARINES” is smaller than 1.25 inches

wide (181 pixels*), as shown on the right.

EAGLE, GLOBE AND ANCHOR

For legibility, the Eagle, Globe and Anchor should

never be reproduced smaller than one-third of an

inch (.33") wide, or 50 pixels.* This guideline applies

to both the photographic and line-art versions. Always

measure from the far left edge of the rope to the far

right tip of the anchor.

SIZE AND SPACING

Specific guidelines for size ratio and spacing between

the wordmark and the Eagle, Globe and Anchor can

be found in Appendix B.

*All pixel widths assume 1280 x 1024 resolution at 72 dpi.

x is equivalent to 1/2 the height of the globe

CLEARSPACE

To ensure the prominence and

legibility of the Marine Corps logo,

always surround it with the minimum

amount of clearspace, as shown in the

examples on the right. This clearspace

isolates the logo so it does not compete

with surrounding text or photography.

CLEARSPACE AROUND THE LOGO

OR A WORDMARK

The minimum amount of clearspace around the logo,

or around the wordmark, is equivalent to the height

of the letter “M” in “MARINES,” regardless of which

wordmark is used or at what size it is reproduced.

CLEARSPACE AROUND THE

EAGLE, GLOBE AND ANCHOR

When the Eagle, Globe and Anchor is used alone,

it must also be surrounded by a minimum amount

of clearspace. This amount is equivalent to half of

the height of the globe. This clearspace should be

measured from the very edges of the rope and anchor,

as shown below.

TYPOGRAPHY

Consistent typography can be a recognizable and

synergistic part of any brand identity. All Marine Corps

branded communications should, whenever possible,

utilize only the font families depicted in this section.

Within the sans serif font family, TRADE GOTHIC, and

the serif font family, INDISPOSE, there is a great deal

of flexibility and latitude offered for design. These fonts

help communicate the proper character of the Marine

Corps personality and provide a consistent look.

Presently, there are no specific rules for the use of

the approved font families. As a general guideline,

TRADE GOTHIC should be relied upon for use in ad

headlines and body copy. The font is highly readable

and has a bold look. Conversely, INDISPOSE provides

a noble, sophisticated feel that works very well in

Marine Corps collateral communications. The two

families are also quite complementary to each other,

should a communications piece call for both.

Headlines or other bold text must be

typeset in ALL CAPS this way:

A LWAY S

A MARINE.

ALWAYS

A MARINE.

ALWAYS

A MARINE.

Typeface: Trade Gothic Bold Condensed 20

Horizontal Scale: Set to 198%

Kerning: Set to 100 points, or equivalent

ample letterspacing

Typeface: Trade Gothic Bold Condensed 20

Horizontal Scale: Set to 120%

Kerning: Set to 75 points or equivalent

ample letterspacing

Typeface: Trade Gothic Bold Condensed 20

Horizontal Scale: Set to 100%

Kerning: Set to 50 points, or equivalent

ample letterspacing

TRADE GOTHIC

This clean and simple sans serif font has both regular

roman and condensed varieties. It is the primary font

for all Marine Corps work. Trade Gothic can be purchased

from a variety of online typography sources.

This is Trade Gothic Light.

This is Trade Gothic Bold 2.

This is Trade Gothic Condensed 18.

This is Trade Gothic Bold Condensed 20.

INDISPOSE

This serif font has slightly unusual nuances and

comes in a variety of weights. It should be used as a

secondary typeface. To purchase Indispose, contact

FontShop San Francisco at 1-888-333-6687 or info

@fontshop.com. Please specify the USMC Indispose

Package when ordering.

This is Indispose Light.

This is Indispose Medium.

This is Indispose Bold.

This is Indispose Small Caps.

SERIF FAMILY

TIMES NEW ROMAN

This clean and simple serif font has regular, bold and

italic varieties. It is the primary substitution font for

Indispose on all Marine Corps work. Times New Roman

comes with most computers factory-installed fonts.

All samples are sized at 13 pt.

MARINES. The Few. The Proud.

This is Times New Roman Regular.

This is Times New Roman Italic.

This is Times New Roman Bold.

INDISPOSE

MARINES. The Few. The Proud.

This is Indispose Light.

This is Indispose Medium.

This is Indispose Bold.

SAN SERIF FAMILY

ARIAL

This clean and simple sans serif font has regular,

bold and italic varieties. It is the primary substitution

font for Trade Gothic on all Marine Corps work. Arial

comes with most computers factory-installed fonts.

All samples are set at 13 pt.

MARINES. The Few. The Proud.

This is Arial Regular

This is Arial Italic.

This is Arial Bold.

TRADE GOTHIC

MARINES. The Few. The Proud.

This is Trade Gothic Light.

This is Trade Gothic Bold 2.

This is Trade Gothic Bold Condensed 18

This is Trade Gothic Bold Condensed 20.

TYPOGRAPHY

Unlicensed fonts (or system fonts)

are those most commonly installed on

today’s computer operating systems,

and do not require the purchase of

licensing agreements.

When the purchase of licensed fonts

(TRADE GOTHIC and INDISPOSE) is

not an option, unlicensed fonts (ARIAL

and TIMES NEW ROMAN) can be used

instead to achieve a consistent brand

look. Licensed fonts are recommended

when available.

UNLICENSED FONTS

SAN SERIF

SERIF

Other fonts consider during unlicensed font selection are listed below.

TRADE GOTHIC MARINES. The Few. The Proud.

ARIAL MARINES. The Few. The Proud.

Franklin Gothic MARINES. The Few. The Proud.

Verdana MARINES. The Few. The Proud.

Century Gothic MARINES. The Few. The Proud.

Indispose MARINES. The Few. The Proud.

Times New Roman MARINES. The Few. The Proud.

Bookman MARINES. The Few. The Proud.

Palatino MARINES. The Few. The Proud.

Cambria MARINES. The Few. The Proud.

TYPOGRAPHY

THIS PAGE FOR PRESENTATION PURPOSES ONLY.

Unlicensed fonts (or system fonts)

are those most commonly installed on

today’s computer operating systems,

and do not require the purchase of

licensing agreements.

When the purchase of licensed fonts

(TRADE GOTHIC and INDISPOSE) is

not an option, unlicensed fonts (ARIAL

and TIMES NEW ROMAN) can be used

instead to achieve a consistent brand

look. Licensed fonts are recommended

when available.

UNLICENSED FONTS

TYPOGRAPHY

Careful and selective use of specialty fonts outside of

the traditional serif and san serif families can enhance

the look and feel of speciﬁc communications while

maintaining the Marine Corps brand identity.

In addition to TRADE GOTHIC and INDISPOSE,

KELLY TWENTY and LAMAR PEN are important

parts of the Marine Corps font family. These specialty

fonts are to be used sparingly and only where suited.

KELLY TWENTYLAMAR PEN

SPECIALTY FONTS

COLOR

PALETTE

CURRENT

The Marine Corps color palette emulates the dress blue

uniform—the deep blue/black fabric of the blouse, red

of the bloodstripe and piping, and silver and gold

accents. The red and blue used in the brand band

(covered later in this document) is the most consistent

color combination used in Marine Corps communications.

Other combinations such as red and gold without blue are

acceptable. Combinations such as blue with silver only or

blue with gold only are inappropriate, even though these

combinations are within the color palette parameters.

Questions on appropriate combinations will be resolved by

Marine Corps Recruiting Command.

Listed on the left are the PANTONE® Matching System

(PMS) colors, the four-color (CMYK), HSB combinations,

RGB combinations* and hexadecimal codes for Web use.

Always specify a coated paper stock when printing

Marine Corps materials. Coated paper helps to

maintain the accuracy of the dark and vibrant colors

of the Marine Corps color palette. Uncoated stock has a

tendency to absorb ink, washing out colors and altering

their appearance. Coated stocks are available in a wide

range of matte, semi-gloss and gloss ﬁnishes, which

allow for virtually any textural appearance desired.

Metallic inks are often a part of Marine Corps brand

communications. Therefore, preferred PANTONE®

metallic colors have been designated as additional

options for Marine Corps silver and gold. While these

colors are excellent choices for brand consistency,

please note that paper choice can affect coloration.

Therefore, the metallic designations speciﬁed at left are

intended as recommendations, not mandates.

If it is not possible to specify PMS, CMYK or RGB

colors for some materials, such as embroidery thread,

match the Marine Corps palette as closely as possible,

(i.e., ensure the red does not have orange hues).

* N O T E : Because the accuracy of computer monitors and

color printers cannot be guaranteed, the colors on this

page may not be represented precisely. Always refer to a

PANTONE® color swatch guide or your printing vendor to

ensure color accuracy.

BLUE

PMS 289C

CMYK 100/64/0/60

RGB 0/43/92

HEX #000066

RED

PMS 187C

CMYK 0/100/79/20

RGB 196/18/248

HEX #CC0000

SILVER

PMS 429C

Metallic PMS 877C

CMYK 3/0/0/32

RGB 176/183/187

HEX #999999

GOLD

PMS 4505C

Metallic PMS 871C

CMYK 0/12/75/45

RGB 140/123/33

HEX #CC9900

PANTONE® is a registered

trademark of Pantone, Inc.

THIS STRIP FOR PRESENTATION PURPOSES ONLY.

CLAY PMS 7505C

DESERT PMS 7531C

BLUE

PMS 289C

RED

PMS 187C

RED

PMS 187C

COLOR PALETTE SOURCING

SILVER

PMS 429C

SILVER

PMS 429C

YELLOW

PMS 143C

GOLD

PMS 4505C

PEAT PMS 627C

MOSS PMS 574C

COVER PMS 450C

MUD PMS 476C

PANTONE® is a registered

trademark of Pantone, Inc.

On a white background.

On a blue background, when red is present.

On a light background.

On a blue background, when red is present.

FULL-COLOR

APPLICATIONS

FOR LOGOS AND TEXT

On the right are the correct full-color

applications for the Marine Corps logo.

Whenever possible, the logo should

appear on a solid (or nearly solid)

background to ensure legibility.

While it is acceptable to apply the logo

over a photograph, care should be

taken that legibility is not compromised.

COLOR APPLICATION

The wordmark color must ALWAYS be one of

the following three colors:

• WHITE OR SILVER when used on a dark background.

• BLACK when used on a white or very light background.

NOTE: The rules above also apply to text applications.

PRIMARY USAGE

Depending on background color, the white or black

wordmark should be used when the logo and wordmark

are the primary brand communicaton elements. For

example, print, outdoor and television billboards. The silver

wordmark can be considered when the communication

piece affords other brand communicators. Examples would

include brochures and other multi-page pieces.

USING SILVER AND GOLD ACCENT COLORS

Use caution. While Marine Corps silver and gold are

important colors within the brand color palette, their

purpose is to provide graphic accent against Marine Corps

blue and red. With the exception of the featured silver

wordmark against a blue background with red accents,

silver and gold have limited use in text or logo applications.

The softer intensity of these colors simply makes them less

readable, which does not properly communicate the bold

nature of the Corps.

On a dark background, the wordmark is white.

On a light background, the wordmark is black.

To ensure legibility, never place the logo over an area of a photograph

which varies between light and dark.

When possible, use the logo within the Brand Band (see Appendix A).

USING THE

LOGO OVER

PHOTOGRAPHY

The Marine Corps logo may be placed

over photography as long as its legibility

is not compromised, or within the Brand

Band as seen in the first example to

the right. (See Appendix A for

guidelines.) Note that in the examples

at right, the logo may appear as black

over a consistently light area or as

white over a consistently dark area.

Alternate

1-color application

Recommended

1-color application

2-color application

3-color application

LINE-ART COLOR

APPLICATIONS

While full-color art is an ideal situation for any brand,

it is often not practical or possible. In these situations,

the line-art version of the logo becomes a valuable

design tool, as does the palette of approved Marine

Corps brand PANTONE® Matching System (PMS) colors.

Many color combinations are possible in less than

full-color applications, but the examples at left best

represent the intent of the brand. The first example

shows how the brand look can be created quite

effectively using only Marine Corps PMS blue, PMS red

and PMS silver. The third through fifth examples offer

effective brand communication using only one color.

An alternate one-color application is shown for the few

instances where the logo cannot be printed on black.

Note that the line-art logo may be effectively used in

both positive and negative form.

APPENDIX

The following pages make up the appendices to the

Marine Corps Brand Guide. The information within these

sections may change regularly, or may be of a depth

beyond the needs of most users of this Guide.

CONTENTS

Current Design and Layout

A.1

Single Red Rule on Single Blue Band

A.2

Double Red Rule

A.3

Blue Field with Red Accent

A.4

Special Applications

A.5

Published Brand Band Examples

A.6

Logo Usage (Size and Space Ratios)

General-Use Wordmark

B.1

Marines Wordmark

B.2

Marines.Com Wordmark

B.3

MarineOfﬁcer.Com Wordmark

B.4

Marine Reserve Wordmark

B.5

Web/1-800 Treatments

C.1

Television Guidelines

The Brand Band

D.1

Letterbox Format

D.2

Title and Signature Screens

D.3

Television Billboards

D.4

CURRENT

DESIGN

AND LAYOUT

THE BRAND BAND

The Marine Corps identity is strengthened by consistent

use of brand elements. One of the most signiﬁcant

elements currently in use is the “Brand Band.” This

band comprises a primarily blue; rarely black horizontal

or vertical area of varying width, accented with red in

one of a number of speciﬁc ways. These red accents

are always a secondary element to the blue/black band,

which in turn, should always be less dominant than the

image or concept driver. The Brand Band is not a required

element in every piece of Marine Corps communication.

It is intended to be a ﬂexible design element that can take

many forms, and should complement the overall design of

the communication in which it is used, not dominate it. Its

sole purpose is to add a stronger brand presence.

The Marine Corps logo and/or text often appear in the

blue band. Please note the potential use combinations

of the blue band with red stripe. There are several

combinations available, which create a great deal of

design ﬂexibility. These options, and some examples,

appear on the following pages.

BASIC DESIGN OPTIONS

Details and examples can be found on the following pages.

Single red rule on single blue band

A.2

Double red rule

A.3

On single blue band

On double blue bands

Blue field with red accent

A.4

With thick red accent

With medium red accent

With thin red accent

Special applications

A.5

Large posters, outdoor applications, etc.

A.1

Single band — .15" thick

(22 pixels*)

actual size rule

IMAGE

CURRENT

DESIGN

AND LAYOUT

SINGLE RED RULE ON

A SINGLE BLUE BAND

SINGLE RED RULE ON SINGLE BLUE BAND

In this scenario, a blue band of a width appropriate to the

design of the print piece appears at the top, bottom, or side

of the print piece. A thin red piping of .15" (15/100ths of an

inch) in width (equivalent to 22 pixels*) edges the blue on

the side of the photograph or graphic driver. For layouts other

than US letter size, please refer to page A4 for correct ratios.

*All pixel widths assume 1280 x 1024 resolution at 72 dpi.

A.2

Double band —

.10" thick

(15 pixels*)

actual size rule

Double band —

.10" thick

(15 pixels*)

actual size rule

IMAGE

CURRENT

DESIGN

AND LAYOUT

DOUBLE RED RULE

DOUBLE RED RULE ON DOUBLE BLUE BANDS

In this scenario, two blue bands of widths appropriate

to the design of the print piece are positioned either

horizontally or vertically at the top and bottom or at

the sides of the print piece. A thin red piping of .10"

(10/100ths of an inch) in width (15 pixels*) edges the

blue bands on the side of the photograph or graphic

driver. For layouts other than US letter size, please refer

to page A4 for correct ratios.

DOUBLE RED RULE ON SINGLE BLUE BAND

In this scenario, a blue band of a width appropriate

to the design of the print piece is positioned either

horizontally or vertically in a position other than at the

edge of the print piece. The band is edged on both sides

with thin red piping of .10" (10/100ths of an inch) width,

or 15 pixels* wide. For layouts other than US letter size,

please refer to page A4 for correct ratios.

*All pixel widths assume 1280 x 1024 resolution at 72 dpi.

A.3

Single band —

.10" thick rule

(15 pixels*)

shown at actual size

3. With THIN red accent

1. With THICK red accent

multiply X by .30

2. With MEDIUM red accent

multiply X

by .05

CURRENT

DESIGN

AND LAYOUT

BLUE FIELD WITH

RED ACCENT

BLUE FIELD WITH RED ACCENT

In this scenario, the blue band becomes the entire

graphic ﬁeld. A red accent stripe appears at the top,

the bottom or within the blue ﬁeld, either horizontally or

vertically. Typical examples of correct use of this option

include Web banners and graphic cover treatments.

Option 1: Blue ﬁeld with THICK red accent:

The blue band comprises the entire graphic ﬁeld.

A red accent stripe of .30 (30%) the width of the

blue ﬁeld appears at the top, the bottom or within the

blue ﬁeld, either horizontally or vertically.

Option 2: Blue ﬁeld with MEDIUM red accent:

The blue band comprises the entire graphic ﬁeld.

A red accent stripe of .05 (5%) of the width of the

blue ﬁeld appears at the top, the bottom or within the

blue ﬁeld, either horizontally or vertically.

Option 3: Blue ﬁeld with THIN red accent:

The blue band comprises the entire graphic ﬁeld.

A red accent stripe of .10" (10/100ths of an inch) in

width (equivalent to 15 pixels*) appears at the top,

the bottom or within the blue ﬁeld, either horizontally

or vertically.

*All pixel widths assume 1280 x 1024 resolution at 72 dpi.

A.4

Single band — wide enough to be legible from a distance

IMAGE

CURRENT

DESIGN

AND LAYOUT

SPECIAL

APPLICATIONS

VERY LARGE POSTERS,

OUTDOOR APPLICATIONS, ETC.

The design intent here remains the same as for other

printed pieces, as discussed on the previous pages. But

for oversize communications pieces (usually anything

larger than a standard 18x24” poster), the actual widths

of the red accents may need to increase in order to

maintain the proportions appropriate to the branded

design. Similarly, a small keychain might require

adjusted proportions between the blue and the red

fields in order for the red piping to be distinct. Always

refer to one of the Brand Band designs on the previous

three pages as closely as possible to suit the needs of

your specific project. It is strongly suggested that type

on outdoor boards be white for maximum legibility.

An example of an outdoor board on which red piping

was increased for visibility can be found below.

Shown for example only. Refer to annual plan for actual work.

A.5

CURRENT

DESIGN

AND LAYOUT

PUBLISHED EXAMPLES

AV IATION

To speak to someone today about becoming

a United States Marine, call 1-800-MARINES

or send in this card for more information.

Mr. Ms. (Circle One) Name (Please Print)

Address

City State ZIP Code

(Area Code) Cell Phone Number

(Area Code) Telephone Number

Last Grade Completed

Date of Birth (Month/Day/Year)

Name of School

E-mail Address

The information you provide will be used for recruiting purposes only. Disclosure is voluntary.

TAKE YOUR PLACE

AMONG THE FEW

PR_027040_014176

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

AVIATION_MECH_9.4.indd 1 9/10/08 4:28:25 PM

R E C RU I T T RA I NI N G

PR_027044_014180

To speak to someone today about becoming

a United States Marine, call 1-800-MARINES

or send in this card for more information.

Mr. Ms. (Circle One) Name (Please Print)

Address

City State ZIP Code

(Area Code) Cell Phone Number

(Area Code) Telephone Number

Last Grade Completed

Date of Birth (Month/Day/Year)

Name of School

E-mail Address

The information you provide will be used for recruiting purposes only. Disclosure is voluntary.

TAKE YOUR PLACE

AMONG THE FEW

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

RECRUITMENT TRAINING_MECH_9.4.indd 1 9/10/08 5:03:08 PM

ONCE A MARINE

ALWAYS A MARINE

PR_027043_014179

To speak to someone today about becoming

a United States Marine, call 1-800-MARINES

or send in this card for more information.

Mr. Ms. (Circle One) Name (Please Print)

Address

City State ZIP Code

(Area Code) Cell Phone Number

(Area Code) Telephone Number

Last Grade Completed

Date of Birth (Month/Day/Year)

Name of School

E-mail Address

The information you provide will be used for recruiting purposes only. Disclosure is voluntary.

TAKE YOUR PLACE

AMONG THE FEW

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

ONCE A MARINE_MECH_9.4.indd 1 9/10/08 4:52:06 PM

CONTINUING THE MARINE CORPS LEGACY THROUGH

BATTLE-TESTED AND WARRIOR-PROVEN MARINES.

DEDICATED TO A SENSE

OF HONOR.

A.6

When using the general-use wordmark,

the height of the Globe is always equal to the

height of MARINES and the tagline combined.

Always center the Eagle, Globe and Anchor directly over the wordmark.

Use the center axis of the Globe to determine the center.

The width of the “I” (without the serifs) in

MARINES determines the distance between the

wordmark and the Eagle, Globe and Anchor.

Horizontal

Signature

Vertical

Signature

LOGO USAGE

GENERAL-USE

WORDMARK

B.1

When using the MARINES wordmark,

the height of the Globe is always equal to

/2 times the height of the “M” in MARINES.

Always center the Eagle, Globev and Anchor directly over the wordmark.

Use the center axis of the Globe to determine the center.

The width of the “I” (without the serifs) in

MARINES determines the distance between the

wordmark and the Eagle, Globe and Anchor.

Horizontal

Signature

Vertical

Signature

The MARINES wordmark is always

centered vertically with the Globe.

LOGO USAGE

MARINES WORDMARK

B.2

When using the MARINES.COM wordmark,

the height of the Globe is always equal to

twice the height of the “M” in MARINES.

This is different than the MARINES wordmark

because more characters in MARINES.COM

adds to the visual weight of the wordmark.

Always center the Eagle, Globe and Anchor directly over the wordmark.

Use the center axis of the Globe to determine the center.

The width of the “I” (without the serifs) in

MARINES determines the distance between the

wordmark and the Eagle, Globe and Anchor.

Horizontal

Signature

Vertical

Signature

LOGO USAGE

MARINES.COM

WORDMARK

B.3

Always center the Eagle, Globe and Anchor directly over the wordmark.

Use the center axis of the Globe to determine the center.

The width of the “I” (without the serifs) in

MARINES determines the distance between the

wordmark and the Eagle, Globe and Anchor.

When using MARINEOFFICER.COM, the

height of the Globe is always equal to twice

the height of the “M” in the wordmark.

Horizontal

Signature

Vertical

Signature

LOGO USAGE

MARINEOFFICER.COM

WORDMARK

B.4

Always center the Eagle, Globe and Anchor directly over the wordmark.

Use the center axis of the Globe to determine the center.

The width of the “I” (without the serifs) in

MARINES determines the distance between the

wordmark and the Eagle, Globe and Anchor.

When using MARINE RESERVE, the height of the Globe is always

equal to twice the height of the “M” in the wordmark.

Horizontal

Signature

Vertical

Signature

LOGO USAGE

MARINE RESERVE

WORDMARK

B.5

Combined

Standard Web Address

with 1-800 Number

Combined

Officer Web Address

with 1-800 Number

1-800 Number

Officer Web Address

Standard Web Address

WEB/1-800

TREATMENTS

Most Marine Corps advertising, promotions and other

marketing materials use a “call to action,” which

usually includes the website address and call center

phone number. To help maintain brand consistency,

a variety of type treatments, shown at left, were

designed. But because the website and phone number

sometimes appear in body copy, using these type

treatments is optional.

IMPORTANT: 1-800-MARINES is not considered

a wordmark, and is not approved for use as such.

This means that the phone number should not be

used in conjunction with the Eagle, Globe and

Anchor. Additionally, these type treatments are

intended to function as calls to action and should not

replace the Marine Corps logos or wordmarks on any

communications piece.

To avoid redundancy, the MARINES.COM logo

should not be used in conjunction with the combined

type treatments (the last two examples).

C.1

TELEVISION

GUIDELINES

THE BRAND BAND

PUTTING THE BRAND BAND ON TV

Though the application for the majority of this brand

guide is for print-oriented media, the essence of the

stated brand rules should also be applied to television

and long-form ﬁlm production. Basically, the

perception of dominant blue or black with red

highlights is a desired graphic quality within any

broadcast or audio-visual product representing the

United States Marine Corps.

The key word here is perception because the actual

application of graphic color will be BLACK with

red accent. There are two reasons for using black

on television. First, viewers universally recognize the

letterbox format with black edges, and to introduce a

different color might well become a distraction. Second,

the use of Marine Corps “brand blue” in television

graphic application can be unpredictable. It is difﬁcult

to consistently make the blue as dark and bold as it

should be in order to represent the brand, and in a

worst case, the blue can appear purple. For this

reason, substitute black as the dominant graphic

complement to live visuals, and use red as the accent

to the black. The overall effect is elegant and strong,

and black is very close to the actual color of the

Marine Corps dress blue blouse. More details about

using the Marine Corps brand on television are

covered on the next few pages.

D.1

TELEVISION

GUIDELINES

LETTERBOX FORMAT

THE BRAND BAND AS A LETTERBOX TREATMENT

While not a requirement, the graphic Brand Band

used in print can also work for television applications.

Simply build an edge-to-edge “letterbox” format*

with or without red pinstripes, on the outer edges of

the live visual field. The only place letterboxing

should not appear is within title screens.

The letterbox format was first used to convert

widescreen films built for theaters to the NTSC

standard 4:3 format. Later, letterboxing became

popular as a way to mimic a widescreen-theater film,

providing a way to dress up the look of ordinary 4:3

images. In this scenario, footage will be lost from the

top or the bottom of the frame in order to achieve the

look. Either way, the live images appear as the full

width of the television screen, but only about 2/3 as

high, and centered top to bottom. As the television

industry converts to a widescreen (16:9) format,

letterboxing will become passé. The whole intent of

letterboxing was to create the illusion of widescreen,

and with the advent of High Definition formats, this will

become unnecessary.

* The letterbox format is a very standard width,

well known to most television postproduction facilities.

Should there be a question of how wide to make

letterbox bands, please contact your contracted

agency representative.

Letterbox

D.2

TELEVISION

GUIDELINES

TITLE AND

SIGNATURE SCREENS

TITLE SCREENS

The end screen containing the Marine Corps logo

should be black. The preferred font for television titles

is Trade Gothic, but other approved typefaces from

the Marine Corps font family can be used in certain

instances. If titles are used over moving video, ensure

legibility. Please refer to page 11 for more information

on setting headline-style type, and see the example

below for relative size and look.

USING THE EAGLE, GLOBE AND ANCHOR

AS A SIGNATURE

As with print, the Eagle, Globe and Anchor should

be used as the primary brand signature. It should

appear at the end of the television spot or audio-

visual communication, in full-color pictorial form, over a

black screen. The Eagle, Globe and Anchor graphic may

be accompanied by a Marine Corps wordmark, including

MARINES, MARINES.COM and MARINES with

THE FEW. THE PROUD. tagline. The wordmark may

need to be resized for television to ensure legibility.

The correct use of these wordmarks depends on

what, if anything, is voiced over the signature. In any

case, the end result is a high-impact visual signature,

which ensures the pictorial graphic of the Eagle,

Globe and Anchor remains clearly legible.

END SCREEN USE OF MARINES .COM WITH TRANSITION TO ‘THE FEW. THE PROUD.’ WORDMARK.

D.3

TELEVISION

GUIDELINES

TELEVISION

BILLBOARDS

TELEVISION BILLBOARDS

Television billboards are used when the Marine Corps

is recognized as a paying advertiser by the producers

of a television show or broadcast. Television billboards

usually represent “added value” for media dollars

spent, and they are furnished by JWT to those who

need them.

The example on the left is a television billboard

approved for use. You may notice that it utilizes the

dominant blue with red accent of the brand, counter

to the directive earlier in this section. There are two

reasons for this: First, a billboard is unlike a title

screen in that it must fully encapsulate the personality

of the brand in a single visual. Second, Marine Corps

television billboards are pre-built, allowing for a high

level of quality control in the graphics and coloration.

Therefore, there should be no need to produce a

television billboard independently, as they are readily

available by contacting your contracted agency

representative.

Television Billboard Example

D.4