Gibson Graphic Standard Style Guide User manual

Graphic Standard Style Guide

GIBSON GRAPHIC STANDARD STYLE GUIDE
Table Of Contents
Introduction and General Standards.............................................................................................................. 1
Logo Guidelines........................................................................................................................................... 2
Size and Space Requirements...................................................................................................................... 3
Color Specifications..................................................................................................................................... 4
Color Usage................................................................................................................................................ 5
Accent Color Usage..................................................................................................................................... 6
Typographic Standards................................................................................................................................. 7
Corporate Stationary Guidelines.................................................................................................................... 8 - 20
Special Applications………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 21
Trademark Registration……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 22
INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL STANDARDS: USE OF THIS MANUAL
General Terms Related to Guitars……………………………………………………………………………………………. 23

INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL STANDARDS: USE OF THIS MANUAL
The objective of this Graphic Standards Style Guide is to provide standards of usage for the
Gibson Corporate Logo.
A corporate logo symbolizes a company’s strength, confidence, promise of quality and competence.
Proper treatment of a corporate logo ensures that it will be recognized amid communications clutter.
Graphic standards are a visual expression of our Company, and serve as the foundation for our overall
communications strategy. A well-managed Graphic Standards program provides a consistent message
and image. It is extremely important that these standards be followed precisely to maintain the
uniformity of presentation necessary for successful promotional and sales efforts. Do not deviate,
under any conditions, from the standards set forth in this Guide.
This Guide outlines the core elements of logo usage and how to apply them to printed and
promotional materials. Possession of this Graphic Standards Style Guide does not relieve the holder from
the responsibility of obtaining corporate approval. Items of any kind that bear a Gibson logo may not be
produced prior to approval by the Creative Services Department at [email protected].
There are no exceptions to this procedure.
Every employee is responsible for helping to make the Company’s communications strategy a success.
Please contact the Creative Services Department if you have questions about the policies or standards
in this manual.
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LOGO GUIDELINES
NEVER remove any element form the original logo artwork (e.g., register mark, etc.).
NEVER distort the logo (i.e., never condense or extend the logo, or make it bolder or thinner).
Logo MUST remain proportionate to the original artwork at all times.
NEVER modify any of the letter forms.
NEVER reproduce the logo in an unauthorized color or on a background color that is not an authorized color.
NEVER use the logo in conjunction with any other logo unless approved by Creative Services.
NEVER use the logo as headline type.
NEVER reproduce the logo over a complicated or patterned background.
NEVER surround the logo with another shape that could form a different mark.
NEVER use a drop shadow with the logo.
NEVER rotate the logo on the horizontal. Logo must be angled as designed. No other rotation of the
angle of the logo will be acceptable. Refer to page 3 on size and space requirements for visual
representation.
NEVER alter the proportion between the logo and any associated typography.
NEVER use the “Mother-of-Pearl” logo application on a white background. This logo must be used on a
dark background.
The Gibson corporate logo guidelines apply whether the logo is reproduced in color, reversed to white or in
black only. In addition, the relative size proportions and positioning of these logo elements must always
remain constant. Never attempt to recreate this logo. Corporate logos can be secured by going online to our
website, www.gibson.com/press or contact the Creative Services Department at [email protected].
if disks are needed.
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SIZE AND SPACE
The Gibson logo should never be reproduced
in a size smaller than 3/4" in horizontal
length. Exceptions must be approved by the
Creative Services Department. For maximum
impact and clarity, an area of clear space
must be maintained around the Gibson logo.
This clear space provides a protective area
surrounding the logo within which no other
graphic elements such as typography, pictures,
art or borders may intrude.
The clear space must equal 1/2 (or more) of
the height of the Gibson logo. Never allow any
other elements within the clear space.
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The minimum size of the Gibson
logo is 3/4" in horizontal length
3/4"
Clear space around logo
must be at least 1/2the
height of the letter “G” in
the Gibson logo
CLEAR SPACE
CLEAR SPACE
CLEAR SPACE
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COLOR SPECIFICATIONS
Primary Colors
The Gibson color palette consists of primarily of Black and White with the option of a
four color process “Mother-of-Pearl” background fill to be used for special applications
for emphasis. It must never be reproduced on a background of White. “Mother-of-Pearl”
logo must be used on a dark background to be acceptable.
When printing one-color, PANTONE®Black is to be used. When printing four-color
process, a rich black must be used. The rich black color is made up out of the four-
color process. The following is the CMYK, (C=Cyan, M=Magenta, Y=Yellow, K=Black),
breakdown that will assure the rich black prints properly: C: 30%, M: 20%, Y: 20%,
K: 100%.
The “Mother-of-Pearl” background fill logo is made up out of four color process and
must not be altered from the original logo. No other color options will be allowed unless
approved by the Creative Services Department.
Secondary Colors
The secondary color palette consists of one primary color: PANTONE®8181C Metallic
Blue-Silver. PANTONE®8181C can be used for a color accent with fonts or color bars
for emphasis.
When using a four-color process match of PANTONE®8181C, the following CMYK
breakdown must be used. C: 50%, M: 25%, Y: 0%, K: 15%.
The colors shown throughout this Guide have not been evaluated by Pantone, Inc. for accuracy and may not match
the PANTONE® Color Standard. Consult current PANTONE® Color Formula Guide for accurate color. PANTONE® is the
property of Pantone, Inc.
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One-Color Logo
Pantone®Black
Rich Black
Four-Color Process
C: 30%, M: 20%,
Y: 20%, K: 100%
4-C Process Color
“Mother-of-Pearl”
100% White
Pantone®8181C
Metallic Blue-
Silver
Four-Color Process
(Match in Process to
PANTONE® 8181C,
Blue-Silver)
C: 50%, M: 25%,
Y: 0%, K: 15%

STANDARD COLOR USAGE
The Gibson logo may be used in three standard color formats:
• Black only
• White reverse out of Black background
• Four-Color “Mother-of-Pearl” version.
No other colors are acceptable.
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One-Color Logo Reverse To White Logo Four-Color Process Logo

ACCENT COLOR USAGE
In cases where standard logo color choices cannot be employed in production techniques such as
stamping, embossing or other types of imprints, accent colors are permissible.
The Gibson logo may be used as a one-color imprint in PANTONE®871 Metallic Gold or PANTONE®877
Metallic Silver (or production match).
No other colors are acceptable.
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PANTONE® 871
Metallic Gold on a
Black Background
PANTONE®877
Metallic Silver on a
Black Background

CORPORATE TYPOGRAPHY
Type is an important element in consistent brand identity.
The typefaces shown to the right are the only acceptable
typefaces for use in producing Gibson corporate print
materials. The following general guidelines should be applied
when producing Gibson corporate print materials:
Body Text should be set in Trade Gothic Condensed or
Trade Gothic in no larger than 14 points and never smaller
than 7 points. Posters, displays, exhibits or other large-scale
materials may use larger point sizes as approved by the
Creative Services Department.
Italic or Bold typefaces are used to show emphasis on
special or important information within body copy, including
headlines and subheads.
Trade Gothic Bold or Trade Gothic Bold Condensed are to be
used for all headlines and subheads in printed material.
Trade Gothic Ex and Trade Gothic Ex Bold are to be used a
alternative subhead typeface but never used as a headline
typeface.
Avenir Medium is used for the “QUALITY PRESTIGE
INNOVATION” tagline and is not to be used for any other
purpose.
Use of any other typefaces in connection with the logo must
be approved by the Creative Services Department.
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TRADE GOTHIC CONDENSED
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
1234567890
TRADE GOTHIC CONDENSED ITALIC
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
1234567890
TRADE GOTHIC BOLD CONDENSED
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
1234567890
TRADE GOTHIC BOLD CONDENSED ITALIC
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
1234567890
TRADE GOTHIC
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
1234567890
TRADE GOTHIC ITALIC
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
1234567890
TRADE GOTHIC BOLD
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
1234567890
TRADE GOTHIC BOLD ITALIC
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
1234567890
TRADE GOTHIC EX.
ABCDFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
1234567890
TRADE GOTHIC BOLD EX.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
1234567890
AVENIR MEDIUM
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
1234567890

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309 PLUS PARK BOULEVARD
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37217 USA
615.871.4500 1.800.4GIBSON
309 PLUS PARK BOULEVARD
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37217 USA
1101 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW
SIXTH FLOOR
WASHINGTON, DC 20004
O 202.756.2497 x2200
C 202.744.4477
F 615.884.2345
DENNIS VAN DER HEIJDEN
VICE PRESIDENT
Product Development/Operation
dennis.vander[email protected]
www.gibson.com
QUALITY PRESTIGE INNOVATION
GIBSON STATIONARY GUIDELINES INTRODUCTION
Stationery is a major means of public and personal communication between a company and its many
audiences. The following pages contain specifications and visual guides for constructing artwork for the
Gibson corporate stationeries. Please follow all guides closely and contact our Creative Services Department
with any queries at [email protected]. A template has been developed for use in MS Word and
is available on the “my.gibson.com” website for use in preparing letters and other correspondence.