Identity systems

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Colourways and reversed versions

Lesson 11 of 18 in Identity systems.

Why you need a separate inverted logo · James Barnard
Lesson

A mark needs at least four versions before it leaves the studio: full colour positive, full colour reversed, one colour black, one colour white. Almost every real application is one of those four, and the ones missing are the ones somebody improvises.

A doodle of three tiles showing a dark ring logo on white, the same logo inverted to white on black looking heavier, and a thinner redrawn white version that matches the original.
A mark flipped to white on black looks heavier than the original. The reversed version is redrawn with slightly thinner strokes so the two look the same weight.
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  1. Question 1, locked

    Which of these words means this? “The mark in its brand colours on a light ground.”

    • Style sheet
    • Positive
    • Type roles
    • Monogram
  2. Question 2, locked

    Which of these words means this? “The mark knocked out to white, or to a light colour, on a dark ground.”

    • Reversed
    • Maskable icon
    • Audio brand guidelines
    • Wordmark
  3. Question 3, locked

    Which of these words means this? “One colour. Needed for embossing, engraving, embroidery, fax-grade print and newspapers.”

    • Luminance threshold
    • Mono
    • Reference set
    • Variable

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