Colour
The screen colours are the brand. Print matches them as closely as the process allows. The same values are in the brand tokens download (print.*).
| Colour | Screen | Pantone coated | Pantone uncoated | CMYK (coated) | RAL (paint, vinyl, powder coat) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climb Orange | #E8712A | 158 C | 158 U | 0 65 90 0 | RAL 2011 Deep Orange |
| Dark Brown | #1E0F05 | Black 4 C | Black 4 U | 40 70 80 85 | RAL 8022 Black Brown |
| Charcoal | #242322 | 419 C | 419 U | 60 50 50 90 (text: 0 0 0 90) | RAL 9011 Graphite Black |
| Light Grey | #E9E9E9 | Cool Gray 1 C | Cool Gray 1 U | 0 0 0 10 | RAL 9002 Grey White |
| Orange Tint | #F2AE86 | a 45% tint of 158 C | a 45% tint of 158 U | 0 35 45 0 | match on proof |
| White | #FFFFFF | paper | paper | 0 0 0 0 | RAL 9016 Traffic White |
These are the nearest published matches, not yet press-approved. Before the first run of anything that matters (badges, the step-and-repeat, merch), check 158 C against a current Pantone Formula Guide under D50 light, approve a press proof, and quote the approved reference on every order after that.
- Spot or process: two-colour jobs (lanyards, screen-printed merch, stickers) print as Pantone 158 plus Black 4 or 419. Full-colour jobs print CMYK from the Pantone; let the printer's RIP convert where they can.
- Uncoated stock makes 158 look duller and darker. Approve a proof on the actual stock.
- Large dark areas: use the rich Dark Brown above, not 100K, so a Dark Brown poster does not print grey. Keep total ink under 300%.
- Small dark text: set it in 0 0 0 90 (or 100K) so it does not register-shift into a blur.
- Orange text below 14pt bold on white uses the Orange Text colour (
#C55308, CMYK 0 70 100 15 as a starting point) to keep contrast.
Contrast in print
The screen rules carry over at print sizes: White on Climb Orange only at 14pt bold or larger (or 18pt regular). Signage is checked at viewing distance: a line read from 10m needs a cap height of at least 40mm, from 20m at least 80mm.
Files
- Format: PDF/X-4, fonts embedded or outlined, images at 300ppi at final size (150ppi for banners read from more than 2m), taken from the full-resolution original, never upscaled.
- Bleed and safe zone: 3mm bleed on every edge, 5mm safe zone inside the trim (10mm on anything bound or folded). Large format: follow the printer's spec, usually 10 to 50mm.
- Logos: place the vector masters from the logo downloads, never a PNG. Reversed variant on dark stock.
- Naming:
<brand>_<item>_<variant>_<size>.pdf, for exampleclimb27_poster_find-your-people_a1.pdf. - Proofs: a PDF proof for every job and a hard proof for every colour-critical one. Nothing goes to press without a named person signing off the proof.
Paper and finishes
- Stock: uncoated or silk, 350gsm and up for cards, 170gsm for flyers, FSC certified. Avoid high gloss: it fights the stage-light photography.
- Finishes that suit the brand: soft-touch laminate on dark business cards, spot UV on the logo or one display line, foil only in copper or a Pantone-matched orange, deboss for notebooks. One finish per piece.
- Stickers: vinyl with a matt laminate, die-cut around the shape. The tilted sticker device on screen can be a real die-cut sticker at the event.
Merch
| Method | Use | Colour rule |
|---|---|---|
| Screen print | T-shirts, hoodies, totes | Pantone 158 and White on dark garments; max two colours |
| DTF or DTG | Full-colour photo or contour prints | Approve a sample on the garment colour |
| Embroidery | Caps, beanies, polos | Square icon or monogram only, no text under 6mm cap height; thread matched to 158 (approve a sew-out) |
| Pad or laser | Bottles, pens, small hard goods | Single colour; laser marks come out tonal, so use the monogram |
| Woven | Lanyards | 158 ground with White or Dark Brown logo repeat and Ascent marks |
Garments are Dark Brown, Charcoal or black first; orange garments for crew and volunteers so they are easy to find.
Signage and spaces
- Vinyl: matt, matched to Pantone 158 (approve a swatch on site). Contours and Ascent arrows scale up well; photos usually do not.
- Wayfinding: Montserrat Bold, Ascent chevrons as arrows, Dark Brown or Charcoal panels, one destination per line. Arrows point the way the reader turns.
- Backdrops and step-and-repeat: logo repeat on a grid with the logo at face height and above; partner logos in one tone; matt fabric so it does not flare under flash.
- LED walls and stage screens are screens, not print: use the screen colours and the motion guidelines.