USDA_Service_Center_Signs.pdf

United States Department of Agriculture

National Food and Agriculture Council

Guide 1, Volume 1

September 1996

Service Center Signs Visual Management Guide

The United States Department of Agriculture

(USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs and marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA Office of Communications at (202) 720-2791.

To file a complaint, write the Secretary of

Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., 20250, or call (202) 720-7327

(voice) or (202) 7201127 (TDD). USDA is an equal employment opportunity employer.

Revised September 1996

General The signage system developed as part of USDA’s communications program is designed to offer a flexible system of sign formats to accom-modate different types of messages throughout USDA Service Centers.

The different categories of signs have been developed by considering basic design criteria such as audience, environment, construction, maintenance costs, and installation. In conjunction with these criteria, the signage system has been developed as an integral part of the USDA visual management system.

Materials Depending upon the site conditions, materials for signs are wood, metal, fiberglass or acrylic. Letters are applied by screening, die-cutting and anodized aluminum. In some situations die-cut vinyl or screened letters may be applied directly on glass front offices.

Typography The typeface used for all USDA signage is Helvetica Bold. The mes-sages on signs should always be prepared using Helvetica Bold typeface in upper and lower case. All capital letters should not be used.

The USDA Symbol A new symbol has been created for USDA in conjunction with the Department’s reorganization. It is designated for all information products in all media, including signs. The symbol is made up of two graphic elements, the Department’s initials “USDA” and a graphic mark which represents “soil,” the foundation of agriculture.

The symbol is designed with a specific proportion which is 1 : .686. It is to be reproduced only from reproduction art found in this and other USDA Visual Management Guides. Do not attempt to recreate it in any manner.

The Symbol’s Color The official colors for the USDA symbol are dark purple for the letters USDA, and dark green for the soil graphic. The two colors are specified in the Pantone Matching System (PMS), a standard in the printing and graphic arts industry. When paint, laminates, or other applications are used, match the PMS as specified by the manufacturer. The colors are:

PMS 288 (100%)

Dark purple

PMS 343 (100%)

Dark green

The Symbol On Signs On signs, the symbol is “isolated” on a white background. This separates the symbol from the remainder of the sign and enables economic reproduction in one and two colors. When a two color sign is manufac-tured, the “USDA” initials are dark purple (PMS 288), and the soil graphic is dark green (PMS 343). When a one color sign is manufac-tured, both of the symbol’s elements are one solid color, either green (PMS) 343, or charcoal gray.

The Symbol Isolated For two color or one color signs—isolate the symbol from the remainder of the sign.

Service Center

Determining the Background Size:

When the symbol is isolated for printing on signs it “drops out” of a white background that is larger than the symbol. This creates a white rule around it. To determine the correct size and proportion of the white background multiply the width of the symbol by 1.069 and the height by 1.101.

(The height is 68.6% of the width).

Example:

A symbol 12” wide is 8 1/4” high. 12” x

1.069 = 12.828 (about 12 13/16”) 8 1/4” x 1.101 = 9.08 (about 9 1/16”) Therefore, a symbol 12” wide would be centered on a white background 12 13/16” x 9 1/16” and have a white rule all around it about 3/8” thick.

Site Sign Freestanding

Sign Type: Site sign, freestanding, vertical format. Site signs usually mark the approach to a major site and should be clearly visible from the approach road to vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

Material: Wood, metal, or fiberglass

Typography: Helvetica bold, upper and lower case

Letter Technique: Silk screen or die-cut vinyl letters

Color/Finish: Two-color signs have a background of PMS 343 green. The symbol is two colors, PMS 343 green and 288 dark purple, on a white field. The message is printed in white.

One-color signs have a background of PMS 343 green or charcoal gray with the message printed in white type. The symbol is then the charcoal gray background color on a white field.

Graphic Layout: The message is centered on the sign.

Sizes and spacing are as indicated on the drawing.

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Service Center

1/2 x x

1/4 x

1/2 x

1/8 x

1/2 x

1/4 x

1/2 x

3-1/2 x

4- 1/ x

Center Line

USDA: PMS 288 (dark purple)

Field: PMS 343 (green)

Measures (x) are based on the height of the USDA symbol

= x

Colors

Freestanding

Sign Type: Site sign, freestanding, horizontal format

Material: Wood, metal, or fiberglass

Typography: Helvetica bold, upper and lower case

Letter Technique: Silk screen or die-cut vinyl letters

Color/Finish: Two-color signs have a background of PMS 343 green. The symbol is two colors, PMS 343 green and 288 dark purple, on a white field. The message is printed in white.

One-color signs have a background of PMS 343 green or charcoal gray with the message printed in white type. The symbol is the background color on a white field.

Graphic Layout: The message is centered on the sign.

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Service Center

1/2 x x

1/4 x

1/2 x

1/4 x

1/4 x

3- 3/ x

1/2 x1/2 x

Center Line

Building Mounted

Sign Type: Site sign, building mounted, vertical format, flush-left layout. When the sign contains a street number it is placed at the top of the sign.

Material: Metal or fiberglass

Typography: Helvetica bold, upper and lower case

Letter Technique: Silk screen or die-cut letters on anod-ized aluminum

Color/Finish: Two-color signs have a background of PMS 343 green. The symbol is two colors, PMS 343 green and 288 dark purple, on a white field. The message is printed in white.

One-color signs have a background of PMS 343 green or charcoal gray with the message printed in white type. The symbol is the background color on a white field.

Graphic Layout: The message is centered on the sign.

Service Center

1/2 x

1/4 x x

1/4x

1/2 x

1/8 x

1/2 x

1/2 x

3-1/2 x

4- 1/ x

1/2 x site address as required 1

1. Note: The street address or site number, represented above as “92,” is used when required by the office complex or landlord.

Building Mounted

Sign Type: Site sign, building mounted, vertical format, on-center layout. When the sign contains a street number it is placed at the top of the sign.

Material: Metal or fiberglass

Typography: Helvetica bold, upper and lower case

Letter Technique: Silk screen or die-cut letters on anod-ized aluminum

Color/Finish: Two-color signs have a background of PMS 343 green. The symbol is two colors, PMS 343 green and 288 dark purple, on a white field. The message is printed in white.

One-color signs have a background of PMS 343 green or charcoal gray with the message printed in white type. The symbol is the background color on a white field.

Graphic Layout: The message is centered on the sign.

Center

1/2 x

1/4 x x

1/4x

1/2 x

1/8 x

1/2 x

1/2 x

3-1/2 x

4- 1/ x

Center Line

1. Note: The street address or site number, represented above as “92,” is used when required by the office complex or landlord.

site address as required 1

Building Mounted

Sign Type: Site sign, building mounted, horizontal format.

When the sign contains a street number it is placed at the top of the sign.

Material: Metal or fiberglass

Typography: Helvetica bold, upper and lower case

Letter Technique: Silk screen or die-cut letters on anod-ized aluminum

Color/Finish: Two-color signs have a background of PMS 343 green. The symbol is in two colors, PMS 343 green and 288 dark purple, on a white field. The message is printed in white.

One-color signs have a background of PMS 343 green or charcoal gray with the message printed in white type. The symbol is the background color on a white field.

Graphic Layout: The message is centered on the sign.

Service Center

1/2 x

1/4 x x

1/4x

1/2 x

1/2 x

3- 1/ x

5-1/2 x

Center Line

1. Note: The street address or site number, represented above as “92,” is used when required by the office complex or landlord.

site address as required 1

Directional Sign Sign Type: Directional, freestanding or wall-mounted, vertical format

Material: Wood, metal, or fiberglass

Typography: Helvetica bold, upper and lower case

Letter Technique: Silk screen or die-cut vinyl letters

Color/Finish: Two-color signs have a background of PMS 343 green. The symbol is two colors, PMS 343 green and 288 dark purple, on a white field. The message is printed in white.

One-color signs have a background of PMS 343 green or charcoal gray with the message printed in white type. The symbol is the background color on a white field.

Graphic Layout: The message is centered on the sign.

x

5 x

1-1/2 x

3/ x

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Service Center

1/2 x x

1/4 x

1/2 x

1/8 x

1/2 x

1/4 x

1/2 x

3-1/2 x

4- 3/ x

Center Line

1/4 x

1/2 x

Visual Management Guide

Service Center

Spacing Guide

The sign maker should use this spacing guide when working with cast or cut-out letters.

Center Service Center Signs e e

Building Directory USDA Facility

Sign Type: Building directory, wall-mounted

Material: Wood, metal, fiberglass, or acrylic plastic

Typography: Helvetica bold, upper and lower case

Letter Technique: Silk screen

Color/Finish: Two-color directories have a background of PMS 343 green. The symbol is two colors, PMS 343 green and 288 dark purple, on a white field. The message is printed in white.

One-color directories have a background of PMS 343 green or charcoal gray with the message printed in white type. The symbol is the background color on a white field.

Graphic Layout: The listings are flush left and flush right.

1/16 x—

1/2 x

Service Center Farm Service Agency 201

Rural Development 201

Natural Resources 205 Conservation Service

Culpeper Soil and Water 207 Conservation District

1/2 x

1/2 x

1/2 x

1/2 x

1/2 x

1/2 x 1/2 x

6-3/4 x

1/4 x x

1/4 x

1/8 x 1/4 x

1/8 x

1/8 x

1/8 x

1/4 x

1/4 x

Building Directory Non-USDA Facility

Sign Type: Building directory, wall-mounted; for use when USDA is only one of several tenants and not the building lessee.

Material: Wood, metal, fiberglass, or acrylic plastic

Typography: Helvetica bold, upper and lower case

Letter Technique: Silk screen

Color/Finish: Two-color directory entries have a back-ground of PMS 343 green. The symbol is two colors, PMS 343 green and 288 dark purple, on a white field. The mes-sage is printed in white.

One-color entries have a background of PMS 343 green or charcoal gray with the message printed in white type. The symbol is the background color on a white field.

Note: Local office complex standards may require a different color for the background. In such cases, maintain the USDA color specifications for one or two color finishes for the symbol while adhering to other colors as may be required for a sign background.

Graphic Layout: The entry is flush left and flush right. Sizes and spacing are as indicated on the drawing. The USDA entry should conform to other entries.

1/2 x

Other Tenant 201

Other Tenant 202

Service Center 203 U.S. Department of Agriculture

Other Tenant 204

Other Tenant 205

6-3/4 x

1/2 x

1/2 x

1/2

1/2 x

1/ x

1/2 x

1/2 x

1/8 x

1/4 x

1/8 x1/8 x

1/8 x

1/4 x

1/8 x x

1/8 x 1/8 x

1/8 x

XYZ Office Building

Office Sign Sign Type: Office identification, wall-mounted. Office identi-fication signs are mounted on the wall—not on the door where they are not visible when the door is open. They should be mounted 5 feet from floor to top of sign, and should be positioned on the same side of the door as the door handle.

Material: Acrylic plastic mounted to the wall with vinyl tape squares or equal

Typography: Helvetica bold, upper and lower case

Letter Technique: Subsurface silk screen or die-cut vinyl letters; rule around “Farm Service Agency” indicates a slide-out nameplate for permanent or changeable office ID.

Color/Finish: Two-color signs have a background of PMS 343 green. The symbol is two colors, PMS 343 green and 288 dark purple, on a white field. The message is printed in white.

One-color signs have a background of PMS 343 green or charcoal gray with the message printed in white type. The symbol is the background color on a white field.

Graphic Layout: The message is placed flush left. Sizes and spacing are as indicated on the drawing.

Farm Service Agency

1/2 x 1/2 x

6-3/4 x

3/4 x x

1/4 x

1/2 x

1/4 x

1/8 x

USDA Service Center

1/2 x

1/2 x

1/2 x

1/4 x

1/2 x

Service Center

Service Center

Service Center

Service Center

Service Center

Holding line for white “drop-out” background. Do not print.

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Service Center U.S. Department of Agriculture

Service Center U.S. Department of Agriculture

Service Center U.S. Department of Agriculture

Service Center U.S. Department of Agriculture

Center

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Service Center

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Service Center

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Service Center

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Service Center

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Service Center

U.S. Department of Agriculture

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Service Center U.S. Department of Agriculture

Service Center U.S. Department of Agriculture

Service Center U.S. Department of Agriculture

Service Center U.S. Department of Agriculture

Service Center U.S. Department of Agriculture

Center U.S. Department of Agriculture

Example of two color sign. The symbol is PMS 288 (dark purple for the USDA letters), and PMS 343 (dark green for the soil graphic).

Sign Colors

PMS 343PMS 288