Royal Air Force Brand Portal v1.1 Frequently asked questions (FAQs) 1 - General (page 2) 2 - RAF Brand Portal (page 3) 3 - Design and Production (pages 4-5) 4 - Royal Air Force Business Stationery (page 6) 5 - Typography (Fonts and Style-sheets) (pages 7-8) 1
1 - General enquiries G1. Why do we need RAF brand rules? The Royal Air Force is now represented across a wide range of media and publications. The public image of our organisation is key to communicating the professionalism and integrity of all who represent the Royal Air Force. The brand rules enforce this and ensure that we distinguish ourselves from other organisations with our own unique and consistent identity. G2. Do I have to use the Royal Air Force brand rules? Yes. It is essential that all communication material originating from the RAF use the brand rules to reinforce the fact that it belongs to the RAF and not a third party organisation or commercial company. G3. Who is responsible for the RAF brand rules? Directorate Media & Communication PR (RAF) G4. Do I have to change all legacy communications immediately to meet brand rules? No. Only when generating new and updated content or to replace communications identified by DMC PR (RAF) as having a detrimental effect on the image of the Royal Air Force. 2
2 - Royal Air Force Brand Portal P1. Is this the only place where I can get RAF Assets? The files and assets on this portal replace any previous library. If you have an existing library of your own, please ensure that it should only contain assets from this portal. If units require new assets, they should ensure they are updated on this library. Contact 22trggp-rafbrandportal@mod.uk for further advice. P2. What authority is required to get logos and assets uploaded to this site? All information provided on this portal is for official use only. Amendments to assets can only be undertaken through official approval. Units are not to amend at local level and should request any changes through 22trggp-rafbrandportal@mod.uk where any business requirement will be taken into consideration prior to amendment. Users should adhere to the Royal Air Force: Rules for using our identity v1.6 regarding logo design hierarchy. P3. If I have a user account, why don t I have access to larger files and other file formats? The majority of Office and Web user account holders will only require assets suitable for Microsoft Office applications such as PowerPoint and Word. A suitable resolution PNG file is all that is required. This also meets the criteria for MOSS and DII(F), keeping file size to a minimum. Any request for an individual size or format can be made via 22trggp-rafbrandportal@mod.uk, subject to approval and business requirement. Professional User accounts are only provided for professional design staff (MOD Graphic Designers, Photographers and Multimedia Developers). Graphic assets can be produced across multiple formats and varied design software packages, often subject to the version of software used. Where possible the RAF has used a common standard of file format which covers the majority of IT platforms for media production. If you require a particular file please contact your local Graphics/Media/Photographic studio. These are the MOD s official POC to provide assistance with your production requirements. In some cases legacy software used by units and third parties have become outdated and are too incompatible with the wider industry and MOD. It is therefore imperative that units ensure that their software meets the minimum industry standards to enable a productive and cost-effective solution to their needs. For further advice please email 22trggp-rafbrandportal@mod.uk. P4. Is there a quick way I can provide bulk assets to a wide number of contacts? If, as a registered RAF user you require a wide number of personnel under your responsibility to access specific assets on this site, a unique area can be established, subject to business requirement. This will only contain assets limited to your requirement, without the need for others to register for this site. A web link to this area will be emailed to you with the responsibility to disseminate. P5. Why can t I access the current RAFA or RAFBF logos? Due to restrictions on promoting non-government organisations on MOD websites, assets for organisations such as RAFA and RAFBF cannot be obtained from this portal. If you require up-to-date assets, please contact either your local media/graphics studio who can provide these assets, subject to business approval. Any use of these logos should not contravene either the Royal Air Force brand rules or the brand identity of the external organisation they represent. P6 - Where do I go to get other TLB logos and Brand Assets? Each TLB has been tasked to build their own section for the Defence Brand Portal. Once completed and, providing each TLB has given permission, Air Media Centre will enable other TLB areas to be accessed via RAF accounts. 3
3 - Design and Production D&P1. Can I put a stroke round the text and roundel on the Royal Air Force logo? No. All RAF logos should be implemented in accordance with the brand rules. Only the Royal Air Force reverse logo for use on dark background has the roundel with fixed keystroke outline See Royal Air Force: Rules for using our identity v1.6 (Page 14). D&P2. Can I make my own logo? No. All RAF logos are designed to specific requirements. Requests for new logos should be made to DMC PR (RAF), and, subject to approval, produced by Air Media Centre, HQ Air in accordance with Royal Air Force: Rules for using our identity v1.6. For further details and advice email 22trggp-rafbrandportal@mod.uk. D&P3. Do I have to use the Royal Air Force graphic on all my communications? The Royal Air Force graphic must be used as a leading element for all communication material. Please consult the brand rules pdf for specific guidance or email 22trggp-rafbrandportal@mod.uk for further assistance. Revised RAF Graphic files for Professional Account Users are now available in CMYK and RGB for download from the RAF Brand Portal. The files have been produced with/without 3mm bleed and are provided in portrait and landscape with the curve top, bottom, left and right. They are A4 size but can be scaled proportionately to your requirement. These files are Adobe Illustrator CS2 EPS and require the RAF colour swatches to be imported (please download from the RAF Brand Portal Templates. D&P4. Can I use other colours outside the Royal Air Force colour palette? No. The use of tints from the RAF brand colours will provide sufficient colour range to represent the RAF. The RAF Colour swatch files can download from the RAF Brand Portal Templates and imported into the colour library of your file. D&P5. Can I use transparency or other effects such as gradient on the Royal Air Force graphic? No. D&P6. Can I have images over the Royal Air Force graphic? Only if they visually support the overall design of the communication. See Royal Air Force: Rules for using our identity v1.6 for examples. D&P7. If the size of my document does not match any of the Royal Air Force graphic templates provided, what do I use? The Royal Air Force graphic templates provided can be scaled using suitable production software such as Adobe Illustrator. D&P8. Why can we not use photographic montages? Montages often have far too many images, containing varied quality, contrasts, resolution, sizes, subject matter and layout in a confined space. This does not constitute a clear effective message about the Royal Air Force. In accordance with other MOD branding as well as many commercial brand identities, we have adopted the same policy to avoid diluting our own identity. 4
D&P9. Do certificates need to use the RAF branding? Any certificates specific to the RAF must contain the correct RAF logo. If appropriate, other brand elements may be added in accordance with Royal Air Force: Rules for using our identity. D&P10. How are protective markings (e.g. Copyright/Restricted Releasable to the Public) to be used with the brand rules? For MOD personnel, follow appropriate JSP guidelines. See RAF Brand Portal: Contacts and Links. D&P11. For video productions, can I adapt the RAF corporate colours so that they work with video output? The srgb colour breakdown numbers should be used, and then converted to the required video format. D&P12. Can my local RAF social club or association use their own graphics and logo? No. If it is representing the Royal Air Force as an organisation, it is required to use the brand rules. D&P13. Do I always have to use cut-out photography as my customer wants to see the whole image? A mix of cut-out photography and full images can be used to visually support information. Cut-outs can help with the layout of your document, although not all images are suitable for this type of image manipulation. See Royal Air Force: Rules for using our identity for examples. D&P14. Am I allowed to use Drop Shadow, Glow and Bevel/Emboss effects on photographs, graphics, logos and heraldic badges? The use of these effects is prohibited on all graphics for print material. Due to their application, they are often overly used and detract from the graphic they are being applied to. Multimedia and web related projects are subject to lower resolution and smaller image size. The use of these effects may be used where absolutely necessary, but Badges, Logos and Insignia must not have the Bevel/Emboss effect applied. D&P15. Can I use watermarks over text? The use of watermarks over text is prohibited. This is to accommodate the wide range of printing machines, material and monitor display quality across the MOD. Photocopiers can print watermarks too dark which obscures text while artwork on monitors may look correct on screen but are either too dark or light on a print. 5
4 - Royal Air Force Business Stationery RAFBS1. Why is there a limit to what I can have on my business card? Due to the small size of the card, the minimum font size for legibility and the need to contain the basic business contact information, there is no room for additional information. A business card is for contact information only and is not a CV or art gallery. RAFBS2. Can I have graphics other than the RAF logo and unit badge on my business card, letterhead and compliments slip? No. Only the Royal Air Force logo plus one official heraldic badge may be used. Units are required to use their own official unit heraldic badge. If units do not have a badge but have a non-raf logo this may be used. If personnel have no unit badge they may be entitled to use the main Royal Air Force Badge, subject to approval by DMC(RAF). RAFBS3. Why can t I use a logo lock-up (sub logo) on official letterheads, business cards and compliments slip? Any official correspondence representing Royal Air Force business (defence material and personnel) must only use the main Royal Air Force logo. Sub-organisations such as Regiment, Police, Reserves are under the legal responsibility of the Royal Air Force. There are a number of outside organisations such as RAFA, RAF Benevolent Fund as well as sports and social organisations that have an association with the RAF but are not the responsibility of the RAF. These organisations are allowed to use their own logos and correspondence, and in the case of both RAFA and the RAFBF they have their own legitimate brand and copyright rules separate from the RAF. RAFBS4. Can I produce my own unit stationery templates? For work undertaken using Microsoft Office, a number of stationery templates are provided. Please see Royal Air Force: Rules for using our identity v1.6 for instruction on their use. Units and organisations are not to produce their own templates without consent of Air Media Centre, HQ Air Command via 22trggp-rafbrandportal@mod.uk. 6
5 - Typography (Fonts and Stylesheets) T1. Why are the number of Typefaces limited? All organisations limit the number of fonts for their own branding as this creates consistent and identifiable communications for their particular brand. The Royal Air Force is implementing this in line with commercial and professional industry best practice. T2. Can I use other typefaces as either text or part of an image? No. The only exceptions are historic documents such as Royal Warrants. T3. My customer has always used a specific font. Can I continue using it? No. You may only use Myriad Pro, Minion Pro, Arial and Times New Roman. Specific fonts have been authorised for Recruiting purposes only, but for general use, these four fonts must be used, unless authorised by SO2 Marketing (RAF). See Royal Air Force: Rules for using our identity v1.6 (Pages 30-31) for guidance on the use of these fonts. T4. Why do the style sheets not work in my desktop publishing software? The style sheets have been developed for use with Adobe InDesign CS6. If using other versions of InDesign, you may have to manually input information, subject to setup. Future style sheets will be adapted if required for newer software versions. They cannot be imported into Microsoft Office Suite. T5. How do I use the style sheets? Adobe InDesign CS6 users can use the blank InDesign documents provided which have the styles pre-loaded. T6. Can I add or alter the Paragraph and Character Styles? No. Seek guidance from Air Media Centre. T7. Can I adapt the Adobe InDesign Style-sheets to different paper sizes? Yes. Alter the page size, but ensure the grid and gutter remains the same. The 12 column grid is a guide that can be used as a blueprint for adapting your copy to the document (for example 2 or 3 column layout). The margins (outer and inner) can be adapted to your document size and binding requirements. T8. The style sheets will not allow me to fit long lists of information on a limited number of pages. Can I adapt the font size and leading manually in my document to make it fit without requiring additional pages at more cost? In certain circumstances, information can be adapted to meet specific criteria, providing the information is still legible and subject to advice from Air Media Centre. T9. Where do I use the different style sheets? The 9/9pt style sheets are for large bodies of text displayed in a limited space or text-heavy documentation such as newsletters. To ensure that requirements for accessibility and readability are met, no text (with the exception of picture captions and footnotes) should be smaller than 9/9pt with the ideal font size being 10/13pt. 7
T10. Can I use Myriad instead of Myriad Pro? No. Style sheets use the Pro version of this typeface because it is an Opentype font which can be used for Apple Mac and PC. This also applies to the use of Minion Pro. T11. Can I apply Drop Shadow, Glow and Bevel/Emboss effects on text? These effects should not be applied to any text for print projects. Placement of text over images can be unreadable so avoid placing text over complicated backgrounds. Multimedia and web related projects are subject to lower resolution and smaller image size. Only Glow and Drop Shadow effects may be used where absolutely necessary for requirements such as multimedia buttons. 8