The Institute of Heraldry (TIOH) is a US Army organization that is responsible for providing heraldic services for all branches of the federal government to include designing and/or producing official renderings of seals and emblems for the USAF and USSF. TIOH is also responsible for establishing the standards for USAF and USSF insignia, to include patches, worn on official uniforms.

USAF Palette

The USAF color palette consists of 40 colors. These are not the only colors used by TIOH as others are used for medals and ribbons. When TIOH completes an emblem package, it includes: 1) an official rendering, 2) an emblem description and a 3) manufacturing drawing (also referred to as a “cartoon”). The cartoon is used by approved insignia manufacturers to produce an embroidered patch and includes specifications such as the colors and type of yarn (also referred to as “thread” or “cable”) to be used, dimensions and other manufacturing instructions (e.g. – the type of border to be used). Emblems rendered and patches produced using this palette are know as “Full Color”. 

In addition to the 40-color palette, the USAF has also adopted several subdued palettes in order 

USSF Palette

The newest military service, the USSF, elected to deviate from the standard 40-color palette and in 2020 TIOH introduced a new 16-color palette specific to USSF emblems (Reference 6). The USSF has also developed a “Blue Subdued” palette for subduing emblems for wear on the OCP uniform.

REFERENCES

  1. TIOH color palette.
  2. Headquarters, Air Force Manpower and Personnel Center Consolidated Base Personnel Office Letter (CBPOL) 79-002, dated 10 January 1979.
  3. Controlled Multiple Address Letter (CMAL) 95-32 (1 November 1995).
  4. CMAL 01-02 (30 March 2001).
  5. CMAL 18-01 (20 September 2018).
  6. USSF Visual Style Guidelines (7 August 2020)

Information on the Palette Tables

The palette tables provide the name of the color; yarn (Thread/Cable) number; the Pantone Matching System (PMS) color number; hex code; Red, Green, and Blue (RGB) numbers; and for the USAF palettes, the Federal Standard number. PMS is a proprietary numbering system for colors used in graphic design developed by Pantone, LLC. By using the PMS number, you can use ensure you use the correct color. For the tables below, the PMS number was converted to a Hex Value in order to be displayed. PMS “Coated” (the color as printed on “coated” paper resulting in glossy finish as found in magazines) is used for the color swatches. The Federal Standard number is used to obtain military standard paint for application on signs, aircraft, etc.

USAF Color Palette (TIOH Color Palette)

Color Yarn Pantone Matching System (PMS) Hex RGB Federal Standard
Black 67138 None #000000 0, 0, 0 17038
Smoke 67201 425 #545859 84, 88, 89 16081
Silver Gray 67137 422 #9EA2A2 158, 162, 162 16492
White 67101 None #FFFFFF 255, 255, 255 17925
Air Force Yellow 67103 116 #FFCD00 255, 205, 0 13655
Yellow 67108 123 #FFC72C 255, 199, 44 13538
Golden Orange 67109 1375 #FF9E1B 255, 158, 27 12300
Orange 67110 1655 #FC4C02 252, 76, 2 12246
Marine Corps Scarlet 67154 185 #E4002B 228, 0, 43 11302
Scarlet 67111 200 #BA0C2F 186, 12, 47 11350
Crimson 67112 220 #A50050 165, 0, 80 None
Brick Red 67113 202 #862633 134, 38, 51 11136
Garnet 67158 209 #6F263D 111, 38, 61 None
Maroon 67114 504 572932 87, 41, 50 10049
Purple 67115 267 #5F249F 95, 36, 159 None
Brittany 67119 551 #A3C7D2 163, 199, 210 15526
Bluebird 67117 542 #7BAFD4 123, 175, 212 15092
Oriental 67172 285 #0072CE 0, 114, 206 15182
Light Blue 67120 5415 #5B7F95 91, 127, 149 15177
Ultramarine 67118 Reflex #001489 0, 20, 137 None
Cobalt Blue 67122 281 #00205B 0, 32, 91 15050
Flag Blue 67124 282 #041E42 4, 30, 66 15048
Old Glory 67178 280 #012169 1, 33, 105 15056
Grotto Blue 67165 3115 #00C1D4 0, 193, 212 None
Teal 67121 3035 #003E51 0, 62, 81 None
Mosstone 67127 377 #7A9A01 122, 154, 1 None
Emerald 67128 369 #64A70B 100, 167, 11 None
Irish 67189 348 #00843D 0, 132, 61 14120
Green 67129 357 #215732 33, 87, 50 14110
Spruce Green 67130 3302 #004C45 0, 76, 69 14066
Bottle Green 67191 343 #115740 17, 87, 64 14109
Army Green 67131 553 #284734 40, 71, 52 14036
Olive Drab 67133 455 #695B24 105, 91, 36 None
Natural 67192 454 #CAC7A7 202, 199, 167 None
Khaki 67193 452 #B0AA7E 176, 170, 126 13522
Buff 67135 465 #B9975B 185, 151, 91 10371
Bronze 67147 874 #8B6F4E 137, 108, 76 None
Gold Brown 67194 471 #B86125 184, 97, 37 12160
Spice Brown 67196 168 #73391D 115, 57, 29 10075
Brown 67136 161 #603D20 96, 61, 32 10055






USAF Woodland/Forest Subdued Palette

Color Yarn Pantone Matching System (PMS) Hex RGB Federal Standard
Black 67138 None #000000 0, 0, 0 17038
Garnet 67158 209 #6F263D 111, 38, 61 None
Flag Blue 67124 282 #041E42 4, 30, 66 15048
Spruce Green 67130 3302 #004C45 0, 76, 69 14066
Olive Drab 67133 455 #695B24 105, 91, 36 None






USAF Desert Palette

Color Yarn Pantone Matching System (PMS) Hex RGB Federal Standard
Black 67138 None #000000 0, 0, 0 17038
Khaki 67193 452 #B0AA7E 176, 170, 126 13522
Spice Brown 67196 168 #73391D 115, 57, 29 10075






USAF Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF) Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) Palette

Color Yarn Pantone Matching System (PMS) Hex RGB Federal Standard
Black 67138 None #000000 0, 0, 0 17038
Bagby Green 67204 399 #A09200 160, 146, 0 None
Olive Drab 67133 455 #695B24 105, 91, 36 None
Khaki 67193 452 #B0AA7E 176, 170, 126 13522






USAF Spice Brown (OCP) Subdued Palette

Color Yarn Pantone Matching System (PMS) Hex RGB Federal Standard
Black 67138 None #000000 0, 0, 0 17038
Bagby Green 67204 399 #A09200 160, 146, 0 None
Olive Drab 67133 455 #695B24 105, 91, 36 None
Spice Brown 67196 168 #73391D 115, 57, 29 None






Palette Conversion Table

Full Color Subdued Desert
Black Black Black
Smoke NOT SPECIFIED
Silver Gray Black Black
White Spruce Green Spice Brown
Air Force Yellow Olive Drab Khaki
Yellow NOT SPECIFIED
Golden Orange Olive Drab Khaki
Orange Spruce Green Spice Brown
Marine Corps Scarlet Garnet Spice Brown
Scarlet Garnet Spice Brown
Crimson Garnet Spice Brown
Brick Red Garnet Spice Brown
Garnet Garnet Spice Brown
Maroon Garnet Spice Brown
Purple NOT SPECIFIED
Brittany Spruce Green Spice Brown
Bluebird Spruce Green Spice Brown
Oriental NOT SPECIFIED
Light Blue NOT SPECIFIED
Ultramarine Flag Black
Cobalt Blue NOT SPECIFIED
Flag Black Black
Old Glory NOT SPECIFIED
Grotto Blue NOT SPECIFIED
Teal NOT SPECIFIED
Mosstone NOT SPECIFIED
Emerald Spruce Green Spice Brown
Irish Olive Drab Khaki
Green Spruce Green Spice Brown
Spruce Green Spruce Green Spice Brown
Bottle Green NOT SPECIFIED
Army Green NOT SPECIFIED
Olive Drab Olive Drab Khaki
Natural NOT SPECIFIED
Khaki NOT SPECIFIED Khaki
Buff NOT SPECIFIED
Bronze NOT SPECIFIED
Gold Brown Spruce Green Spice Brown
Spice Brown NOT SPECIFIED Spice Brown
Brown Spruce Green Spice Brown






USSF Color Palette

Distinguishing Colors

Color Yarn Pantone Matching System (PMS) Hex RGB Federal Standard
National Reconnaissance Office
Black 67138 Black 6C #101820 16, 24, 32 17038
Space Operations Command
Platinum 67199 430C #7C878E 124, 135, 142 16251
Headquarters Space Force
Silver Gray 67137 422 #9EA2A2 158, 162, 162 16492
Space Systems Command
Gold 67104 136C #FFBF3F 255, 191, 63 13655
Space Training and Readiness Command
Cannes Blue 67171 542C #7BAFD4 123, 175, 212 15182

Primary Colors

Color Yarn Pantone Matching System (PMS) Hex RGB Federal Standard
Silver Gray 67137 422 #9EA2A2 158, 162, 162 16492
Victory Medal Blue 67174 301C #004B87 0, 75, 135 15180
Midnight Blue 67125 539C #00263A 0, 38, 58 15044

Secondary Colors

Color Yarn Pantone Matching System (PMS) Hex RGB Federal Standard
Black 67138 Black 6C #101820 16, 24, 32 17038
Gray 67200 7545C #425563 66, 85, 99 16081
Steel 67169 7543C #98A4AE 152, 164, 174 17925
Silver 67116 649C #DBE2E9 219, 226, 233 16515
White 67101 None #FFFFFF 255, 255, 255 17925
Old Blue 67119 537C #BBC7D6 187, 199, 214 15526

Tertiary Colors

Color Yarn Pantone Matching System (PMS) Hex RGB Federal Standard
Light Gold 67139 461C #E9DF97 233, 223, 151 17038
Brick Red 67113 202 #862633 134, 38, 51 11136
Purple 67115 2627C #3C1053 60, 16, 83 None
Jungle Green 67191 343 #115740 17, 87, 64 14109






USSF Blue Subdued Palette

Color Yarn Pantone Matching System (PMS) Hex RGB Federal Standard
Silver Gray 67137 422 #9EA2A2 158, 162, 162 16492
Steel 67169 7543C #98A4AE 152, 164, 174 17925
Space Blue 67207 2189C #003349 0, 51, 73 None
Midnight Blue 67125 539C #00263A 0, 38, 58 15044