Color Palette
Note: We are in the process of updating the Content CSS to support this color palette. Look for the announcement to the Cisco.com UE community early September of 2007.
Iconography
This page contains the current collection of icons that may be used, as required, within your site as well as the HTML code to be used for each.
Note: Do not save images locally or use local copies of the images. Do not add a size attribute, as the size of the global icons may change.
Photography
If having photo is critical to conveying your message, avoid the temptation to use multiple photos simply to fill space, which leads to cluttered pages and clouds the message. A page with a few well chosen and well applied images can have enormous impact. Ultimately, it is the quality of the writing, editing and how the information is organized that will resonate with users.
Note: Photos must be selected from the Cisco Marketing Library or otherwise be formally approved by Corp ID.
Prepare with Care: Color, Brightness, Contrast
In most cases, the photos you will select from Cisco Marketing Library will have good color, brightness and contrast. Choose images that will be plainly discernible to your user. Judge their clarity with objectivity to determine how well they read.
Take time to evaluate the quality of your photos in the context of your page. Photos that don't share similarities in color, contrast and brightness create an imbalance. The quality of the photographs contributes to the page’s visual feel. Choose photographs with this in mind.
Sizing
There are three sizes of photos. All sizes are in pixels.
- 115x191 photos fit in the spotlight position on Root Pages. This size can be used on Root Pages only.
- 120x120 photos are used in the center left column and provide a strong focal point for the page.
- 60x60 photos can be placed on any page and are used to reference accompanying copy. They can be used with any type of heading.
Photo Sizes
Note: See Graphics/Illustrations below for additional sizes and placements for photographs.
Cropping
Crop your photos appropriately for the size you're using. Simpler is better for the smaller sizes.
Graphics/Illustrations
The Cisco Corporate Publications group maintains a collection of network diagram icons that are primarily for print path documentation, but they also may be used for materials posted to the web.
The graphics are available in full color, monotone color, and gray scale in: EPS, TIFF, and BMP. CorpID provides three sets of graphics: one set for PowerPoint, one for Visio, and EPS files for print.
- PowerPoint and Visio graphics are in color, with Cisco products in blue and generic icons in beige.
- EPS graphics are provided in Cisco blue and gray
These graphics may be downloaded from the following locations:
Icon Library: Network Topology Icons or
Cisco Marketing Library (under Graphics, Diagram Icons).
The graphics coordinator in the Cisco Corporate Publications group can help you determine if a new graphic should be developed and included in the Cisco Icon Library. For information on planning and requesting a graphic, see the internal version of these guidelines on Cisco.com Web Central.
To request new graphics, see the internal version of these guidelines on Cisco.com Web Central.
Graphic and Illustration Positioning
Graphics and illustrations within the content area can be any size, depending on the content; however, when they are larger than the standard photo sizes or a standard spot image, yet smaller than the full width within a three column or four column layout, they are most effective when positioned near the content they’re supporting. While the guidelines are flexible to accommodate a variety of content needs, these guidelines are intended to provide predictable results and improve the overall visual presentation of the information.
These examples show the graphic at the top of the page, however, the graphic can appear anywhere on the page, depending on the content it's supporting.
The following examples show the different layout options:
Right aligned in a three column layout
Left aligned in a three column layout
Right aligned in the left center column
Left aligned in the left center column
Images can also have a caption, as shown in the following example:
Cisco Partner and Third-Party Logos
Contact us when you need to include any Cisco partner logos (including long-term relationships and technology affiliations) as well as third-party materials (supporting logos, graphics, or images) on your page. We will assess appropriate prominence and placement of the image based on its size, color, and shape relative to the page content.
In general we do not display third-party logos on Cisco.com. There are few exceptions. For example, we may allow the display of a partner's corporate logo per the member contract signed with Cisco as part of a specific partner program, such as within the Cisco Powered Network program Website. When working with third-party logos, it is important to follow the third-party's corporate identity standards while also maintaining Cisco brand visual design standards.
Learn more about Cisco Logo and Brand Policies
Spotlights and Banner Ads
All ads must use the Cisco Brand Identity System appropriately. For specifications and approval information, refer to Cisco Brand Identity Guide, which is available in the Cisco Marketing Library.
