General guidance
Regardless of where the hat is being used, make sure the hat is being used correctly and that we're protecting our trademarks.
The hat
When we need to represent Red Hat in a small space, or when the context of the Red Hat® brand is already clear, we can use the hat separately from the Red Hat logo.
Clear space around the hat should be approximately the height of the brim. Clear space is the area around the hat that should not have text, distracting graphics, or other logos.
Use the hat as it is provided in full color or one of our core colors.
Never stretch or distort the hat.
Never replace the hat with a legacy logo or another hat.
Never place the hat on a person, character, thing, or another logo.
Functional use of the hat
How we use the hat depends on what it represents in the design. When we use the hat to represent Red Hat in lieu of the full logo, the hat should always appear in red.
The hat can be used in very small spaces where a full logo might not fit, like a favicon, but it should never be smaller than 16px (0.22in/5.5mm) tall. It’s alone here, so it’s full color.
The hat can be used in a profile image or avatar when it’s clear that it’s an official Red Hat account, like our corporate Twitter account.
The hat is used alone on the front of our business cards because it’s clear from the text and the logo on the back that the card is from Red Hat.
After the launch of our new logo in 2019, we placed a large hat inside the lobby of our corporate headquarters. The full Red Hat logo is displayed behind the reception desk in the lobby.
Use the full hat without modifications to represent Red Hat.
Do not use a cropped or modified version of the hat when representing Red Hat.
Do not use the hat in any color other than red when representing Red Hat. We are Red Hat, not black hat.
Never flip or distort the hat.
Expressive use of the hat
When we use the hat as a decorative element, the full Red Hat logo should always be nearby. The hat can be used in any of our core colors (tints and shades of red, black, or white) and it may be cropped off the page or used as a pattern.
Using the hat as a pattern
The hat can be used as a pattern in any of our core color palette. The full Red Hat logo should always be visible nearby.
For the launch of the new Red Hat logo in 2019, we created device wallpapers using a pattern of hats.
A pattern of hats can be used on swag like this t-shirt found on the Red Hat Cool Stuff Store.
In a pattern, always use the hat alone in one of our core colors.
Do not use the hat in a color outside of our core color palette.
Do not distort or change the orientation of the hat.
Do not use the hat in a pattern of standard icons or other visuals.
Using the hat as key art
The hat can be used as key art on a design in the foreground or background, as long as the full Red Hat logo is visible nearby.
The hat is used as key art on the cover of this notebook, used large and wrapped around the back side.
The hat is used as key art as part of the background in this social media graphic.
Use the hat as key art without modifications to the shape.
Do not change the shape of the hat or move pieces of it independently of each other.
Do not use the hat in colors outside of our core color palette.
Do not use the hat as key art on an otherwise busy design.
Using the hat in/as a frame
Sometimes we place the hat inside of a frame or use it as a frame for other artwork. This technique is used in limited circumstances when the context of the Red Hat brand is very clear. Share it with the Brand and Creative team before use.
The hat can be used inside of a bounding shape or frame to create depth, like in the expressive type in this social media post, when the full Red Hat logo is visible.
The hat can be used as a bounding shape or frame for an image or pattern when the full Red Hat is visible and the shape of the hat is preserved. Do you have your own ideas for the hat as a bounding shape? Share with the Brand and Creative team.
Red Hat Trademarks
Aside from the Red Hat logo and hat, our trademarks include the Red Hat wordmark and the names of certain products, services, and technologies. Using our trademarks correctly in documentation, web pages, marketing materials, and collateral is as important as using the logo correctly.
