The Carolina Tar Heels is the common name for the sports teams that represent the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The official school colors for UNC are Carolina blue and white. The specific hex codes used for Carolina blue are #4B9CD3 and #7BAFD4.
The Meaning of Hex Codes
A hex code represents colors using hexadecimal values that correspond to the amount of red, green, and blue in a particular color. Hex codes are 6 characters long and consist of the numbers 0-9 and the letters A-F. The hex code format allows for the expression of up to 16,777,216 distinct color values.
The first two digits of a hex code represent the amount of red, the middle two digits represent the amount of green, and the last two digits represent the amount of blue. #000000 represents pure black, as it contains no amounts of red, green, or blue. #FFFFFF represents pure white, as it contains the maximum possible amounts of red, green, and blue.
By mixing different amounts of red, green, and blue, millions of distinct colors can be specified using hex code values. This allows hex codes to precisely define colors for digital design, web development, and other applications that utilize electronic displays.
Carolina Blue Hex Codes
The Carolina blue color associated with UNC athletics is a shade of sky blue. There are two main hex code values used to represent the official Carolina blue hues:
- #4B9CD3
- #7BAFD4
The #4B9CD3 hex code is a medium-light shade of Carolina blue. It contains:
- 75% red
- 61% green
- 83% blue
This creates a blue color with hints of cyan that is vibrant but not too saturated. #4B9CD3 is often used for large background areas representing UNC.
The #7BAFD4 hex code is a lighter sky blue shade. It contains:
- 48% red
- 68% green
- 83% blue
With more blue contribution, #7BAFD4 produces a light sky blue tone. It is commonly used for accents and highlights on UNC uniforms and apparel.
History of Carolina Blue
The use of Carolina blue began in the late 1800s when UNC adopted it as one of the official school colors. The exact shades have been refined over the decades:
| Decade | Hex Code |
|---|---|
| 1880s | #56A0D3 |
| 1920s | #4B9CD3 |
| 1980s | #7BAFD4 |
The darker #56A0D3 was initially used in the 1880s. In the 1920s, this shifted to the more medium-toned #4B9CD3. The lighter sky blue #7BAFD4 was added in the 1980s as an accent color.
These two Carolina blue hex codes have now become synonymous with UNC athletics and continue to feature prominently on team uniforms, apparel, print materials, and digital media.
Use in Uniforms
Carolina blue is an integral part of North Carolina Tar Heels uniforms across all varsity sports. Some examples include:
- Men’s basketball uniforms primarily feature #4B9CD3 on the jersey and shorts.
- Women’s soccer uniforms utilize #7BAFD4 blue on the jersey tops.
- Baseball uniforms contain both shades – #4B9CD3 on the hats and #7BAFD4 on the lettering.
- Football helmets are painted using metallic #4B9CD3 Carolina blue as the base color.
Lighter blue #7BAFD4 is often used for accents and trim on uniforms featuring the medium blue #4B9CD3 as the main color. The selective use of the two shades creates a unified and distinctive look across UNC athletics.
Use on Apparel and Merchandise
Fans can also show their Tar Heels pride through a wide selection of apparel and merchandise featuring Carolina blue colors. Some examples include:
- T-shirts with #4B9CD3 blue as the primary background color.
- Hats accentuated with #7BAFD4 light blue on the brim or logo.
- Sweatshirts incorporating both shades in the printed design.
- Scarves knitted using yarn dyed to match #4B9CD3 and #7BAFD4.
- Phone cases with backplates painted in metallic #4B9CD3.
Apparel and merchandise allow UNC fans to prominently display the iconic Carolina blue hues whether cheering at a game or showing their pride on a daily basis.
Use in Print and Digital Design
The Carolina blue hex codes are also extensively used in print materials, websites, social media graphics, and other digital media for the university and athletics program. Some examples of this include:
- The header and footer backgrounds on the official GoHeels.com website utilize #4B9CD3.
- The @GoHeels Twitter account header image contains #7BAFD4 blue accents.
- Printed basketball schedules have used #4B9CD3 for a clean, consistent look.
- Infographics with team/player stats have incorporated #7BAFD4 as data highlight colors.
Digital and print designers for UNC make extensive use of the Carolina blue palette to maintain brand consistency across mediums and surfaces.
Conclusion
In summary, the Carolina Tar Heels make prominent use of two official shades of Carolina blue: #4B9CD3, a vibrant medium shade, and #7BAFD4, a light sky blue tone. These hex codes date back to the late 1800s and have been ingrained as part of the UNC brand imagery. The Carolina blues appear widely on Tar Heel uniforms, fan apparel, printed materials, websites, and social media pages. The unique blues help unify and distinguish UNC athletics in the collegiate landscape.