The University of Texas at Austin, commonly referred to as UT Austin or simply Texas, is renowned for its iconic burnt orange color that represents the school. The exact hex code and shade designation for the UT Austin burnt orange color can be determined through analysis.
The burnt orange color of UT Austin is deeply ingrained in the identity and traditions of the university. Students, alumni, and fans proudly wear the color to show their Texas pride. But what exactly is the “official” UT burnt orange color? Let’s take a closer look.
History of Burnt Orange at UT Austin
Burnt orange has been associated with UT Austin since the 1800s. In 1883, some UT students wanted to display the colors of their school. They chose orange and white, which were the colors of the UT president at the time. The orange was said to resemble a “burning orange color” which led to it being called burnt orange.
For many years, burnt orange was worn unofficially by students and fans. It wasn’t until later that it was formally adopted as an official color. In 1892, a UT track team wore burnt orange ribbons at a meet, marking one of the first athletic uses of the color.
In 1903, the Board of Regents declared orange and white as the official colors of UT Austin. They didn’t specify an exact shade of burnt orange at this time. The first burnt orange football jerseys came in 1928. Over the decades, burnt orange became a revered tradition at UT Austin.
Modern Specifications of Burnt Orange
Today, there are precise specifications for the burnt orange color used by UT Austin. The school has a detailed branding guide that standardizes UT colors for marketing and merchandising purposes.
Within this style guide, UT Austin burnt orange is defined as Pantone 159 C, CMYK 0-51-76-3, and RGB 221-122-6.
The Pantone Matching System (PMS) is a proprietary color space that allows for consistent color reproduction across different materials like printing inks, plastics, and textiles. Pantone 159 C is the specific burnt orange tone.
CMYK refers to the four ink colors used in printing: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (key). The CMYK values define the precise mixture of these inks needed to produce UT burnt orange.
RGB stands for the additive primary colors red, green, and blue used in light pixels on TV and computer screens. The RGB code defines the precise balance of red, green, and blue light to display the burnt orange digitally.
Shades of Burnt Orange
While Pantone 159 C is the defined UT burnt orange, there are acceptable shades within a certain range.
The UT style guide specifies the allowable variations for the burnt orange color:
| Color Model | Light Shade | Dark Shade |
| Pantone | 1655 C | 201 C |
| CMYK | 0-38-66-0 | 0-64-85-10 |
| RGB | 255-153-56 | 197-97-14 |
As you can see, a lighter and darker shade are defined as acceptable variants from the primary Pantone 159 C burnt orange. This accounts for differences across materials and manufacturing processes.
Measuring Burnt Orange Accuracy
To ensure burnt orange merchandise and products match UT guidelines, there are a few ways to measure color accuracy:
– Pantone Guide – The traditional Pantone color guide fan decks allow visual comparison of solid coated swatches to the target shade. This is the simplest way to check for a match.
– Spectrophotometer – This specialized device measures the precise spectral reflectance of a color sample. Software compares the measurements to the defined Pantone swatch data to determine color accuracy and differences.
– Colorimeter – An affordable alternative to spectrophotometers, colorimeters also measure light reflectance. They use tristimulus filters and outputs to define where the color lands in 3D color space.
– RGB Calculator – For digital media, the RGB color value can be extracted using a color picker tool. This RGB code can be entered into a calculator to convert to the closest Pantone swatch.
Psychology of Burnt Orange
Beyond the technical specifications, the burnt orange color also carries psychological symbolism.
Orange is generally considered a warm, energetic color associated with excitement, enthusiasm, and vibrancy. Burnt orange adds a darker, reddish tone that evokes feelings of strength, boldness, and determination.
For UT Austin, burnt orange represents school spirit, pride, and passion. It motivates athletes and fans to cheer loudly for the Longhorns. The color is both aggressive and welcoming, matching the competitive drive and hospitable nature of Texas culture.
Marketers also leverage color psychology. The bold burnt orange makes the UT brand stand out in media and merchandise. This unique, signature shade gives the school instant recognition across the country.
Use of Burnt Orange at Texas
As the official UT Austin color, burnt orange appears widely across campuses and materials:
– Athletic uniforms – Jerseys, helmets, shorts, gloves, and cleats utilize the burnt orange shade from the UT style guide. This consistent look unites all Longhorn sports teams.
– Spirit apparel – Hats, t-shirts, jackets, bags, and other merchandise showcase the iconic burnt orange, along with accent colors white and dark metallic gray.
– Print materials – UT brochures, catalogs, flyers, business cards, and stationery feature burnt orange prominently as both text and background colors.
– Digital media – The UT website, mobile apps, social media accounts, and online branding use burnt orange as part of the coordinated web presence.
– Facilities – On campus signage, painted surfaces, furniture, and accent architectural details employ burnt orange tones.
The widespread use of burnt orange strengthens its association with UT across every area of the university and reinforces it as a key part of the Texas brand image.
Famous Burnt Orange Landmarks
In addition to campus surfaces and materials, some iconic UT Austin landmarks utilize burnt orange:
– The Tower – The Main Building and Tower are illuminated in burnt orange for special events and to celebrate victories. This dramatic sight is recognizable throughout Austin.
– Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium – The 100,119 seat football stadium is enveloped in burnt orange with seats, walls, and Longhorn logos.
– Covert Parking Garage – One of the campus parking structures features a massive burnt orange UT logo on the exterior wall visible from the highways.
– The Orange Wall – Located in the Texas Memorial Museum, this is a wall-sized mural depicting the state flag behind the UT Tower completely coated in burnt orange.
These landmarks reinforce burnt orange as central to the UT Austin environs and identity.
Complementary Colors
While burnt orange is the star, UT Austin does use complementary colors for contrast and accents:
– White – Crisp, bright white provides contrast next to the darker burnt orange in uniforms, apparel, and facilities.
– Metallic Silver – A dark gray metallic adds a modern edge alongside burnt orange in helmets, logo outlines, and other applications.
– Dark Green – Forest green is occasionally seen complementing burnt orange, such as the tartan plaid uniforms in 2012.
– Gold – Gold accents, like glittering flakes in the Tower light display, amplify the warmth and intensity of the burnt orange.
Comparison to Other Texas Schools
UT Austin is not the only Lone Star school to use burnt orange. How does its shade compare to rival Texas colleges?
– Texas A&M – A&M uses a lighter, brighter orange officially designated as Pantone 159. The Aggie shade is noticeably more yellow than the deeper UT burnt orange.
– Texas Tech – Tech’s official orange is Pantone 1665. This is very close to UT’s permissible lighter orange variant for the Longhorns brand.
– Baylor – Baylor’s official burnt orange is Pantone 172. It is darker and redder than Texas’s hue.
– University of Houston – Houston’s burnt orange is Pantone 158, just slightly lighter and more yellow than the UT tone.
While all these schools technically use a “burnt orange” color, UT Austin stands apart with its uniquely darkened, intense burnt orange unlike any other university.
Cultural Significance
Over 130 years, burnt orange has soaked deeply into the cultural fabric of UT Austin and the Lone Star State:
– Texas Pride – Burnt orange is tied to Texas pride. Donning burnt orange demonstrates state loyalty as much as school spirit.
– Brand Personality – The color is integral to the UT personality and image. Burnt orange shapes how people perceive the university.
– Traditions – Long-held Texas traditions are linked to burnt orange, like the hex rally, lighting the Tower, and the Orange and White football game.
– Symbolism – Burnt orange is an icon symbolizing the UT community. It embodies shared experiences and identity.
– Customs – Unique customs developed around burnt orange, like never wearing crimson, chanting “Texas Fight!”, and flashing the Hook ’em hand sign.
The cultural importance of burnt orange to UT Austin cannot be overstated. It is truly part of the soul of the university.
Conclusion
UT Austin burnt orange is defined specifically as Pantone 159 C, with permissible lighter and darker shades of Pantone 1655 C and 201 C. This deep, fiery orange hue is a vital part of Longhorn pride and heritage. The distinctive burnt orange inspires passions across students, fans, and Texans of all ages. It is synonymous with the competitive, spirited culture of UT Austin and the entire Lone Star State. So the next time you see that iconic burnt orange, you can appreciate the rich color symbolizing the uniqueness of Texas.
