Official Identifier for National Institute of Food and Agriculture

The following are the official identifiers for NIFA. As we transition to this new agency, we are providing these identifiers to acknowledge NIFA in partner materials, on publications, etc. We appreciate your interest in using our identifier for your publication or Web site. Before downloading files, we ask that you review the following guidelines:

• The integrity of the complete identifier should be maintained in all uses. Additions and deletions to the identifier are not permitted.
• To maintain clear identification, the identifier should always appear proportionally isolated from other elements, such as titles or graphic devices. It should not be obscured by intersecting lines, shadows, or screens, or reproduced against strongly patterned backgrounds that would tend to impair its recognition.
• When it is used in conjunction with symbols of other public and private sector partners, the NIFA identifier should have equal placement.

The identifiers come in several file formats, color modes, and resolutions for specific use in various software applications:

For Use in Powerpoint:

• Horizontal
• Vertical
• Centered

For Use in Word, Publisher, InDesign, QuarkXPress, etc.: (note: these files may not appear in your browser if you click on the links, but they will still download for your use)

• Horizontal
• Vertical
• Centered

For Use on the Web or Intranet:

• Horizontal
• Vertical
• Centered

For high-resolution vector purposes: (note: these files may not appear in your browser if you click on the links, but they will still download for your use)

• Horizontal (color)
• Vertical (color)
• Centered (color)

• Horizontal (black & white)
• Vertical (black & white)
• Centered (black & white)

FAQs

Is this NIFA’s official logo?
No.  We are working on an official logo for NIFA, under the direction and decision of USDA.  We do not have an expected time when a new logo may be available, so we have provided these identifiers to be used in lieu of a logo until one is approved.

What's the difference between jpg and eps?
The jpg files are raster-based files made up of pixels, and should not be enlarged more than 100%, as this will cause pixellation (stair-stepping at the edges, and fuzziness in the center). The eps files are vector-based files made up from mathematical equations, and can be enlarged to any size without pixellation. They can be placed into most desktop publishing software, such as Adobe InDesign, QuarkXPress, etc.

What's the difference between CMYK and RGB?
CMYK color mode is for printing. It stands for the 4 colors used in process printing: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (the "K" meant "key" in printing terms, as the key printing plate). RGB color mode is for viewing on screen. It stands for the three colors of light used to create color on your monitor or projector: red, green, and blue.

What does "ppi" stand for?
PPI stands for "pixels per inch." An image can be made up of a few pixels for every inch, or many. The more the pixels in an inch, the higher the resolution. 72 ppi is the standard pixel resolution for Web. 300 ppi is the minimun for printing. Commercial presses often use 1250 ppi for printing brochures and magazines!

I'm making a Powerpoint show and it has a photograph covering the background. When I place the correct identifier from above, there is a white box around it. How do I get rid of the white background?
That's very easy to do! After you place the image, select it and go to the "format" tab. At the far left you will find the "recolor" button. At the bottom of the drop down menu is the "Set Transparent Color" option. Click on it. The cursor becomes an eyedropper tool. Place the cursor over the white area of the identifier, and click. All of the white becomes invisible, leaving the USDA identifier and the black logotype floating over the background image.

Why does the identifier look squished when I place it in my document?
Logos and identifiers---or any graphics for that matter---need to be scaled (sized) proportionally. When the bounding box around the identifier is pulled in to make it smaller, the identifier within the box can become distorted horizontally, vertically, or both. To correct this problem, hold the "shift" key down as you pull on the corners of the bounding box. The "shift" key keeps everything in proportion.

I can open the jpg files, but I can't open the eps files. Why is that?
EPS files are most often created in Adobe Illustrator, but that software program is not needed to make use of the file. EPS files really don't need to be "opened" to use them. If an eps file is requested by a vendor---such as a sign-maker, or land-grant communications office---they can place the file into their publishing software. Just email directly to them the configuration best suited for the product being created.

The identifier looks fine on screen, but when I print out the page, it looks blurry. What is going wrong?
Some software programs do not "embed" placed files, but resource them from wherever they reside. If the identifier file is copied to your hard-drive (as it should be), the software program can "find" it when the file goes to the printer, and will "draw" it perfectly. If the file resides on a disk, a thumb drive, or a network drive, the software program probably will not go looking for it, and will just draw it by memory, which often yield fuzzy results. To avoid potential problems, create a folder in your Documents folded called "NIFA Interim Identifiers," and copy all of the identifier files into the folder. When you need to place an identifier into your document, go to the folder you created, and find it there.

I'm sending the identifier to a sign company to make a banner. Which format would be best?
Send the eps format. It can be enlarged to fit on a banner, whether vinyl or fabric, without getting fuzzy around the edges.

More Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the interim identifiers, please contact:
Stephanie Engle
Visual Information Specialist
USDA-NIFA