Applying Fluorescent Whitening Agent and Tinting Dye on Paper

The difference of whiteness, brightness and lightness was clearly explained in this paper through the use of a tinting dye and a fluorescent whitening agent which are commercially wide]y used to make paper look whiter. Other optical properties such as tint, color shade, and color difference were also discussed. It was suggested that in comparing two tinting dyes, lightness $(L^*)$ is the most important property to be compared, while whiteness data should be used in caution in order not to surpass its significant range, and $a^*,\;b^*$ values can also be used to see the change of color shades together with ${\Delta}E$ as color difference. In comparing two fluorescent whitening agents, whiteness or brightness values are most important to be compared, but lightness values are not suitable fur this purpose; $a^*,\;b^*$ and color difference ${\Delta}E$ can also be referred, but with less significance.