Whiteness

Whiteness describes how strongly a material reflects white light. In the paper industry, it is an important quality characteristic for assessing uncoloured white products, especially papers and cardboards intended for printing, packaging, or presentation purposes.

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Whiteness is particularly relevant when evaluating coated papers. For white paper grades, whiteness has long been established as a standard quality indicator. It helps determine how bright, clean, and visually neutral a paper surface appears. In other industries, such as plastics, whiteness may also play a role, although it is often more relevant when selecting fillers, binders, or other raw materials that influence the final appearance of the product.

The whiter the paper, the more brilliant and high-contrast printed colours can appear. A bright white surface reflects more light and creates a stronger contrast between the substrate and the printed image. This can make colours look clearer, sharper, and more vibrant. For premium office paper, whiteness values may reach around 160, depending on the measurement method used. Recycled paper, by contrast, often has a lower whiteness value than classic offset paper because the recycled fibres may contain colour residues or impurities from previous use.

Whiteness is expressed as a numerical value: the higher the number, the whiter the material appears under the defined measuring conditions. Since small differences between two shades of white are often difficult to detect with the naked eye, standardized whiteness values make materials easier to compare. This is especially useful when selecting paper for printing, packaging, stationery, or other applications where a consistent visual impression is important.

There are several methods for determining whiteness. For this reason, whiteness should always be stated according to the specific measurement method used. There is no single universal “whiteness” value that applies in every situation. Instead, whiteness depends on factors such as the light source, the amount of light, the viewing angle, the colour temperature, and the calculation method. The measuring conditions must therefore be clearly defined and documented.

In the printing industry, one commonly used method is the whiteness value according to Berger. Other standards and measurement systems may produce different results, even for the same material. This is why whiteness values are only truly meaningful when the underlying method is known.

Which has a higher whiteness: snow or bright white chromo sulphate board?

At first glance, fresh snow may seem like the ultimate example of whiteness. However, highly refined coated boards can achieve extremely high whiteness values under standardized measuring conditions. Whether snow or a bright white chromo sulphate board has the higher whiteness depends on the exact material, surface structure, light conditions, and measurement method used.

For practical applications in printing and packaging, the key question is not only how white a material is, but also how consistently it performs. A very white board can enhance colour brilliance, create a premium visual impression, and support a clean, high-quality presentation of the printed design.