How does brightness affect paper, and how is it measured?
Brightness is extremely important in the printed appearance of paper as it affects the contrast, brilliance, and sparkle of the sheet. Generally, the brighter the sheet, the more expensive it is to make, because of the fillers and chemicals such as titanium dioxide or calcium clay needed to accomplish the brighter appearance. In certain applications, a brighter sheet is more attractive as the printed areas stand out in greater contrast than a paper with a lesser brightness. The brightness of papers are measured on brightmeter machines. It is common in the industry to refer to the “GE” brightness; however General Electric is no longer the manufacturer of brightmeter machines. Technidyne Corporation is one such company that makes brightness testing equipment.
