Virgin SBS against White Lined Chipboard for Retail Facings
Virgin SBS provides superior print brightness, stiffness consistency, and crack-free scoring, whereas recycled board lowers initial cost but adds waste.
CIE Lab Color Space
Colorimetric Framework
Three-dimensional coordinate systems quantifying human color perception establish objective quality targets for paper mills and commercial printers. The CIE Lab color space defines shade, lightness, and chromaticity values using L, a, and b parameters. Spectrophotometers measure paper reflectance across visible wavelengths to calculate these numerical coordinates under standard illuminants.
Application stops when measuring fluorescent effects under non-standard light sources.
Measurement Coordinate
Spectrophotometric control of paper shade ensures color consistency across production runs and converting batches. Utilizing the CIE Lab color space allows paper manufacturers to adjust dye additions and optical brightening agents in real time. The L axis tracks lightness from pure black to ideal white, while the a axis measures green to red tones.
Blue to yellow variations appear along the b axis, where negative values indicate bluish shades preferred for high-brightness printing papers. Mill automated dye systems alter liquid colorant dosing when measured b values drift from target specifications. Standardized dE calculations combine all three axis shifts into a single delta value representing total color difference.
Accurate coordinate tracking prevents shade variations between paper reels intended for identical packaging runs.
Tolerance Limit
Colorimetric evaluations require calibrated instrument geometry and standardized backing materials to yield valid measurements. Operating within the CIE Lab color space requires fixed illuminant settings, typically D65 or C, to evaluate optical brightness under daylight conditions. Sample texture and surface gloss influence light reflection, introducing measurement bias if backing tiles differ.
Color space coordinates lose precision on highly fluorescent paper grades without UV filters.