Fluorescent colors are known for their bright, vivid, and striking shades that seem to glow. Fluorescent blue is no exception, providing a bold and intense blue tone. To understand fluorescent blue, it helps to first look at what defines a fluorescent color. Fluorescent colors are a class of colors that absorb ultraviolet light and emit it back as visible light. This process gives fluorescent colors their exceptionally radiant appearance. Fluorescent pigments and dyes are added to materials like paint, ink, plastic, and textiles to produce fluorescent colors. Each fluorescent color has its own unique color code used for identification. For fluorescent blue, the color code helps specify the exact hue and level of fluorescence. With this code, fluorescent blue can be consistently replicated across different mediums and applications.
The Color Code System for Fluorescents
Fluorescent colors are categorized using a standard color indexing system. This allows fluorescent shades to be organized and identified by their color code. The main color code standard used worldwide is the Color Index International (CII) published by the Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC) and the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC). This color index provides specifications for thousands of dye colors including fluorescents. The color code has three parts:
| Prefix | Part #1 |
| FL | Indicates a fluorescent color |
The FL prefix is constant for all fluorescent color codes. It identifies the color as fluorescent. The second part is a number identifying the specific fluorescent hue:
| Part #2 | Color |
| 45 | Fluorescent yellowish |
| 50 | Fluorescent yellow |
| 60 | Fluorescent orange |
| 70 | Fluorescent red |
| 80 | Fluorescent pink |
| 85 | Fluorescent magenta |
The last part indicates the shade and intensity:
| Suffix | Shade/Intensity |
| A | Green shade, high intensity |
| B | Blue shade, high intensity |
| C | Bluish tint, medium intensity |
| D | Reddish tint, medium intensity |
Combining the prefix, hue number, and suffix creates the full color code.
The Color Code for Fluorescent Blue
Based on the CII color code system, the specific code for fluorescent blue is:
FL50B
Breaking this down:
– FL – Denotes a fluorescent color
– 50 – Indicates the blue hue
– B – Blue shade, high intensity
So FL50B identifies a high intensity, blue shade of fluorescent blue.
Within the 50 blue hue number, there are further variations that produce fluorescent blues of different shades and intensities:
| Code | Description |
| FL50A | Greenish fluorescent blue, high intensity |
| FL50B | Bluish fluorescent blue, high intensity (standard blue) |
| FL50C | Fluorescent blue, medium intensity |
| FL50D | Reddish fluorescent blue, medium intensity |
FL50B represents the standard, pure fluorescent blue. It exhibits a vivid blue tone with no green or red biases. The high intensity “B” suffix means it appears brighter than the medium “C” and “D” shades.
Specifying Fluorescent Blue in Design Software
Digital design programs like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator also use color codes to specify fluorescent blue. The codes are represented as hex triplets identifying the levels of red, green, and blue (RGB) light that combine to produce the color.
In these programs, fluorescent blue FL50B corresponds to the following hex codes:
| Hex Code | Color Space |
| #15F4EE | RGB |
| #41E6FC | sRGB |
These codes allow designers to select an accurate fluorescent blue for their digital projects. The colors may display slightly differently depending on the color space being used, such as RGB or sRGB. But the hex values generally equate closely to the CII FL50B fluorescent blue.
Uses of Fluorescent Blue
Fluorescent blue has many uses across different industries. Some common applications include:
– Printing – Fluorescent inks and pigments provide bright, eye-catching effects in posters, labels, signage, and packaging. Fluorescent blue stands out on brochures, business cards, book covers, and more.
– Textiles – Fluorescent dyes give a bold blue color to fabrics. This is popular for athletic wear, casual fashions, tapestries, umbrellas, and flags.
– Paints – Fluorescent blue paint has an intense glow that brings energy and vibrancy to artwork as well as industrial and commercial spaces. It’s commonly used on walls and machinery.
– Plastics – Molded plastic products are dyed fluorescent blue for visibility and style. Examples include toys, housewares, auto parts, and safety equipment.
– Office Supplies – Pens, markers, notebooks, and sticky notes with fluorescent blue ink help important text and messages stand out.
– Lighting – Fluorescent bulbs can emit a blue glow, used decoratively in venues like clubs, theaters, galleries, and restaurants.
The bright, glowing nature of fluorescent blue makes it a popular choice when high visibility and impact are desired. It captures attention on both small and large scales.
Fluorescents and Safety
One advantage of fluorescent blue is its noticeability. This makes it useful for safety and visibility applications. Police, firefighters, construction crews, and airport workers often wear safety vests in fluorescent colors. Fluorescent blue is frequently chosen along with other shades like yellow, green, orange, and red. This provides maximum visibility during the daytime or at night under UV light. On traffic signs, fluorescent blue draws immediate attention to important notices, warnings, and directives. Fluorescent colors also help identify underground wires, pipes, and components that need to be easily seen for safety. Their ability to glow against most backgrounds is invaluable for highlighting critical safety information.
Conclusion
Fluorescent blue is a dynamic color with an electric glow. Its Color Index code FL50B identifies the specific blue hue. This allows the color to be standardized in multiple industries. Fluorescent blue brings energy and excitement to designs and surfaces. It also effectively signals safety and visibility. The next time you see a strikingly vibrant blue, it is likely a fluorescent illuminating the area with its radiant color. Whether glowing on a poster, fabric, or sign, fluorescent blue certainly catches the eye.
