In 1930's, it has been experienced that certain dyes and resins combination produce brighter colors than normal colors and had the unique effect of "glowing" under ultra violet or black light. As the chemistry and manufacturing process improved, the areas of application expanded to Advertising, Safety and Promotional firms began to recognize the uniqueness of these bright colors and their specified use.

Conventional / normal color can reflect only light in visible range, in case of fluorescent colors, it even converts absorbed UV light and reflects in visible range, there by color appears more bright than normal color.

For example, fluorescent orange color absorb the same orange band as the conventional, however it also converts the lower end of the spectrum and ultraviolet light into visible light of the predominant wavelenght.