Highlighter

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For the cosmetic product, see Highlighter (cosmetics).

Highlighters
A highlighter is a type of writing device used to draw attention to sections of
text by marking them with a vivid, translucent colour.[1] A typical highlighter is
fluorescent yellow, coloured with pyranine. Different compounds, such as rhodamines
(Rhodamine 6GD, Rhodamine B) are used for other colours.[2]

Contents
1 History
2 Styles
3 Other uses
4 See also
5 References
6 External links
History
A highlighter is a felt tip marker filled with transparent fluorescent ink instead
of black or opaque ink. The first highlighter was invented by Dr. Frank Honn in
1963[3] and produced by Carter's Ink Company, using the trademarked name HI-LITER
(not Sharpie) . Avery Dennison Corporation now owns the brand, having acquired
Carter's Ink Company in 1975.[4]

Schwan-Stabilo has been producing felt tip writing devices since 1971. It is hailed
as the European product leader of manufacturing highlighters. In 2003, the company
changed its name to Stabilo International.[5]

Styles

A pair of highlighters
Many highlighters come in bright, often fluorescent and vibrant colors. Being
fluorescent, highlighter ink glows under black light.[6] The most common color for
highlighters is yellow, but they are also found in orange, red, pink, purple, blue,
and green varieties. Some yellow highlighters may look greenish in colour to the
naked eye. Yellow is the preferred color to use when making a photocopy as it will
not produce a shadow on the copy. Yet, the use of different colour highlighters
simultaneously can systematically make information even more organized and readable
and in high contrast.

Highlighters are available in multiple forms, including some that have a

retractable felt tip or an eraser on the end opposite the felt. Other types of
highlighters include the trilighter, a triangularly-shaped pen with a different-
coloured tip at each corner, and ones that are stackable. There are also some forms
of highlighters that have a wax-like quality similar to an oil pastel.

"Dry highlighters" (occasionally called "dry line highlighters") have an applicator

that applies a thin strip of highlighter tape (physically similar to audio tape)
instead of a felt tip. Unlike standard highlighters, they are easily erasable. They
are different from "dry mark highlighters", which are sometimes advertised as being
useful for highlighting books with thin pages.

"Gel highlighters" contain a gel stick rather than a felt tip. The gel does not
bleed through paper or become dried out in the pen as other highlighters' inks may.

"Liquid Highlighters" in a range of colours are also available, and because they
put more ink on a page when highlighting, make words stand out more than with non-
liquid types. Also the fact that more highlighting ink is put on the page with
liquid highlighters means that the highlighting ink is much more resistive to
fading with age.

Other uses

Yellow highlighting on a page of photocopied text

Some word processing software can simulate highlighting by using a technique
similar to reverse video on some terminals.

Example of highlighting on a word processor.

See also
Sanitization (classified information)�using black "highlighter" to hide classified
information.
References
WO 2005042654, Schmid, "Ink compositions for use in highlighter markers and
associated methods", published 12 May 2005
Brunning, Andy (2015-01-22). "The Chemistry of Highlighter Colours" (PNG).
Compound Interest. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
Francis Honn Obituary
Hilary, Greenbaum; Rubinstein, Dana (2012-01-22). "WHO MADE THAT? The Hand-Held
Highlighter". The New York Times Sunday Magazine. p. MM20. Retrieved 2012-01-26.
"Highlighters or Hi-liters? Learn About the History of Fluorescent Markers".
opisina. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
Highlighter Ink Glowing Under a Black Light
External links
Media related to Highlighters at Wikimedia Commons
The dictionary definition of highlighter at Wiktionary
vte
Pens
Types
Active pen Ballpoint/biro Demonstrator Digital Dip Fountain Fudepen Gel Ink brush
Light Qalam Quill Rastrum Reed Rollerball Ruling Skin Stylus Technical
(rapidograph)
Markers
Dry erase Highlighter Paint Permanent UV
Parts and tools
Blotting paper Ink blotter Inkwell Nib (Flex nibs) Penknife Pounce
Pen inks
Alizarine Fountain pen India/Indian Iron gall Stark's
Other
Ballpoint pen drawing Ballpoint pen knife Counterfeit banknote detection pen
Birmingham pen trade Pen Museum Kalamos Pen computing Penmanship Pen painting Pen
spinning Retipping
Related
Calligraphy Cartooning Pencil Mechanical pencil Narayam
List-Class article List of pen types, brands and companies
Categories: Writing implementsStationery
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