Best way to measure page whiteness and quality? 0

[VegasJeff]

Best way to measure page whiteness and quality?

I saw there is an OWL card that Overstreet made for measuring paper quality and whiteness with designations such as off-white, tan, brown, etc. I also read posts somewhere that stated this card needs more levels of color such as cream, etc. 

Is this OWL card the best item a collector can get for measuring paper quality or is there anything else out there that can be used?

[marvelmaniac]

I have had an OWL card since the first grading guide came out in 1992 but it is not something I use often so I do not know if something else exists, for me it is just another collectible.

Here is a pic/scan of the OWL/ONE Card, Vintage 1992/1993

 

 

[Bomber-Bob]

I don't think the OWL card is actively used or referenced in the marketplace. There really isn't any recognized 'tool'.  As with grading, it is a skill that comes with experience.

[Artboy99]

There is no visual representation that I am aware of.

There are 30 variations currently used by CGC:

 

1	White	10.0	9.9	9.8	9.6	9.4	9.2	9.0	8.5	8.0	7.5	7.0	6.5	6.0	5.5	5.0	4.5	4.0	3.5	3.0	2.5	2.0	1.8
2	Off-White to White	10.0	9.9	9.8	9.6	9.4	9.2	9.0	8.5	8.0	7.5	7.0	6.5	6.0	5.5	5.0	4.5	4.0	3.5	3.0	2.5	2.0	1.8	1.5	1.0	0.5
3	Off-White		9.9	9.8	9.6	9.4	9.2	9.0	8.5	8.0	7.5	7.0	6.5	6.0	5.5	5.0	4.5	4.0	3.5	3.0	2.5	2.0	1.8	1.5	1.0	0.5
4	Light Tan to White
5	Light Tan to Off-White						9.2	9.0	8.5	8.0	7.5	7.0	6.5	6.0	5.5	5.0	4.5	4.0	3.5	3.0	2.5	2.0	1.8	1.5	1.0	0.5
6	Light Tan			9.8				9.0				7.0	6.5		5.5	5.0		4.0
7	Pink to White
8	Pink to Off-White
9	Pink to Light Tan
10	Pink						9.2	9.0	8.5	8.0	7.5	7.0		6.0	5.5			4.0	3.5
11	Cream to White
12	Cream to Off-White			9.8	9.6	9.4	9.2	9.0	8.5	8.0	7.5	7.0	6.5	6.0	5.5	5.0	4.5	4.0	3.5	3.0	2.5	2.0	1.8	1.5	1.0	0.5
13	Cream to Light Tan					9.4	9.2	9.0	8.5	8.0			6.5	6.0		5.0
14	Cream to Pink					9.4		9.0				7.0				5.0
15	Cream				9.6	9.4	9.2	9.0	8.5	8.0	7.5	7.0	6.5	6.0	5.5	5.0	4.5	4.0	3.5	3.0		2.0	1.8	1.5
16	Tan to White
17	Tan to Off-White								8.5	8.0	7.5	7.0	6.5	6.0	5.5	5.0	4.5	4.0		3.0	2.5	2.0
18	Tan to Light Tan
19	Tan to Pink				9.6
20	Tan to Cream			9.8								7.0
21	Tan
22	Dark Tan to White
23	Dark Tan to Off-White									8.0	7.5	7.0	6.5	6.0					3.5
24	Dark Tan to Light Tan
25	Dark Tan to Pink
26	Dark Tan to Cream
27	Dark Tan to Tan
28	Dark Tan
29	Slightly Brittle												6.5	6.0	5.5	5.0	4.5	4.0	3.5	3.0	2.5	2.0	1.8	1.5	1.0	0.5
30	Brittle															5.0		4.0	3.5	3.0	2.5	2.0	1.8	1.5	1.0	0.5

[tv horror]

My head hurts! From an owl to a howl that's a lot of different page grades.

[oakman29]

CGC does'nt even know. 

[rjpb]

I'm fairly pasty, so I just use my arm as a measure of off-white and go from there. Of course in the summer months that might mean page quality looks better than in winter.