Fluorescence Spectra Viewer

How to compare fluorescence spectra

1. Add a dye. Search by name or filter the available dyes by excitation peak, emission peak, or Stokes shift. Select one or more records and add them to the chart.
2. Add your optics. Select a light source and add excitation or emission filters. Available instrument templates and custom laser or filter settings can help represent your optical setup.
3. Compare the curves. Dashed lines show excitation; solid lines show emission. Use the spectrum details table for numerical values. When a dye has several measurement conditions, choose the relevant condition before comparing it with another dye.
4. Save or share. Download Graph saves a PNG. Copy Link creates a bosterbio.com link that restores the dyes, conditions, light sources, filters, curve visibility, and chart settings.

Understanding the spectrum data

Quantity	How to interpret it
Excitation and emission peaks	Source-reported peak wavelengths, in nanometres (nm). A reported peak can differ slightly from the maximum sampled point on a curve.
Normalized intensity	Each available curve is scaled to its own maximum. Curve heights compare spectral shape; they do not establish absolute brightness or detection efficiency.
Stokes shift	The difference between emission and excitation peak wavelengths. Where the catalogue does not report a shift, the search filter can use the difference between the two available peaks.
Measurement conditions	Solvent, pH, ion concentration, and other reported conditions can change a spectrum. Distinct conditions remain separate in the viewer.
Laser and filter overlays	Laser lines and idealized filter passbands help compare wavelength ranges. Actual transmission curves and instrument performance should be checked against the manufacturer's specifications.

Frequently asked questions

Why are wavelengths above 780 nm shown in red-brown?

The viewer uses a CIE-based colour approximation for visible wavelengths from 380–780 nm. Beyond 780 nm, the red-brown palette is a display convention for near-infrared light, not a colour visible to the human eye. Grey can indicate ultraviolet or unavailable wavelength information.

Does a taller curve mean that a dye is brighter?

No. The displayed curves are independently normalized. Brightness also depends on properties such as extinction coefficient and quantum yield, as well as illumination, sample conditions, and detector response.

Why do some dyes have a missing curve or several curves?

Some source records do not include both excitation and emission measurements. The viewer marks missing curves instead of inventing data. Other records include multiple measurement conditions, which can be selected separately.

Will a shared link reopen the same chart?

Yes. Copy Link retains the selected dyes, measurement conditions, exact laser and filter settings, hidden curves, fill setting, line width, and manual wavelength range. The recipient opens this page on bosterbio.com.

Can this chart determine whether a complete experiment will work?

The chart supports spectral comparison and selection of candidate dyes and optics. It does not replace experimental controls, measured filter transmission, instrument calibration, or validation under your assay conditions.

Data sources and updates

The current catalogue contains 1,476 dye records, 65 light-source configurations, and 65 filter-source configurations. The reference comparison was checked on November 2, 2026 against the AAT Bioquest spectrum database. Three retained legacy HiLyte Plus records are identified in the tool. Missing measurements and unusual source-reported values remain explicitly represented.

Explore Boster's flow cytometry resources and IHC, ICC and immunofluorescence resources for related experimental guidance.