A brightening system includes a substrate and an amphoteric stilbene composition established on the substrate. The amphoteric stilbene composition includes a predetermined amount of at least one of 4,4′-diamino-2,2′-stilbene disulfonic acid, biarylsulfonate-4,4′-diamino-2,2′-stilbene disulfonic acid, biaryldisulfonate-4,4′-diamino-2,2′-stilbene disulfonic acid, derivatives thereof, salts thereof, and mixtures thereof; and a fixing agent.