The quality of inkjet printed color is significantly influenced by the substrate coating structure, which strongly affects ink-setting performance. Small amounts of coating additives are necessary and play an essential function, which in turn affects the substrates final surface structure, optical properties and printed color. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of various polyolefin dispersions in paper coatings for inkjet papers and their effects on paper properties, inkjet printability and color. The polyolefin dispersions were added to a typical silica based coating formulation, and then compared to a control coating without a polyolefin additive. The coatings were applied to base sheets by a cylindrical laboratory coater. Coated papers were then calendered. To ascertain the mechanism underlying the effects of tested additives coating rheology, surface properties, optical properties, and print quality were measured. Based on the results, these additives provide increased paper brightness due to enhanced OBA efficiency, better lightfastness, and the potential for improved coating application.