The present invention provides compounds having the formula: ##STR00001## in which R is hydrogen, hydroxy, halogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.20-alkyl, C.sub.4-C.sub.12cycloalkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.20alkenyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.20alkynyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.20-alkoxy, C.sub.4-C.sub.12cycloalkoxy, C.sub.2-C.sub.20alkenoxy, C.sub.2-C.sub.20alkynoxy or C.sub.7-C.sub.13aralkyl; R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, independently, are hydrogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl, C.sub.4-C.sub.12cycloalkyl, C.sub.7-C.sub.13 aralkyl, --C(.dbd.O)--R.sub.4 (in which R.sub.4 is C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.20alkyl interrupted by 1 to 6 oxygen atoms, hetero-substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl, C.sub.4-C.sub.12cycloalkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.20alkenyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.20alkynyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.20-alkoxy, C.sub.4-C.sub.12cycloalkoxy, C.sub.2-C.sub.20alkenoxy, C.sub.2-C.sub.20alkynoxy, C.sub.6-C.sub.12 aryl, C.sub.6-C.sub.12 aryloxy or C.sub.7-C.sub.13 aralkyl), or --C(.dbd.O)--NH--R.sub.1 in which R.sub.1 has its previous significance; and R.sub.3 is hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl, C.sub.4-C.sub.12cycloalkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.20alkenyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.20alkynyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.20-alkoxy, C.sub.4-C.sub.12cycloalkoxy, C.sub.2-C.sub.20alkenoxy, C.sub.2-C.sub.20alkynoxy, phenyl, C.sub.7-C.sub.13 aralkyl or --N(R.sub.1)(R.sub.2) in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 have their previous significance, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together form a C.sub.4-C.sub.12 membered ring.The new triphenyltriazine compounds have improved absorption spectrum characteristics and superior resistance to exposure to UV light, relative to known triphenyltriazine compounds.