It may be bleached by boiling in caustic potash, and passing chlorine thru it until the resin is precipitated.

It is further whitened by being pulled.

This is what is known in the market as "white shellac." It comes in lumps.
Orange shellac is the stronger and is less likely to deteriorate, but white is easier to apply because it sets less rapidly.

Another advantage of the white is its colorlessness.

Shellac is soluble in both grain alcohol (ethyl alcohol) and wood alcohol (methyl alcohol), but grain alcohol is preferable.