Okay so now I'm making pure white cake icing. Do you all use vanilla or almond flavoring most? The only recipe I can find for a pure white is the shorting and powdered sugar recipe. Is this the recipe everyone uses that decorates a cake with white icing?

Sorry, my buttercream has real butter in it. If I need it whiter I use a tad bit of violet to neutralize the yellow. I also use real vanilla because the fake stuff is just gross. I never have problems getting deep colors either.

You can use 1 tsp of clear Wilton vanilla extract in your recipe (the recipe with 4 cups of confecitoners sugar).

Yes, pure white icing is shortening, powdered sugar and fake clear vanilla. Butter has a natural color and so does real vanilla. If you want to use butter then do what Annie says!
Almond extract is naturally clear so if you want to use real extract and have your icing be as white as possible, that's your best bet.