Black Lights

[Skylighter]

Glow Inc. has been doing extensive research on black light fixtures and bulbs over the past 8 months. After working with black lights daily for almost a decade, we thought we knew them well. We learned that many of our assumptions were proven wrong under light meter testing.

The results have been compiled into the Black Light Technical Information and Buyer Guide, which I think you will find fascinating. Most importantly, it explains why many of the newer black lights appear bright, but don't charge glow in the dark pigments or fluoresce properly.

While compiling this information, we encountered a professional fixture that far surpassed the other products in our tests. We are so amazed by this fixture, that we will be adding it to our product line.

Go read the black light article to learn the differences between a good black light and a poor black light. When you realize you can not live without one of the new fixtures, visit the presale post.

[Redhat]

Hey,

For the brightest effects possible, I've found that using geology level UV lamps work best. The UVA (362nm "blacklight") is much less visible (purple) than theatrical based blacklights and UVB and UVC also can provide much energy to the luminescent pigments.

The UVC (254 nm aka "shortwave UV") causes much more fluorescing in the reds and yellows than does the more commonly used UVA (aka "longwave UV").

There is a danger to using UVC and UVB though. UVC will instantly burn the skin and cause damage to the retina if the lamp is viewed directly. UVB (300nm) is used in tanning beds. But with proper lamp placement and the use of the correct goggles when working around the lights, the danger is diminished.

RH

[ELWire]

Thank you for the Black Light post. That was very informative for a newcomer.

I am trying to make a wall that you can "tag" like graffiti, write your name, etc. I wanted the wall to show up black, but have some sort of flashlight or LED black light pen that users can use to illuminate the wall.

I don't know if an LED flashlight would be able to create this effect, but it's the only thing that I could think of. Does anyone else have a good idea for this?

Thanks,

Justin

[Abbeytoo]

I bought a laser pointer off of ebay and it works great. I have a piece of glow in the dark vinyl on my ceiling and 'scribble' on it every night. Those counterfeit bill checker lights work also. I sell glow fret dots for guitars and include a uv keychain light to charge the dots. It too, can be used to 'write' on a painted glow wall or glow vinyl.

[ELWire]

Thanks. Will the laser pointer make the glow in the dark paints charge for a few minutes? I would like it to be almost like erasable ink. You can see it for a few minutes, then try again with a clean slate... so to speak.

[Spacehead]

Here is a video of a purple laser on 4 types of glow. If you want a quicker recycle time go for the red. Otherwise I believe the "economy green" will also discharge quicker than the V10 green. Here you can see a company that has a whole kit...but we all know DIY is so much more fun!