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Blacklight paintings are a type of art that uses inks that glow under a black light. The wavelengths of this particular light are in the ultraviolet range. This type of paint may or may not be visible in normal light conditions.
Depending on the compounds present in the ink the paints either have a fluorescent property whereby they have a bright color in white light and give off a visible light under UV radiation. Whereas other compounds may remain completely unseen until they are under a black light source. Sometimes the paints are combined with normal pigmented paint to make them more visible in daylight.
Robert Switzer and his brother Joseph invented the first black light in 1934. Robert was restricted to a dark room while recovering from an accident and began to experiment with fluorescent compounds which they found in their fathers store. They mixed this with varnish and paint to make the first black light ink.
Since the paints produce such vivid and psychedelic effects, they are commonly used in artwork. This artwork may present itself in the form of paintings on materials or in theater as body paintings. Some artists incorporate the use of normal pigments and ultraviolet pigments to bring about different effects when seen under the different light conditions. One such effect is the use of the invisible nature of the paints to add details to the artwork that would otherwise not be present in the absence of UV light, consequently resulting in creating two paintings in one.
Other uses, besides in the art world, are the use of the inks in security features. The items that use such features consist of money notes, certain certificates that are printed on paper, tickets and other such things that have some kind of value. The inks used in these circumstances are usually invisible in the white light range and glow when exposed to a blacklight source. This prevents attempts at inexpensive and simple counterfeiting of scanning and reprinting.
Other uses include control panels inside certain cars and the enhancement of scenery at amusements. The control panels in the car come with a black light source so that the driver can see the controls while still maintaining full night vision. Having black lights incorporated into an amusement park helps to bring the fantasy to life.
It is clear from these many uses that blacklight ink has many uses besides just being used in artwork and paintings Within the art world though it has provided a whole new niche for artists to work in.
Depending on the compounds present in the ink the paints either have a fluorescent property whereby they have a bright color in white light and give off a visible light under UV radiation. Whereas other compounds may remain completely unseen until they are under a black light source. Sometimes the paints are combined with normal pigmented paint to make them more visible in daylight.
Robert Switzer and his brother Joseph invented the first black light in 1934. Robert was restricted to a dark room while recovering from an accident and began to experiment with fluorescent compounds which they found in their fathers store. They mixed this with varnish and paint to make the first black light ink.
Since the paints produce such vivid and psychedelic effects, they are commonly used in artwork. This artwork may present itself in the form of paintings on materials or in theater as body paintings. Some artists incorporate the use of normal pigments and ultraviolet pigments to bring about different effects when seen under the different light conditions. One such effect is the use of the invisible nature of the paints to add details to the artwork that would otherwise not be present in the absence of UV light, consequently resulting in creating two paintings in one.
Other uses, besides in the art world, are the use of the inks in security features. The items that use such features consist of money notes, certain certificates that are printed on paper, tickets and other such things that have some kind of value. The inks used in these circumstances are usually invisible in the white light range and glow when exposed to a blacklight source. This prevents attempts at inexpensive and simple counterfeiting of scanning and reprinting.
Other uses include control panels inside certain cars and the enhancement of scenery at amusements. The control panels in the car come with a black light source so that the driver can see the controls while still maintaining full night vision. Having black lights incorporated into an amusement park helps to bring the fantasy to life.
It is clear from these many uses that blacklight ink has many uses besides just being used in artwork and paintings Within the art world though it has provided a whole new niche for artists to work in.
About the Author:
Gallery Sarit specializes in abstract acrylic paintings. Visit them online for details! (http://www.gallerysarit.com)
