One of the coolest ways to make your room unique, blacklight posters are really interesting. Once you’ve seen one glowing it’s a sight you’ll never forget – and you’ll want one, too!
In this article you’ll find out all kinds of facts about these awesome additions to your mood lighting fun.
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What is a blacklight poster?
A blacklight poster is an artistic image that you see under ultraviolet light. These types of images are called “fluorescent.” While it depends on the particular design, many use an art style that’s very reminiscent of psychedelic artwork in America from the 1960s. They use a high amount of contrast between the black material around them and the bright colors they’re printed with.
They were first marketed commercially in 1965 by the Landoll Corporation who sold them until 2009. While there was only one company that sold them originally now there are a number of different companies that sell them as well.
What are they made of?
Blacklight posters are typically made with UV reactive glow ink and paper. They can be silk-screened with glow paint by hand or they can be printed on a special machine that prints them automatically.
What is a flocked blacklight poster?
A flocked blacklight poster is an item that has small fibers on the surface of the paper. This gives it a furry, velvet-like appearance when exposed to UV light. Flocking can be either done by hand or a machine and requires special equipment to prevent damage to the print surface itself.
How do blacklight posters work?
They glow because they have been printed with fluorescent ink, which also contains phosphors – substances that emit visible radiation after being excited by invisible rays such as X-rays, gamma rays, and ultraviolet light. The most common posts appear to change a bit from blue to purple when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light.
You can find a nice variety of different styles. Some glow brighter than others, some glow for longer amounts of time, and each can be purchased with or without blacklights included (black lights are necessary because they make the images glow).
How do I use a blacklight poster?
You can use blacklight posters to decorate your room by taping or fixing them on your wall. They’re also popular with club owners who want to create a fun environment for their customers. If you hang glow-in-the-dark posters in your home or office (especially if it’s dark), then the poster will glow brightly when exposed under UV light as many blacklight bulbs produce.
What are some cool things I can do with my blacklight poster?
You can use them to create a very cool glow-in-the-dark mural. This is what many clubs do with their wall murals; they’ll paint an entire room black, and then put glow in the dark paintings all over it that will glow brightly under ultraviolet light (like blacklight bulbs).
Also, you could place them under glow-in-the-dark stars or around glow sticks or other glow accessories or lights. You could even use glow paint to draw on them and add your own special touches!
Why were blacklight posters so popular in the ’70s?
Blacklight posters were popular in the ’70s for a number of reasons. The glow-in-the-dark aspect was one, but they also appealed to those who loved tie dye and psychedelic designs that fit right into the hippie scene at the time (especially as blacklights themselves became more common). Many people would hang them on their walls or even ceiling of their homes.
Don’t forget that the 1970s was a time during which very groovy style was popular in art, pop culture, and even music album artwork. They’re also somewhat tied to popular rock music from the era as they often feature fantasy creatures sometimes featured in album designs.
Why are they still popular today?
Black light posters remain popular for a number of reasons, but especially because they provide people with unique designs to decorate their bedrooms and other rooms in the home that aren’t too bright, which makes them perfect for basements other areas ideal for relaxing and just enjoying a good mood with a personalized surrounding.
Another reason why is that they relatively inexpensive and so simple to use unlike other types of glow items. These days UV lights are easier to find (including LED UV lights) which takes away some of the hassle buyers had in years gone by.
What colors glow best in the dark?
The glow colors that glow the best are typically purple and blue. That’s because they’re brighter than other colors when exposed to ultraviolet light, but just be aware that some white materials may glow much more brightly than others (for example, if you were using fluorescent paint).
I don’t recommend you buy some only based on their colors – you’ll be missing out on some amazing glow art if you do.