
Long wave ultraviolet light does reflect efficiently off of mirrored surfaces. The result is that when you turn a BL light off, your glow in the dark items will appear to glow less. In addition, Blacklight bulbs will cause your 'night vision' to readjust to the bright light.
However, it is hard to see objects fluoresce due to the large volume of visible light. BL bulbs are often used in bug catchers.īL bulbs emit more long wave UV than BLB bulbs. These bulbs are made of a clear glass and emit a relatively large amount of blue visible light along with the long wave ultraviolet light. There are also "Black Light" or BL bulbs. This bulb uses cobalt blue glass and emits very little purple visible light in addition to the long wave ultraviolet light. Black light fixtures contain a bulb called a "Black Light Blue" or BLB bulb. Terms for black light bulbs are a bit different than for the fixtures. 365nm is the range where most our products perform the best. Traditional black lights emit an average wavelength of 365nm and have a filter to eliminate anything below 320 nm and put our less visible light to make UV reactive products "pop" with color. The ideal black light has the shortest wavelength possible without going below the dangerous 320 nm threshold and has minimal visible light (above 400 nm). Medium and short wave ultraviolet light can lead to eye damage.
Long wave ultraviolet (UVA) used for true black lights is relatively safe on the eyes.
400 - 320 nm UVA, Long Wave, Black Light. The ultraviolet spectrum is broken down into subcategories depending on wavelength: Ultraviolet light will cause fluorescent or phosphorescent pigments to fluoresce, emitting visible light. The color above red is called infra-red and the color below violet is called ultraviolet. However, other invisible “colors” exist above and below this spectrum. Unlike some insects, humans can only view the spectrum from red to violet. The colors visible to humans are determined by the wavelength of light energy. This article will discuss various bulbs and give you the information to choose an efficient black light for your project. This problem has dramatically increased recently with the advent of falsely labeled UV LED’s. Unfortunately, manufacturers use the words “Black Light” and “UV” carelessly and confusion follows. Exposure from black lights would be much lower than your exposure to UVA outdoors.Black lights are by far the most efficient way to charge glow in the dark paint and it is mandatory for fluorescent UV Reactive paint.Īnyone using phosphorescent or fluorescent paint and wants the best results possible will also need to understand black lights and the long wave ultraviolet light they emit. Exposure to UVA from black lights is well below the recognised safe limits and is not hazardous to people using them, working in their vicinity or who have them in their home. UVA is thought to cause premature ageing and has recently been linked to some skin cancers, however UVB is the main cause of skin cancer. Many insects can see ultraviolet light so black lights are often used in the “bug zapper” type of insect traps.īlack lights are usually fluorescent lamps or incandescent light bulbs modified to allow only the emission of UVA and some visible light. These particles are found in certain objects, including your teeth and fingernails. This glow is the energy emitted by the light being converted into visible light by particles called phosphors. They are often used in industry, nightclubs or amusement parks to make things glow.
Black lights emit a type of ultraviolet radiation called UVA, which is invisible to the human eye.
#Blacklight bulbs skin
There is no evidence to suggest that insect traps using ultraviolet black light increase your risk of developing skin cancer, as the amount of ultraviolet radiation they emit is very low. Will the use of this in my home increase my family's risk of developing skin cancer?" I recently bought an insect repellent and noticed that it uses "ultraviolet black light".