HALLOWEEN
LIGHTING TIPS - BLACK LIGHTS
Black lights can be a great
addition to your Halloween haunt and displays, and buying black light fixtures is the
easiest way to add black light to your Halloween haunt. If you turn on a black light bulb
in a dark room, what you can see from the bulb is a purplish glow. What you cannot see is
the actual ultraviolet light that the bulb is producing. Our eyes can see the
visible light in a spectrum ranging from red through orange, yellow, green, blue and
violet. Above violet is ultraviolet light, which we cannot see.
 Black light fixtures come in a variety of sizes and
powers, from mini-lights that are only 4 inches long to full length 4 foot units. Black
light fixtures are available from many sources year round, including department stores,
specialty shops and online. The price varies depending on the size of bulb the unit uses,
and where you make your purchase. Avoid the incandescent bulb type black lights. While
they generate a pretty color, they put our very little ultraviolet light. Stick with the
fluorescent tube type.
Since UV light is not very strong and
doesn't
travel very far its important to use the right strength/size blacks lights to illuminate
your Halloween props, decorations, etc. Use smalls (18" to 24") lights on
smaller area and displays where you can position the unit(s) close. Use larger 4 foot
units to cover large areas, scenes and props. When ever possible the black light unit
should be positioned and/or camouflaged so that it cannot be seen by your visitors.
Black Lights can be purchased online at
Halloween Effects
Wearable fluorescent products come in a
plethora of styles, including, Fingernail Polish, Body
Paint, Hair spray, Wigs, Contact Lenses, Costumes, Masks, Decorations, Makeup, and the
list goes on.
 Costumes and masks that have glow-in-the-dark
(fluorescent) properties make a great addition to your black light haunt. The Totally
Skele-Bones costume available from Fun World has
very realistic looking sculpted bones that glow in the dark, which makes them perfect for
use under black lights. For more information on these great costumes and some spooky ways
of using them see the Skeletons
section.
 Paint your Halloween props with glow paint to
illuminate. Painting your props with this invisible fluorescent paint will make them glow
eerily under black lights enhancing there overall effect. You can also use it on Halloween
signs, costumes, masks, skeletons and other decorations.
 If you have a graveyard scene with tombstones, you
can trace over the epitaph's with glow in the dark fabric paint or pens. When it
dries it
should be transparent, but will glow eerily under the black light. If you
have a graveyard scene with tombstones, you can trace over the epitaph's with glow in the
dark fabric paint or pens. When it dries it should be transparent, but will glow eerily
under the black light.
 Did you know there's a Glow in the Dark Ouija Board
are made by Parker Brothers/Hasbro? These are the weirdest Ouija boards available. They
Glow very brightly under a black light. Although smaller than the standard Ouija board,
the Glow In The Dark Ouija more than makes up for the size difference in
the unusualness of it!
 Use glow in the dark window paint to
add to your decor. Write messages on windows that can't
be seen until a black light hits it. Write scary warning messages on your front walk using colored chalk or
washable fluorescent paint. By dressing in black shirt and tights and
spotting glow paint all over yourself, you can stand against a black
wall and all that will be visible is the paint under a black light.
 If you need clothing, sheets, cotton rope (for
rope spider webs), or other fabric to glow in the dark, you can soak it in Woolite laundry
soap or RIT Whitener/Brightener for an hour or so. Wring it out and let it dry. It will
glow bright blue.
 The Black Light Hair Spray
from Fun World is great for painting your props. This spray goes
on nearly invisible and should be sprayed onto the prop as evenly as possible. It helps to
spray the paint on while the prop is under a black light so you can actually see it.
Painting your props with this invisible fluorescent paint will make them glow eerily under
black lights enhancing there overall effect. You can also use it on Halloween signs,
costumes, masks, skeletons and other decorations.
For the ultimate in black light power have a
look at the Chauvet 400 black light unit. This 400 watt, high power, long throw black
light fixture is powerful enough to create brilliant UV effects even in very large rooms.
Covers an area of 25 x 50 feet and makes a great dance floor effect for DJs or night
clubs. Integral ballast and hinged safety grill for easy lamp changes. Ready to go with
included bulb! 110 volt. Dim: 16x17x21 in. Wt. 30 lbs. Retails for around $479.95
As with any electrical device, care must be
taken to protect against electrocution and accidents. Make sure that the cord is hidden
from view and not where it can be tripped over or snagged on. No electrical fixture should
be used outdoors if the weather is bad, i.e. raining, very high humidity, etc.
Besure to
visit
Halloween Black Lights for all sorts of Black Light information and
ideas! |
