Glowing photographs. DIY glow in the dark paint. Playground in fluorescent colors

Glowing paint in the dark looks simply incredible, giving a huge scope for imagination when using it. In this article we will consider the principle of operation of such paint, its characteristics and give advice on choosing. Let's talk about the technology for making luminous paint at home.

Composition and principle of action of luminous paint

Luminescence is the ability of materials to glow with the onset of darkness or when the artificial light source is turned off. This effect can be given to any object by treating it with a special luminous paint, which is also called phosphor, luminescent, fluorescent or self-luminous.

Enamel accumulates light energy during the day, and then continuously releases it in the dark. The duration of “work” of such paint without external lighting is about 8-12 hours. The cumulative glow process is a continuous cycle and can be used for several years.

The glow of the paint occurs due to the presence of a special component - phosphor (luminescent pigment). The luminous powder adapts well to the environment, is frost- and heat-resistant, has stable chemical and physical properties and a long service life - more than 30 years. It is used for both external and internal work.

The phosphor is combined with a transparent carrier, usually an acrylic, alkyd or polyurethane-based varnish. The standard proportion of components is 1:3. The type of varnish does not affect the brightness of the glow, but this criterion largely determines the scope of the paint and the durability of the coating.

Scope of application of reflective paints

Glowing paints have a wide range of applications.

1. The material is in demand when creating a luminous effect in the interior, for decorative finishing of ceilings, walls, applying artistic painting, in the interior design of cafes and night clubs.

2. Original design of furniture, paintings, interior items.

3. For body art and creating glowing makeup and manicure.

4. Decoration of artificial or live flower arrangements.

6. For wooden fences, gazebos and window frames.

7. Applications in silk screen printing - advertising stickers, posters, notepads, etc.

8. Bicycle and car tuning: luminous wheels, hubcaps, calipers, bicycle spokes and frames, protective helmets, spectacular designs on the car body.

9. Creation of warning signs and protective clothing.

Types of luminous paints and features of their use

Glowing paints can be roughly classified according to basic parameters.

Type of active substance (luminescent pigment)

Fluorescent paint, glowing in ultraviolet rays: such paint will not glow on its own, the fluorescent effect disappears after turning off the UV lamp. This type of paint is very often used when decorating exteriors, club rooms and car tuning.

Acrylic varnish is most often used as a base, which makes the coating safe for health. The pigment can have different colors; red, green, pink and yellow look the most impressive.

Glowing (luminescent) paint based on a phosphor: the painted product glows in the dark, releasing the accumulated energy of the sun. To “recharge” this paint, 10-15 minutes of bright daylight or artificial lighting is enough.

Reflective paint begins to glow when light rays hit it. Mainly used for territory markings, road markings, reflective elements and signs. This enamel significantly increases the level of safety in industrial enterprises and roads.

Phosphorescent paint contains an active pigment - phosphorus, which is dangerous to human health. Phosphorus paint is used for car decoration and interior decoration. They try not to use it in the interior, and replace it with paint with a phosphor.

Degree of transparency

Colorless (translucent) in normal light they are practically invisible and have a slight whitish tint. In the dark, the paint glows blue or yellow-green.

Colored paints visible in daylight and emit light in the dark. Often colored enamel contains a phosphor and fluorescent pigment, which allows it to manifest its properties under UV rays and in complete darkness.

The composition of the paints and the presence of special components is determined by the intended purpose of the enamel:

• paint for PVC surfaces and plastics - contains polyurethane-mineral resins that improve the adhesion of materials;
• flower paints are made on the basis of water-acrylic dispersion, which does not harm plants;
• heat-resistant paint for treating metal and glass surfaces - contains polyphenyl resins (maximum permissible temperature exposure is +500 ° C);
• paints for aquatic environments - durable water-repellent polyurethane varnish is used.

Comparative characteristics of luminous paints from different manufacturers

The technology for making luminous paints is quite simple and does not require expensive equipment. Therefore, today a large number of large and small enterprises are engaged in the production of luminescent and fluorescent enamels. Let's compare the products of some of them:

	Noxton		LUMINOVATOR		Luminofor
	fluorescent paint	fluorescent paint	fluorescent paint	fluorescent paint	fluorescent paint
Scope of application		painting metal, wood, glass, plastic, flowers, textiles, for body art	decorative work on paper, fabric, plaster, natural stone and primed metal		painting of metal, wood, textiles, PVC
Basic colors	green, blue, yellow, red, blue, orange, pink	white, yellow, red, blue, orange, green, pink	blue, green, yellow, red, white		light green, red, yellow, blue, purple
The basis	depends on the purpose of the paint		water soluble acrylic base	waterproof base	acrylic
Packing	0.5/1/3.5/10 l		50/100 ml	100 ml	250 ml
Consumption	12-14 l/m2 (one layer)		100 g per 1-1.5 m2	250 g/m2	10 l/m2
Storage conditions	paint for metal: -30 °C...+40 °C; for glass: -10 °C...+40 °C;		from +5 °С to +30 °С	in a place protected from sunlight	no more than 30 °C

How to make glowing paint with your own hands

You can prepare the coloring mixture yourself. To work you will need the following components and tools:

• phosphor;
• varnish suitable for the type of coating;
• varnish solvent;
• glass or ceramic containers.

Sequence of preparing luminous paint:

1. Pour the varnish into the prepared container.
2. Add luminescent pigment. The amount of phosphor will determine the brightness of the paint and the saturation of the glow; the indicator ranges from 15-50%. The optimal proportion of pigment is 30%.
3. In order for the phosphor to be better distributed, you need to add a little solvent to the composition. The amount of solvent should not exceed 1% of the total mass.
4. Mix the paint until it has a homogeneous consistency.

This technology produces transparent enamel. If desired, you can add a color to the composition, which will give the desired shade to the surface.

To obtain a uniform and rich glow of objects during painting, you must adhere to the following rules:

1. The surface of the product must be clean and dry.
2. The paint must be thoroughly mixed before use, since phosphor particles precipitate over time.
3. The second coat of paint must be applied after the first has dried. The interval between paintings should be at least 1-1.5 hours.
4. The brightest glow will be on a plain white surface; a dark base absorbs more emitted energy, so when painting some products it is recommended to pre-treat the surface with white primer.
5. When working with phosphorus paints, you need to take care of personal protective equipment: glasses with side shields, gloves and a respirator. Painting should be done in a well-ventilated area.

Thanks to their unique properties, luminous paints have found application in a variety of fields, and you can prepare the coloring composition yourself - just adhere to the given proportions and simple technology.

What is glow photography and why is its popularity growing? A luminous photograph is a photograph printed on special photographic paper coated with a thin layer of Acmelight™ luminescent paint. Luminescent paint has the ability to accumulate light energy and release it in the dark; simply put, it glows for 6-8 hours in dark conditions.

How long does the photo last?

The service life of such paper is several decades, and unlike ordinary photo paper, it does not turn yellow over time. During the day you will see a regular photo, at night a photo with a green or blue glow.

Who needs a glowing photo?

A luminous photograph is surprising, it is unusual and beautiful. Such photographs are filled with emotions and memories. With the help of a luminous photo, you can decorate and diversify the interior, and due to its versatility, such decor will be appropriate both in an apartment and in office spaces.

For restaurants, it would be a good idea to print out photos of celebrities, and in children's cafes - images of your favorite cartoon characters. You can print business cards, corporate calendars, and souvenir maps of the world on luminous photo paper. Any of your “photo ideas” will become bright and unusual, and will give a piece of magic to those around you.

Luminous paper is sold in a variety of formats. You can find out how to buy luminous paper from the company's managers.

Marina BOBROVA

Read more:

Luminous graduation albums

One of the creative solutions that will become a highlight in your business and attract customers is to offer glow-in-the-dark graduation albums! The luminous photograph is printed on special luminescent paper Akmilight, which...

Glowing mushrooms, photos of which are in this article, are few in nature relative to its diversity and are not found often. There are many types of plant “lanterns” known. They all differ in the strength of the emitted light and colors. The glowing terraria mushroom has even become one of the most famous in computer games. Whether it actually exists in nature - there is no information.

Why do mushrooms glow?

Glowing mushrooms are a manifestation of the natural phenomenon of bioluminescence. It appears in some living organisms. Mushrooms that glow in the dark have also been discovered. Bioluminescence is a chemical reaction accompanied by the release of radiant energy. A cold glow appears, which got its name due to the slight release of heat during the manifestation of the phenomenon.

It is the result of a chemical reaction involving oxygen and luciferin (a light-emitting biological pigment). The reaction occurs in the tissues of the fungi when they absorb oxygen. As a result, the fabrics begin to glow. But there is another reason for this phenomenon.

For example, ordinary rotten or old russula and milk mushrooms may glow. The phenomenon occurs due to small microorganisms living in them. Their bodies emit phosphoric light, and it appears as if it is coming from a mushroom.

Where do glowing mushrooms grow?

Glow-in-the-dark mushrooms range from 68 to 71 species. More than half of them belong to the genus Mycena. They exist due to the decomposition of organic substances. The largest number of such luminous mushrooms grow in Japan - 10 species. Eight more varieties have been found in Brazil and South America. Glowing mushrooms are found in Puerto Rico, Malaysia and other places around the world.

What parts of mushrooms glow?

These amazing organisms belong to different families. Mushrooms can glow completely or in parts. Some have only the lower surface of the cap. They are mainly found in tropical, hot countries and Southern Europe. Other mushrooms have glowing vegetative organs that serve for nutrition. Such species are most often found in the middle zone.

Where can you see glowing mushrooms?

For example, the mushrooms Armillaria mellea Vahl have light or dark threads (rhizomorphs) in their mycelium. They penetrate the tree trunk and contribute to its destruction. Rhizomorphs glow in the dark, and from the outside it seems that the glow comes from the tree. This phenomenon is most often observed on already rotten trunks.

The glowing mushrooms Xylaria Hypoxylon L have club-shaped fruits that branch like antlers. Most often they grow in beech stumps. In mushrooms, only the mycelia glow. The same effect is observed in another species - X. polymorpha Pers.

Most often, mushrooms have glowing fruits. For example, one of the most famous is Pleurotus (Agaricus) olearius DC. They grow in southern Europe, under old trees. The mushrooms are very large, stand on a thick stalk, but have a small yellowish-golden cap. These species glow completely, even the upper surface of the cap.

Another interesting species is Pl. Gardneri Berk, native to Brazil. These mushrooms are found on dead palm leaves. Children of local natives often use glowing pieces of such mushrooms in the evenings instead of toys. Some species grow on healthy tree trunks.

Glow power

In the species Pleurotus (Agaricus) olearius DC, luminescence is observed only in living mushrooms. The phenomenon intensifies until they are fully ripe. Then the glow subsides. But if you cut it, even the pieces will emit light for a long time.

The strength of its emission varies. The intensity of the glow varies depending on the type of mushroom. But even for the same thing it can differ due to the different duration of the life cycle. Some mushrooms glow so much that you can use them instead of a light bulb and even read next to them.

Other species become noticeable only if you approach them at a distance of 20 meters. Glowing rotten things are noticeable from afar. The strength of radiation directly depends on age. Old mushrooms or those in the dormant stage no longer glow. This phenomenon occurs only in living organisms.

The intensity of the glow may also depend on temperature. For example, honey mushrooms begin to emit only in the range from 4 to 50 degrees. For some mushrooms, the temperature should not exceed 10, while others require 50 degrees and above. The amount of oxygen is also important for glowing. If it is deficient, the flickering of mushrooms will be weaker and will stop altogether in boiled water.

Glow colors

Glowing mushrooms can emit light in different colors. The most common radiation is yellowish-greenish. Such mushrooms grow in Jamaica, Japan, Belize and a number of other countries. A faint glow can also be seen during the daytime if there is no sun. But the glow is best observed in the dark. Color variations can be very different. Some mushrooms are attracted by a soft blue glow, others by a bright red glow. There are many yellow and green shades.

Why do mushrooms glow?

There are several opinions about why the mushroom glows. Some researchers argue that this phenomenon occurs at the moment of feeding. A chemical reaction occurs, which results in glowing. According to another version, mushrooms glow to attract animals, which then carry mushroom spores on their skin, legs and paws. This is a common method of propagation for some plants.

Some luminous mushrooms thus warn of danger, scaring away those who want to feast on them. But sometimes this is a false protective reaction of mushrooms. They may well be edible. Sometimes the mushrooms themselves can act as predators, luring insects towards them with light and then eating them.

There are a lot of artists, and people who know how to draw beautifully, but how many of those who know how to paint with light? I suggest you look at the amazing works of one of these masters.

An artist named Ben Matthews from the UK knows how to create such unusual light graffiti.

In order to do this, no expensive equipment is needed; even a soap dish can do, the main thing is the manual shooting mode. In order to make such a play with light, you need to control three parameters: shutter speed, photosensitivity and aperture.

The artist is 27 years old and from Surrey. Main profession: dentist.

It takes some time to take such pictures, because with a luminous device, using shutter speed, the photographer draws some kind of pattern in the air and while the camera shutter is open, light hits the matrix, which in turn is reflected in the picture as a line.

Usually the shutter speed lasts about 5 seconds, but if the task is more difficult, you need a shutter speed of about 3 seconds. At such a shutter speed, “digital noise” may appear.

Such photos also require a rigid camera grip; a small gust of wind or even the photographer’s breath can ruin the photo.

Most often you have to choose a shooting location where you can conveniently install the camera, as I already said, you definitely need something rigid, be it a bench or a table.

And of course the main feature of the photographs is the night.

One of the disadvantages of this shooting is that there should be no extra light around. Regular car headlights can destroy photos.

You can paint with light alone, but when a whole team takes on the task, something happens.

By the way, not all colors can be used. If you want to try taking a photo like this, don't forget that only red, yellow, green, blue, purple, orange and white colors are used.

Absolutely any luminous object, even a mobile phone, is suitable for such work, the main thing is that the light is bright.

If you want a simple shot, without any bells and whistles, a regular LED flashlight will suit you. Other devices are already used for such photographs.

The main thing in this matter is imagination, if you don’t have it, then time with “freelancing” will fix it, believe me.

To make it easier to draw in the air, you can first draw on paper, visually photograph it, and then draw in the air.

Talent comes with experience, as everywhere else. Let’s say that to take such a photo, you need to dress in dark clothes, and you can get very close to the drawn object, the main thing is not to freeze for a second, otherwise your face will get into the frame.

Here is a small lesson on the subject of "Drawing with light".

(English freezelight), light brush, light graphic (English light graphic), light painting (English light painting - drawing with light) - a style of photography, a technique of painting with light, practically a new genre in the art of photography, hereinafter referred to as "freezelight".
To shoot in this style, you don’t need Photoshop or other graphic editors, except to reduce the size of the photos, and everything else is done with the help of a camera, a tripod, shutter speed, a flashlight and creative thinking.

Freezelight photography technique.

I recommend starting with the idea of ​​shooting, I suggest drawing a simple one - a smiley face. We will need camera, tripod, flashlight And dark room(location).
In a dark room, we place the camera on a tripod, set mode M (manual) or shutter priority mode - we set a long shutter speed, and then it’s a matter of technique, but we immediately have a problem, namely - can't focus=(. To solve this problem, we use one of the flashlights with which we will highlight the “focus”.
The shooting has begun - with the second flashlight we draw the subject/smiley or patterns. Again, I use manual shooting mode, since it is necessary not to change the shutter speed, exposure and focus settings.
Lighting Tools- any lighting fixtures, flashlights (LED and halogen lamps), candles and even the iPhone screen can illuminate the shooting location.
Please note that only what we illuminated with a flashlight will be visible in the frame.

How to make freezelight at home.

In fact, the technique for shooting freezelight at home is no different from shooting freezelight outdoors. We will again need a camera, a tripod, a location and an idea for shooting.

Video lessons on shooting with light.

Freezelight on "STS" - Galileo

Freezelight on "C"

Camera settings for light painting: shutter speed, aperture, ISO

Freezelight in the studio

Photos from the freezelight series / Lichtfaktor