Thread: Black Light for Dummies

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As usual I'm getting to this at the last minute, but I'm hoping you'll bail me out with your expertise...again!

I've got a pretty simple jack-o-lantern, spider web, fog machine setup for my doorway and entry hall, but I'm getting NO blacklight effect. I'm using the same blacklights that did a bang-up job on my crank ghost window display, but with one unit outside above the doorway (pointed down) and one in the interior hallway (on the floor pointing up) I may as well have a blue light bulb on.

Are there different strengths/intensities of black light? If so, is there a formula for area of coverage and strength(?) of bulb?

Thanks in advance for your help!

You'll find that certain elements react under the UV of a Black Light. White cotton, such as in your FCG, react really well. "Neon" paper also fluoresces very nicely. Experiment. I love Black Light, in my mind, no haunt is complete without it.

Make sure you are using UV blacklights and not just black bulbs. Lots of people make the mistake of buying the $1 black light bulb thinking it will have the same effect as UV black lights.

Black light 101
http://www.halloweenforum.com/genera...ack-light.html

As a side note I tested the blacklight strobes that Michaels has out this year. I was not expecting much but the LED's in them put out some good blacklight.

Always use florescent black lights vs incandescent (screw in bulb).
The fixtures range from 12 in., 18in., up to 4 ft shop lights. You'll get a true black light every time with florescent black light. The incandescent are just purple bulbs that tend to get hot very quickly & don't do much to give off light.