Thread: How to question Lightning and Paint

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I want to add a new sign to my graveyard set up this year, but can't figure out how to make the effect I want occur. I generally have a TNL machine that I use white lights to create the lightning effect on the front of the house. I want to make a sign for Dreadmoore Cemetary that will "change" when the lightning flashes to say Deadmoore Cemetary.

Does anyone have an idea how to make this occur? I want to model it after the effect in the Haunted Mansion with the portraits that change when the lightning effect flashes, but that is a controlled environment. Has anyone tried this in an outdoor environment?

I have 5 days to make this work.


Rotten

Add a black light bulb to your lightning setup. One that will flash the same time as the regular light. Then paint in UV what you'd like to see during the flash with the UV paint right over Dreadmore..."Deadmore".

I dont think a real, florescent black light can be connected to a lightning machine, I dont think they are designed to turn on and off quickly like that.......

You are correct....Not a black fluorescent tube light.
But I'm pretty sure a simple black light bulb will react quickly.
What's to lose...give it a shot if you don't get any other ides.
And please let us know what you end up doing. I'd love to see this effect.

I have never found a blacklight incandescent bulb that actually worked like a true black light, but what the heck, worth a shot

Will the 'on time' of the Deadmore portion, be long enough for anyone to notice? (not all effects should be obvious, I like to have a few subtle ones that only the real appreciative people get, but this Deadmore sign is different and should be a focal point I am guessing).

The white lighting light, will make people blink or lose night vision for a sec...

The LED-based UV lights (like sold from Minion) would work fast enough, but you prob cant get those delivered in time, and you need several to make enough UV light to notice from distance.


What is the sign made from? Just plain paper/foam/etc, or is it lighted in any way? If lighted, I would try some switch on the light for the "D" part. You live in Houston...goto EPO on Fodren and get a timer module. One that takes a input and then will stay on for say 10-20 seconds...so when the lighting fires...the new light "D" comes on for 10-20 seconds and goes back off.

If foam or cardboard, a little more invloved...but make a physical "flap" that folds up/down on the "Dr" with a "D"...this flap can be triggered again by some timer from EPO, but also a small door lock or antenna solenoid. They sell a light weight one that would lift a foam/cardboard item about 2-4 inches....I think the "r" 'falling away would be the cooler effect.

Pretty much everything you want is on the first right side aisle at EPO, except maybe for a relay or two...worth a shot.

If sticking to a UV based idea...use a full fledge flourescent bulb for the max UV effect (barring the expesnive UV light cannons)...but make a shutter for it.

Some motor or solenoid will open a door in front of the UV to light up the new Deadmore, then close again to return to normal light viewing. Just keep shutter doors lightweight and watch out (big time) for any heat build up. You know how hot those bulbs get.

Radioshack has UV leds. Not the brightest, but you could put them close to the sign.

Can you make the whole sign out of LEDs or string Christmas lights? Get a foam board and poke lights thru to trace out the words. Just make the "r" from a different string of lights...and have a timer to turn that string off when you want Deadmore to show....?

I agree with DNA1990, you would have more control over the length of the effect by using lights to drop out the "R", IMHO