Anyone ever made their own black light paint?
Not sure this is exactly a prop question, so I apologize if I’ve posted this in the wrong section.
Last year for our party we lined the walls in our garage with dollar store black plastic tablecloths, and added spider webs and black lighted the whole thing. The only thing we had out there was the keg and beer pong, so we were surprised at how many people actually hung out there.
So this year, I want to put a lot more effort into that space, and I plan on lining the walls with cardboard painted black (got my local appliance supply store saving boxes for me as we speak!) and painting stone walls, with pointed arched windows and doorways with backlight paint. Think the stone wall scenes setters you can get at most party supply stores.
I will go broke buying those tiny bottles of glow paint from Michael’s for the amount I will need for this project. I’m wondering if any of you have ever made your own using basic gallons of latex interior paint and rit whitener, similar to what is described here:
or if you have any other suggestions on a more economical way too pull this off.
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407 posts · Joined 2009
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Try this link. You can buy black light pigments (powders) so that you can mix your own paints. If I read it correctly you can mix them with clear acrylics to make as much or as little as you need. I hope this helps, I know what its like to craft on the cheep.
Good luck, Marc V.
168 posts · Joined 2008
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Rit whitener mixed with a bit of blue paint works well. The whitener glows a blue/purple under blacklight on it’s own without any paint. Adding paint darkens it up.
I am going to try other colors but I think you have to probably stick to blue/purple tones.
I’ll try to keep you posted.
168 posts · Joined 2008
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Red paint doesn’t work. If you mix enough paint to make it red it takes away the glow in the Rit.
Only the blue or purple tones will work with the Rit and only add a small amount of paint.
Spinach juice and vodka is suppose to glow red but I don’t have any booze to try it.
The .99 neon paints from Michaels work. (in case the paint you were referring to was the more expensive “fluorescent” paint)
3031 posts · Joined 2008
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Mix RIT whitener with any clear gel glue or acrylic medium to make instant blacklight paint. You can add food coloring to make different paint colors.
33 posts · Joined 2010
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ok so i tried the vodka and spinach juice a now and it doesnt work :/ i used a half and half mix. may be pure chlorophyll and vodka might work but not a watered down version like spinach juice. bummer
152 posts · Joined 2008
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Does anyone know what they use on shows like CSI. The walls are blank then they do the luminol and black light and theres flourescent blue blood splatter all over. As much as they use show after show theres probably some cheap recipe out there. It might be the rit dye. I tried the rit last year with water didnt do anything might try again with a glue.
168 posts · Joined 2008
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The Rit powder with water does work under UV light. You can add a small amount of blue paint to darken it up a bit.
The Rit on it’s own glows blue.
Too bad about the spinach and vodka not working. Did you grind it up and then strain it?
33 posts · Joined 2010
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ah no:/ i did not think to try that. if i have more voka i may give it another go in the morning since i have some opened spinach lol
168 posts · Joined 2008
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I just tried rubbing alcohol which didn’t work.
Oh, the spinach juice hasn’t been heated has it? I think that heating destroys the chlorophyll.
You are suppose to grind up the spinach and then strain it through a coffee filter.
It would be interesting to know your results since I still don’t have vodka and don’t really want to go buy some just to try this.
After a while some of these homemade versions probably won’t exactly be saving any money.
kmb123 Discussion starter
248 posts · Joined 2009
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Thanks to all for your responses and attempts at different formulas! Not sure if I had some Vodka in the house I would use it for this. I’d probably end up drinking it and saying to hell with the garage!
ravenworks69: Thanks for the link although that option is still a bit pricey for me. If I was having a home haunt or something that lasted for more than just one night, I would spring for it but since it’s just the night of the party and I still have to feed 80+ people, I gotta watch every penny.
Winklesun: I was actually referring to the .99 neon ones and Michaels, but I’ve got to cover four walls in a 2 car garage with indivual stones, along with some faux windows and doors, so I would probably go though a ton of those tiny bottles. Blues would actually work perfect for what I’m wanting to do. So could I go to Home Depot and get a gallon of cheap “oops” paint in a blue shade, dump a ton of RIT into it and be good to go?
Eyegore: Any idea of what would be considered an acrylic medium that I could purchase in a larger size (that wouldn’t break the bank)?
I was trying to upload a photo of what I’m trying to do onto photobucket to share here, but my computer isn’t cooperating, so it can be found at the link below. I want to paint something similar to this, minus the guy and some of the other things. Just want the door and maybe a stained glass window or two. I could use the small ones for Michael’s for the stained glass, but am going to need quite a bit for all of the stones.
DIY Blacklight Paint
Arrange blacklights around the room to be sure that there is enough light to display all of your decorations. Cover windows and turn off all other light sources when using blacklights.
Warnings:
- Wear protective glasses to prevent getting spray detergent in your eyes. Do not leave laundry detergent where children and animals could ingest it.
A blacklight is a high-frequency light source that causes fluorescent materials to glow when placed under the light. A colorful, glowing decoration scheme can create a festive, visually interesting setting for a social gathering. Blacklight decoration is especially popular for Halloween events and 1960s-themed parties, but blacklight decorations can be enjoyed anytime. There are a number of commercial products available for decorating with a blacklight, but you can easily create your own fluorescent paint with a few household materials.
Measure and Mix
Purchase a commercial liquid laundry detergent containing a whitening agent. Avoid using “gentle” detergents designed for delicate fabrics, as these do not contain the necessary ingredients and will not produce a glowing effect under a blacklight.
Mix a solution of one part detergent to one part water in a plastic spray bottle. This mixture will add a subtle glowing appearance to surfaces.
Use undiluted detergent to paint the room and make objects glow brightly under the blacklight.
Paint
Paint the undiluted detergent on nonporous surfaces, such as plastic, glass and tile or disposable surfaces such as poster board using a paintbrush or sponge. Create designs, words, shapes and pictures that will glow under the blacklight.
Spray the diluted detergent mixture on windows, mirrors or plastic sheets to create a subtle glowing effect over large areas.
Dip black yarn or string in laundry detergent and let it dry. Wrap the string around objects and hang it back and forth across the ceiling.
Wash white clothing, curtains and other fabrics in brightening detergent to make them glow more intensely under the blacklight.
