Black Lighting

Okay don't laugh, not even a little bit! I understand black lighting makes glow-in-the-dark stuff more...glowy, but what colour do black lighting bulbs give off? Is it purple-blue? A bit like those funny torches they use in C.S.I. type shows?

:)
Sealed Pot Challenge 15  #78

 Debt Free: July 2022.
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  • the short answer to your question is yes, also the colour white is enhanced as well.
  • superscaper
    superscaper Posts: 13,369 Forumite
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    A black light is just a misnomer for an ultra violet light. You can see it glow purple but that's merely a "side-effect". It's the UV light (invisible) that makes it a "black light" and is absorbed and reemitted by some materials in the visible range to make them "glow".
    "She is quite the oddball. Did you notice how she didn't even get excited when she saw this original ZX-81?"
    Moss
  • Fifer
    Fifer Posts: 59,413 Forumite
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    A black light is just a misnomer for an ultra violet light.

    I'd argue it isn't completely a misnomer, as 'black' light is outside the visible range of the human eye so should should look no different to darkness to humans, unless it stimulates something to emit visible light.
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  • timbim_2
    timbim_2 Posts: 1,292 Forumite
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    Real thing is, UV is as much light as Xrays and radio waves are. There're all electromagnetic waves outside the visible spectrum, which ranges from around 400nm to 700nm (nanometres) wavelength.
    Ubuntu is an ancient African word, meaning: 'I can't configure Debian'.
  • superscaper
    superscaper Posts: 13,369 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Fifer wrote: »
    I'd argue it isn't completely a misnomer, as 'black' light is outside the visible range of the human eye so should should look no different to darkness to humans, unless it stimulates something to emit visible light.

    Depends on what you mean by the visible range of the human eye. ;)

    The human eye (cones) can see UV, it's just that pesky lens on the front that blocks it from entering the eye.
    "She is quite the oddball. Did you notice how she didn't even get excited when she saw this original ZX-81?"
    Moss
  • So one would be okay for a mood light on the desk...so I can see where the keys are during an online gaming session? :)
    Sealed Pot Challenge 15  #78

     Debt Free: July 2022.
  • Buy a gaming / backlit keyboard from Logitech then, lower running costs.
  • Domokun
    Domokun Posts: 213 Forumite
    UV light causes genetic breakdown and cancer. Thats why you shouldn't use sunbeds! If you're seriously looking into this, do your research thoroughly. The UV might be too weak to do any harm, who knows. I would be damn sure I wasn't doing myself any harm if I were considering it.

    Domokun,
    being over-cautioius.
    Super geek.
  • superscaper
    superscaper Posts: 13,369 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Domokun wrote: »
    UV light causes genetic breakdown and cancer. Thats why you shouldn't use sunbeds! If you're seriously looking into this, do your research thoroughly. The UV might be too weak to do any harm, who knows. I would be damn sure I wasn't doing myself any harm if I were considering it.

    Domokun,
    being over-cautioius.

    Sunbeds I presume use UVB. "Blacklights" use UVA light. It's UVB and UVC that causes direct genetic breakdown. UVA is much safer and I don't think even that is produced in greater quantity than daylight.
    "She is quite the oddball. Did you notice how she didn't even get excited when she saw this original ZX-81?"
    Moss
  • john_s_2
    john_s_2 Posts: 698 Forumite
    This page on Wikipedia might (cough) 'illuminate' this a bit more.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_light

    I only clicked on this thread as I remember reading somewhere that when the Sisters of Mercy (80s band) played the Royal Albert Hall they asked for the stage lighting to be black.
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