How Is Fluorescent Paint Made?

Different Mediums

You can find hundreds of posters that are fluorescent, but you can also make your own artistic creations. Fluorescent paint can be purchased as either a spray paint or an acrylic- or latex-based paint. Latex-based fluorescent paints are often sold as body paints and are typically found only at adult toy stores.

Types of Fluorescent Paint

Visible fluorescent paint is visible under white light (the normal light that we receive from the sun and from our lamps and overhead lights) as bright colors that glow even brighter under black lights.

Invisible fluorescent paint will appear as clear or white under white lights, but will glow, under black lights, according to the ultraviolet pigments in the paint. This type of paint is ideal for expressive teenagers whose parents won't allow them to paint murals on their bedroom walls.

Manufacturing Process

Fluorescent paint is made similar to how any other type of paint is made. Paints of all kinds are comprised of three basic ingredients--pigments, binders and carriers. In fluorescent paint the pigments are ultraviolet pigments, and because of this the black light will reflect back the color of the pigments. The binders are used to apply the paint to the surface of choice, to keep it from rolling off like water on a window pane. The carriers will typically define the type of paint you are using, as it is what is used to assist you in applying the pigments and binders to the surface you are painting. In oil paints, the carrier will be a form of oil. In watercolor paints, the carrier is water, and in latex paints the carrier is a rubber-like liquid.

Who Uses Fluorescent Paint?

Fluorescent paint found its popularity thanks to the entertainment industry. Black lights and fluorescent paints are used in bowling alleys, night clubs, bars, put-put golf courses, amusement park rides, laser tag arenas, bumper car tracks and hundreds of other areas of entertainment. They are often used, in combination, in music videos, commercials, televisions shows and movies. In the movie "Gone In Sixty Seconds," the "good guys" used fluorescent paint to keep their plans a secret.

Additionally, if you're looking to spice up your love life, you could always give fluorescent body paint and a black light a try.