#Black light art how to#
#Black light art full#

UV lights and torches usually cover a very narrow range of light, with a specific working peak output. UV light, as mentioned earlier, represents the electro-magnetic spectrum between 10nm and 400nm.

#Black light art full#

Of course, just using the catch-all title вЂUV lightвЂ™ doesnвЂ™t really tell the full story. UV can be used in part to identify iron gall ink. Multi-spectral imaging uses UV to do the same job. Another example of an application that may be useful in a conservation setting is using UV light to reveal faded inks in old manuscripts which may have become illegible. The over-painting is clearly visible under the UV light as the two materials, new and old, react very differently when exposed. As an example, some genuine glassware will fluoresce and the colour can therefore be helpful in identification, the reproductions do not fluoresce (just an example, but you get the idea).ДЄn excellent guide to some of the observed luminescence on conservation materials is available here (The Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material).ДЄs an example of how UV light can be used, the image (below) shows a painting that has been restored. With prior knowledge of the behaviour of various objects and materials when exposed to UV light, identification and dating can be made easier. UV light and the luminescence, or absence of, can also provide clues as to the material/s an object is constituted, or not as the case may be. When examining with UV light imperfections, repairs, damage, mould, faded inks, which were difficult to see, can become quite obvious. This is where examining with UV light can be especially useful in conservation. The behaviour can be different depending upon the material re-emitting the energy.

Although invisible to the human eye, some materials can absorb and re-emit energy from UV radiation in a lower wavelength as visible light, this is called photoluminescence.

UV light is invisible to the naked eye and is the definition of wavelengths in the electro-magnetic spectrum between 10nm and 400nm. But you can use it in a few conservation practices where its special talent for revealing the вЂinvisibleвЂ™ could save time, for example condition surveys. ItвЂ™s understandable вЂ“ UV light can cause a number of problems when objects are subject to excessive exposure.

#Black light art how to#

But it can also be a force for good! So how can conservators use ultra-violet light?Д¬hances are that you spend far more time working out how to block damaging UV light, than how to use it.