Who doesn't love making things using glow-in-the-dark paint? From a nursery to a dorm room, glow-in-the-dark artwork can create a room that feels magical and personal. Decide whether you want to glow in the dark with phosphor powder or use common household items. While the second method is easier to blend, it requires UV-A light or blacklight to glow.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Using Phosphorus Powder
Step 1. Purchase a glow-in-the-dark powder
You can find glow-in-the-dark powder or phosphor powder online or at craft and art supply stores.
Powders are available in a wide variety of colors and particle sizes. The larger particles will glow more brightly, but they will also produce a coarser paint that will create a mottled appearance. Smaller particles produce a paint that is smoother, but doesn't glow as brightly as larger particles
Step 2. Choose a paint medium
This will be paint mixed with phosphorus powder. If you want your paint to be invisible when exposed to light, choose a clear paint, such as gel acrylic. If you want your paint to see when it's exposed to light, choose acrylic or tempera paint in a color you like.
Make sure your paint medium can be mixed with phosphor powder. For example, if you plan to use a water-based substrate, you will need "flush-coated powder" which is also known as "phosphorus-coated pigment". For solvent or oil based media, you can use standard or pure fluorescent powders
Step 3. Place the phosphorus powder in a bowl
You need to put powder into the paint in a ratio of 1:5 (or fluorescent powder by volume as much as 20% into the paint medium).
Step 4. Pour the paint into the bowl
Gently mix your paint medium with the powder in your bowl. Stir the mixture carefully. You can add more paint for a lighter consistency.
The powder won't dissolve in the paint, so just stir until combined and there are no more lumps left
Step 5. Use your paint
Most glow-in-the-dark paints should be used immediately. Depending on the slurry/medium combination, your new mix may or may not have a shelf life. Therefore, only mix what you can use in an hour.
If you want to store the paint, pour it into a sealable container and be sure to stir it well before using it again
Method 2 of 2: Using Highlighter and Water
Step 1. Open the Highlighter and remove the foam
Using pliers, open the non-toxic end of the Highlighter. Remove the foam strip from the center and discard the plastic body of the Highlighter.
Make sure your Highlighter glows in UV-A light. Test this by writing something down on a piece of paper using your Highlighter. Then, turn off the light and hold the UV-A light over it. You will see the scribble you are testing
Step 2. Drain the foam with water
Place the cup or bottle in the sink. Gently run the water over the foam strip to allow the Highlighter liquid to flow into the cup. Turn off the water and finish when the fur is white.
You may need to do this with some Highlighter to make Highlighter Water
Step 3. Put the corn starch in a bowl
Use 1/2 cup white corn starch. This will be the basis for your glow-in-the-dark paint.
The mixture will be quite thin. The ratio between corn starch and highlighter water should be the same
Step 4. Add Highlighter water
Carefully pour in 1/2 cup of the highlighter water and stir until the cornstarch is completely dissolved.
Step 5. Add food coloring
If you want to change the color of the paint, add a few drops of food coloring and mix well. Add more food coloring until it's the color you want.
Consider pouring paint into a smaller container. That way, you can produce different colors using food coloring
Step 6. Apply your paint and let it dry
This paint is quite runny, so you may need to let it dry and apply a few coats of paint. An additional coat will make the paint glow brighter and last longer.
Step 7. Look at the fluorescent paint
Turn off all lights and make sure to cover all blinds or curtains. Turn on your UV-A light to see the paint glow.
Warning
- If you have children, make sure you keep the paint out of their reach. Children can get sick if the paint is ingested.
- While fluorescent powders are generally safe, they can cause a respiratory hazard. Many paint media also have other dangers. Because of this, fluorescent paint is not appropriate for projects involving children.
