| Although the ultraviolet effect has been around for | | | | Ambient light, especially white light, is the enemy of UV! |
| decades, it is still as popular as ever and UV themed | | | | For the glowing effect to really stand out it's best to |
| parties are incredible fun. This article aims to help you | | | | eliminate as much ambient light as possible from the |
| get the best from your UV lighting by avoiding | | | | room. Things will still glow even with ambient light, but |
| common pitfalls such as excessive ambient light. | | | | the effect will be less noticeable due to the reduced |
| UV Lighting | | | | contrast between the glowing object and the |
| Ultraviolet lights can be bought or hired relatively | | | | surrounding area. The absolute best effect is achieved |
| cheaply, and range from basic units suitable for home | | | | by fully blacking out the room so that only glowing |
| use up to large, powerful units for professional | | | | objects can be seen, although this has obvious safety |
| installation. The three main types of UV effect | | | | implications so just enough ambient light to see by is |
| currently available are: | | | | the best compromise. |
| - Discharge lamp | | | | Effects Lighting |
| - Fluorescent tube | | | | Of course, at a party it is possible that there will also |
| - LED | | | | be disco lighting, so it's important to select these visible |
| Each type has its own advantages and | | | | light effects carefully so they don't diminish the |
| disadvantages. | | | | effectiveness of the ultraviolet. Effects that create |
| Units that use discharge lamps (for example the typical | | | | tight beams of light such as lasers, scanners, and |
| 400W UV cannon) produce a huge quantity of UV | | | | moving heads all work well because they direct their |
| light, but they're big, bulky, heavy, and produce quite a | | | | light in a single direction creating a moving point of light. |
| lot of heat in use. This makes them best suited to | | | | PAR cans and colour washes are best avoided as |
| permanent, professional installation. | | | | they throw their light in all directions where it might |
| Fluorescent tubes produce an excellent effect very | | | | overpower the UV effect. |
| efficiently. The larger units can be a bit bulky, but are | | | | Strong, primary colours are the best choice because |
| easier to manage than discharge units. They are also | | | | they contain a limited set of frequencies to wash out |
| the cheapest type of unit to buy. | | | | the ultraviolet effect. White lighting should be avoided if |
| UV LEDs are a relatively recent development. While | | | | possible. |
| they do produce plenty of UV light they also produce | | | | Positioning |
| more visible purple light than the other types. This can | | | | As with all lighting effects, it is best to mount the UV |
| be both an advantage and a disadvantage depending | | | | lights up high so that they throw their light over a long |
| on the circumstances in which they are used. If the | | | | distance to provide good coverage of the venue. |
| venue is otherwise very dark, then visible purple light is | | | | Where possible, it helps to use multiple units positioned |
| not desirable as it diminishes the UV glowing effect to | | | | around the room to ensure that guests are lit from |
| some extent. However in real world situations there is | | | | more than one angle, ensuring that shadows are |
| often more ambient light than is really desirable, so the | | | | reduced to a minimum. |
| purple light emitted by UV LEDs can actually help to | | | | Not Everything Glows! |
| maintain the UV "look" by remaining effective even | | | | A common misconception is that everything that's |
| under ambient lighting. | | | | white will glow under UV light. This is far from the truth. |
| If the budget is tight then UV fluorescent tubes offer | | | | Only fluorescent surfaces glow under UV lighting (in |
| the most cost-effective form of UV lighting currently | | | | fact this is almost the definition of the word |
| available. If a more powerful effect is required then a | | | | "fluorescent"). Some white clothing will glow because it |
| combination of fluorescent tubes and ultraviolet LEDs | | | | is slightly fluorescent due to the materials used, and |
| works well in a variety of situations. Units based on | | | | especially the detergent used to wash them. These |
| discharge lamps are only really to be recommended | | | | often contain substances that glow under ultraviolet |
| for permanent installations or particularly large mobile | | | | light to make the clothes look extra clean in daylight. So |
| lighting rigs. | | | | they really are "whiter than white"! |
| Ambient Light | | | | |