LUMENTIFY
Which light charges best?
| Light source | Charging | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Daylight / sun | very good | high UV content |
| UV lamp from 365 nm | very good, fast | ideal for targeted charging and for tests |
| Artificial light (e.g. LED) | works, but more slowly | allow longer exposure indoors |
As a rule: the higher the UV content, the faster the pigment charges. Violet explicitly needs UV light to charge.
What happens during charging
The pigment stores the energy of the incoming light and releases it slowly in the dark as afterglow. The more fully it is charged, the brighter and longer it glows. Charging can be repeated as often as you like – the pigment recharges with every exposure.
Under UV or black light our pigments also fluoresce, so they glow particularly intensely while being irradiated. More under terms explained.
Can UV light damage the pigments?
No. Permanent UV light does not harm the glow pigment. Tinted shades contain organic dyes that may be less UV-stable – their daylight colour can fade under permanent exposure. For applications with a lot of UV, the untinted pigments are therefore the safe choice.
Practical tips
- Place markings where light reaches them. A marking that lies in shadow during the day charges poorly.
- Recharge briefly. For markings, shining a UV torch on them for one to three seconds is often enough.
- Expose longer under artificial light. Indoors without daylight, charging takes more time.
Compare samples fairlyWhen comparing different samples, charge them for the same time with the same light source and then look at them together in the dark. Otherwise you are comparing the charging, not the pigment.