In art there are many different techniques and materials that are used to express the creativity of the artist. One such form is blacklight paintings, which utilizes the unique properties of compounds that glow or fluoresce under UV light. Some forms of the ink are even invisible under regular light situations.

Depending on the compounds present in the ink the paints either have a fluorescent property whereby they have a bright color in white light and give off a visible light under UV radiation. Whereas other compounds may remain completely unseen until they are under a black light source. Sometimes the paints are combined with normal pigmented paint to make them more visible in daylight.

The invention of fluorescent paint can be credited to Robert Switzer and his brother Joseph. After a fall Robert was instructed to remain in a dark room until his recovery. During that time he played with fluorescent minerals, that they found using a black light, and eventually mixed them with varnish and paints to develop the first blacklight paints.

With so much diversity in materials used to create art, it does not come as a shock that these very unique substances are being incorporated into paintings and artwork. Some artists incorporate the invisible nature of the ink into their work and therefore essentially creating two paintings in one depending on the light settings. The paints can also be made to decorate bodies as well producing vivid and psychedelic masterpieces on a human canvas.

People have found other uses for black light ink besides using them in art. One use is as security features on things that hold some kind of value, such as on money notes, certain certificates that are printed on paper or tickets. The ink is used to prevent cheap and simple counterfeiting. Inexpensive, high resolution printers do not allow the use of black light ink during the printing process and the equipment to verify the presence of the security feature is a simple blacklight source.

Other uses include control panels inside certain cars and the enhancement of scenery at amusements. The control panels in the car come with a black light source so that the driver can see the controls while still maintaining full night vision. Having black lights incorporated into an amusement park helps to bring the fantasy to life.

Blacklight paintings are just one aspect of the many possibilities of uses for this very unique substance, bringing on a new genre and niche for artists to explore into.