SEEING IN THE DARK: WORKING WITH LIGHT SENSITIVE PAINT

Painting with UV paint is not like painting with scenic paints. You must think of it as painting with light instead of paint.

  • Notes
    • Paint used by Professionals is usually Rosco Clear Color Paints.
    • Paint can be watered down an still is quite effective.
    • The use of light sensitive paint is very helpful when one needs to separate areas such as night and day.
    • Textural differences between UV paint and scenic paint can give away the “surprise” UV paint creates.
      • Solution: Hide texture upon texture to create an illusion
  • When you apply UV paint you should do it with incandescent lights and fluorescent lights off, UV lights on. This is obvious when you are painting with clear paint.
  • The more paint you layer the more intense or “punch” it will have.
  • UV backdrops and scenery can be used in conjunction with normal light fixtures as long as the normal fixtures are not lighting the UV elements and washing out the UV light. Scenery must be accommodated for the light which is being thrown onstage.
  • Types of UV Paint
    • Wildfire invisible
    • Rosco Clear Color
      • Both are moderately intense when lit with UV light
  • Wildfire Visible
    • Very intense and appears to glow well
  • Rosco worked better for professionals when diluted
  • Other types of paint that are not specifically UV paint do work. According to the pro’s at the seminar the paint needs to have the right amount of Nanameters in order to glow.
  • It is possible to make your own UV paint but in the long run it is not cost effective.
  • Actors can wear UV makeup
  • Types of UV Light Fixtures
    • Wildfire Lights were considered as a good light source by the panel but one panel member claimed he was able to cover a large stage with one Altman fixture.
    • Light Effect Types
      • Completely invisible: Going from a blank canvas under normal light to a Huge mural under UV light on the same canvas
      • Dual Image: Normal paint with invisible fluorescent paint over the top. On a canvas under normal light you can have a picture of a sand colored dessert and under UV light the dessert transforms into a Mountainous blue mural deep in Antartica ß—- SWEET
      • Single Image: A single picture enhanced by UV light
      • 3D: Audience members wear 3D glasses, warm colors are enhanced and pop out and cool colors recede.