Lights and Sound: UV cannons needed for blacklight drops

UV cannons needed for blacklight drops

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Lights and Sound
Forum Discription: Technical discussion
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2557
Printed Date: 5/13/25 at 4:06pm
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Topic: UV cannons needed for blacklight drops

Posted By: Mr. Lowell
Subject: UV cannons needed for blacklight drops
Date Posted: 8/02/07 at 3:57pm

I am designing Seussical for Feb., 2008 and I need some recommendations on where to rent or buy some good UV cannons to light up the blacklight paint on a rented backdrop from Kenmark.

Here is a pic of the drop:

http://www.kenmark-inc.com/pages/packages/packages-seussical.html - http://www.kenmark-inc.com/pages/packages/packages-seussical.html

If you have used Wildfire or other blacklight paint in the past, please offer some insight on how to light such a LARGE drop...on a budget. Thanks, Dana

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Mr. Lowell,
Lighting/Set Designer & Tech Director,
for the Linda Sloan Theatre,
in the Davison Center for the Arts,
at Greensboro Day School

Replies:

Posted By: biggertigger
Date Posted: 8/02/07 at 6:14pm

It seems to me that I remember there was a black light gel that just inserts into a standard stage light.

You may want to look at Rosco or Lee Filters. Either place should be able to help you.

If this is not what you want here is a website to black lighting for large areas. You can purchase the spotlight or light bulb, they are at the bottom of the page.

http://www.starmgc.com/blcklt.html - http://www.starmgc.com/blcklt.html

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The two greatest days in a theater persons life, the day you start a new show and the day the damn thing closes.

Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 8/02/07 at 8:50pm

Hiring UV Cannon lamps with 400W bubbles, you have to take into acount the strke up time as with any discharge light [have them on a hard wired curuit & not thru a dimmer], This is normally over come by firing them up with covering wash light & dimming out the wash, keaving the UV to take over.

Simulated UV gel & filters such as L181 Congo Blue, L071 Tokyo blue are not a very good UV effect. Unlike that of Wood's Glass {Developed by Proffessor Robert W Wood, who was instramental in the use of UV photography - He achieved this by adding a nickel oxide coating the glass, effectively blocking visiable light from 400nM - 700nM}. Black Light Blue {BLB} Fluro tubes are a good cheap option, as the tube has a specific blueish colour rather than using the Wood's glass coating. Also BLB is safer to use than that of the Mercury Vapour 400W UV Cannons, as there is a very real risk of eye & skin sunburn damage & it feels like having sand in your eyes.

However the gels are good to use to fill out the stage as a wash only on large areas.
{don't forget to remind the cast & crew to use some anti dandruf shampoo like 'Head & Shoulders' as the stuff tends to flouro in UV light & white underwear under certain sheer materials, will nave thier bras & panties light up like a xmas tree!

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Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}