

Although lumens is typically the metric used to measure the amount of visible light, because ultraviolet light is invisible, this metric is essentially useless. UV blacklight "brightness" is a difficult metric to describe, because UV light energy is not directly visible. It may not appear like much, but the dim light you see is just a small fraction of the actual UV light energy hitting your eyes.

Do not, for example, look directly into a UV LED blacklight when it is turned on, even if it does not appear bright. The amount and intensity of UV-A light energy emitted by blacklights is generally below dangerous levels, but be aware that the UV light energy emitted by the lamps is invisible. WARNING: Always use common sense and observe safety around the use of UV lights.

Below, we discuss 4 questions you should consider before purchasing a UV blacklight. Generally, this means that a blacklight will emit primarily UV-A radiation, and very little visible light. Unlike regular white light bulbs, UV blacklights are unique in that they primarily emit ultraviolet radiation as opposed to visible light, and as a result, there are some additional factors you will want to consider before making a purchase.īlacklights are most commonly used when the fluorescence of objects needs to be observed, with as little visible light as possible. UV blacklights are great devices with a wide range of applications in the arts, industry, and scientific research.
