Turn Your iPhone Into a Black Light
Turn Your iPhone Into a Black Light
By Jeff Bertolucci
eHow Contributor
eHow Contributor
Turn on a black light in a dark room, and you'll see a dim, purplish glow. But, the bulb also produces ultraviolet light, which you can't see.
As you know, certain things glow under black light -- white T-shirts, fluorescent posters, toothpaste, and petroleum jelly, just to name a few. Why? Phosphors in these objects emit visible light in response to UV radiation from the black light. (Interestingly, the phosphors in white T-shirts come from the detergents we use to wash them.)
As you know, certain things glow under black light -- white T-shirts, fluorescent posters, toothpaste, and petroleum jelly, just to name a few. Why? Phosphors in these objects emit visible light in response to UV radiation from the black light. (Interestingly, the phosphors in white T-shirts come from the detergents we use to wash them.)
Here's an oldie-but-goodie phone hack that's fun for Halloween, takes only a few minutes, and probably won't cost you a dime. We're going to turn a smartphone's camera flash into a black light!
OK, so maybe it's not the world's greatest black light -- call it Black Light Lite -- but it does work. Here's how to do it.
Things You'll Need
Transparent or "invisible" tape (e.g., Scotch tape)
Blue Sharpie marker
Purple Sharpie marker
Smartphone with an LED flash (I used my iPhone 6)
OK, so maybe it's not the world's greatest black light -- call it Black Light Lite -- but it does work. Here's how to do it.
Things You'll Need
Transparent or "invisible" tape (e.g., Scotch tape)
Blue Sharpie marker
Purple Sharpie marker
Smartphone with an LED flash (I used my iPhone 6)
Step 1: Apply the Tape
Cut off a small piece of tape and cover the flash.
Cut off a small piece of tape and cover the flash.
Step 2: Go Blue
Color the first layer of tape -- just the part covering the flash --with blue Sharpie ink.
Color the first layer of tape -- just the part covering the flash --with blue Sharpie ink.
Tip
Some instructions for this hack -- and there are many online -- say to repeat this step twice, meaning a second layer of tape covered by a second layer of blue ink. I did this hack twice -- once with a single layer of blue-inked tape, and then with a second layer -- and didn't see a difference in the black light effect.
Some instructions for this hack -- and there are many online -- say to repeat this step twice, meaning a second layer of tape covered by a second layer of blue ink. I did this hack twice -- once with a single layer of blue-inked tape, and then with a second layer -- and didn't see a difference in the black light effect.
Step 3: Create a Purple Haze
Apply a second layer of tape. Use the purple Sharpie to draw over the blue-inked area
Step 4: Shine the Light!
Turn out the lights (if it's nighttime) or find a windowless room and shut the door. Turn on the phone's flashlight and enjoy the eerie, bluish-purple glow.
Tip
On the iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and tap the flashlight icon in the lower-left corner. If your Android phone needs a flashlight app, you'll find plenty of free choices, including Smart Flashlight and Flashlight HD LED.
Turn out the lights (if it's nighttime) or find a windowless room and shut the door. Turn on the phone's flashlight and enjoy the eerie, bluish-purple glow.
Tip
On the iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and tap the flashlight icon in the lower-left corner. If your Android phone needs a flashlight app, you'll find plenty of free choices, including Smart Flashlight and Flashlight HD LED.
Let the glowing begin! Here's an example of neon-colored highlighter ink -- a yellow Sharpie, in fact -- glowing under my iPhone 6's black light.
White paper glows too, so I created a paper airplane for the occasion
Halloween supplies are often black-light friendly.
The Skull of Doom glowed as well.
What else glowed? A mouthful of toothpaste, but that photo (of me) was so disturbing that I chose not to upload it here.
Again, don't expect the vibrant glow you'd get from a dedicated black light, but this simple hack is easy and fun, particularly with kids.
Tip
If young children are involved, do the taping and inking yourself while the youngsters watch. One slip of the Sharpie, and you'll cover the camera lens with blue or purple ink.
Again, don't expect the vibrant glow you'd get from a dedicated black light, but this simple hack is easy and fun, particularly with kids.
Tip
If young children are involved, do the taping and inking yourself while the youngsters watch. One slip of the Sharpie, and you'll cover the camera lens with blue or purple ink.
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