How to Use Glow in the Dark Pigment Powder
Glow in the dark powder absorbs light and gives it back as a glow once the lights go out. Mixed into the right binder and applied well, it glows for up to 8 hours. Choose the wrong binder or apply it too thinly, and the glow is weak or fades within weeks. This guide explains how to get it right.
How glow in the dark powder works
Our glow powders are photoluminescent: they store energy from light and release it slowly as a visible glow in the dark. They are made from strontium aluminate, which glows brighter and longer than older zinc sulphide pigments, and they are not radioactive.
- Charging: as little as 30 minutes of daylight charges the powder. Indoor lighting also works. A UV lamp or UV torch charges it faster.
- Glow time: up to 8 hours. The glow is brightest just after the light goes off, then fades gradually.
- Recharging: it can be charged again and again. Each time it is exposed to light, the glow is renewed.
- No UV torch needed: it glows on its own after charging. It shows best in full darkness; any nearby light makes the glow harder to see.
In daylight the powder is a pale yellow or straw colour. The glow colour only shows in the dark.
Choosing a colour
Our glow powders come in green, aqua, sky blue and deep purple. Deep purple gives a subtle violet glow, at the deep end of the visible spectrum, and looks its best in full darkness.
Not sure which to use? The 4-colour trial pack lets you compare them in your own binder before buying in volume.
Solvent-based or water-based: the most important choice
Water damages standard glow powder and weakens the glow over time, so you need to match the powder to your binder.
- Standard glow powder (green, aqua, sky blue and deep purple) is for non-water-based binders: clear resins such as epoxy, solvent-based lacquers, varnishes, sealers and inks. Typical surfaces are glass, metal, ceramic and wood.
- Water-treated glow powder is the same powder with a fine protective coating that keeps water away while it cures in the binder. Use it in water-based lacquers, varnishes, paints and inks, for paper, board, fabric and canvas. View water-treated green glow powder →
Whichever you choose, the binder must be clear or light-coloured so that light can reach the powder. It should also have low acidity, as acid damages the glow. Check with the binder's manufacturer if you're unsure.
How much powder to add
- 5% by weight is plenty in a clear binder.
- 5–10% by weight gives a good glow without turning the binder milky.
- Add more only if you're also adding a daylight pigment to give the piece a solid colour in daylight.
Always test a small batch in your own binder first.
Mixing
- Add the binder to the powder, rather than the powder to the binder.
- Stir gently and evenly. Grinding or high-shear mixing damages the crystals and reduces the glow.
- Use plastic spatulas and mixing bowls rather than metal equipment.
- The particles are heavy for their size and settle quickly. A thicker binder helps keep them suspended. Mix small batches as you need them, and stir again just before use.
Applying for the brightest glow
- Use a white or light-coloured base coat. A dark background absorbs the glow.
- Build up 2–3 coats rather than one thin coat. More glow material gives a brighter, longer glow.
- Apply by brush, foam roller or screen printing. Alternatively, sprinkle the powder onto a wet surface and seal it in place.
- Once dry, finish with a clear protective top coat for durability.
- Charge the finished piece in daylight or under a lamp, then view it in darkness.
Heat and specialist uses
The powder itself withstands temperatures up to 890°C, so it can be used in high-temperature work such as ceramics. Your binder or glaze will usually set the real temperature limit, so check its own specification. The standard grade has a particle size of 25–40 µm.
Storage
Store the powder in its closed original container in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place, out of sunlight. Keep it away from moist air. Stored this way, it keeps for more than 24 months.
Safe handling
- The powder is not classified as harmful to human health and is not radioactive. It can irritate the eyes, skin and airways.
- Wear gloves and eye protection, and avoid breathing the dust. Use a dust mask (FFP2) if ventilation is poor.
- It is not cosmetic grade: don't use it for make-up, apply it to the skin or put it in the mouth.
- Not suitable for children's toys, or for modelling materials such as play dough or slime.
- The loose powder is harmful to aquatic life. Keep it out of drains, sinks and watercourses, and dispose of waste at an authorised waste collection point.
Please read the Safety Data Sheet before use.
Need larger quantities or advice?
We supply makers, schools, designers and businesses, from 10g samples to bulk quantities. Contact us with your application and binder, and we'll help you choose the right powder.
Technical and safety data for our glow in the dark pigment powders (standard and water-treated grades):
See TDS information (Revision 1, October 2026) | See SDS information (Version 1.0.0, October 2026)