Glow in the Dark - Yoga Mats

[DannyGruninger]

I have a client that wants me to print a couple thousand yoga mats with glow in the dark style ink(they do yoga at night outside) and was curious if anyone as any suggestions? I know in the past we have used special inks for yoga mats since they are highly used/abused/rolled up so I know std plastisol wont do the trick.


Let me know if anyone has any suggestions

Thanks

[tonypep]

An FYI glow in the dark inks don't have much staying power. They will fade to nothing after a full charge in just a few minutes

[Colin]

There are a number of glow powders on the market that have a super long charge.  They are also much more expensive.  The only supplier I know of off the top of my head is Glowzone.

Not knowing what ink carrier you are going to use - plastisol/waterbase/solvent base/etc...   I would talk to your manufacturer and see what they have tested and recommend.

Best of luck!

[jvanick]

experienced this ourselves...

we did 2 layers (pfpf) of white underbase to give it a REALLY bright reflective underlayer..

and then did a pfp of the the glow in the dark, and even after putting the shirts in the sun for like 15 minutes, it maybe lasted 5-7 minutes in the dark..

kinda bummed out because it was a cool idea.

[cleveprint]

a little off subject, but what inks do you use to print on yoga mats. (not glow in the dark). we do a lot for yoga studios, id love to be able to sell/print some other stuff for them.

[ericheartsu]

a little off subject, but what inks do you use to print on yoga mats. (not glow in the dark). we do a lot for yoga studios, id love to be able to sell/print some other stuff for them.

this is something we are trying to figure out too. We actually had pretty good luck with a p/f/p with the Xenon Mustang white.

Allure Glow is another company that makes glow in the dark powders as well

[mk162]

Ask subway, they use the same chemicals in yoga mats in their bread.   try mayo.

I would check with Nazdar for a good base.  I am sure they have something that will work.

[Frog]

Doesn't help you with this particular print job, but for all other Yogis-in-the-dark, I have two words for you: fiber optics

Here's the new field to explore, adapt this technology to yoga mats. They have fabric already.
http://www.fiberopticproducts.com/Fiber_Optic_Fabric.htm

[Inkworks]

http://www.umccorp.com/luminova.htm

By far the best powdered glow-in-the-dark pigment I've used, easily many hours of residual glow.

[jvanick]

was just reading about that pigment powder.. would you just mix that into standard (say white?) plastisol?  or would you end up mixing it into some clear base?


Of topic: they recommend that it be 'lit' with sub 350nm light.. I wonder what happens with these products under all the LED lights that are coming out today... betting things won't glow as much.

[Inkworks]

I would suggest mixing it into clear and printing on a white base if possible.

[Frog]

Another thought on these. Hopefully they start in bright sunlight, and then there's an eclipse.

Otherwise, if stored and transported to the final location rolled up for a nighttime session, this ink won't get charged.

[mk162]

you know they might do this under blacklights as well...which makes phosphorescents POP.

[DannyGruninger]

Thanks everyone for the help..... So after talking with my client they are thinking ink that can change under black light would be a better option. Anyone care to help me with locating the correct ink for this?

Do you need to print on a base or can you print without a base?

[mk162]

nazdar...but glow in the dark inks glow under a blacklight as well usually.