The blue light that is a part of LED neon signs lighting that’s increasingly used in our homes can damage the eye’s retina while disrupting our biological as well as sleep cycles as the French health agency warned in a report.
According to the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (known as ANSES) New research has proven the “phototoxic effects” of short-term exposures to high-intensity light. Additionally, there is an increased likelihood of developing age-related macular disease from chronic exposure to sources with lower intensity. Age-related Macular Degeneration is the most common cause of vision loss among people over 50. It can cause damage to the macula (a tiny spot at the central part of your retina that is necessary for sharp central vision).
But the protection from damaging effects on the retina offered by “anti-blue light” filters, screens, and sunglasses is not the same, and their ability to keep sleep rhythms intact isn’t proven, ANSES also said.
Lighting 101
LED neon signs or light-emitting diodes are made up of a semiconductor placed on a reflective surface; when electricity passes through the semiconductor, the light gets produced.
Blue light itself is not new. Sunlight produces blue light that is more energetic than other wavelengths in the light spectrum. Old-fashioned lightbulbs also produced blue light, but less than what is emitted by energy-efficient curlicue (fluorescent) lightbulbs, also known as LEDs.
LED neon signs are “undergoing rapid technological and economic advancement as a brand new source of light. In the past, they were used only in electronics but are now found as integral parts of lighting systems” ANSES wrote in a 2016 report. Today, LEDs are employed for both domestic and commercial purposes. as industrial and commercial ones.
According to the US Department of Energy, LED products are being used more extensively in the United States. This is a good development regarding energy use since they use a lot less energy per lumen than traditional lighting technology. Market adoption of LED lighting is increasing and will represent 48% of total lumen-hour sales by 2020 and 84% by 2030, according to the agency’s estimates.
ANSES recognizes the different kinds of blue light within its report. For instance, “warm white” domestic LED lighting poses weak phototoxicity dangers, which is similar to traditional lighting, says the ANSES. However, other LED lighting sources like the latest flashlights, car headlights, and some toys, produce a whiter and “colder” blue light that’s more harmful.
Additional scientific evidence
An American study also outlined blue light’s “increasingly prominent” role in our modern world. The study’s lead researcher Gianluca Tosini, Professor and chief scientific research officer at Atlanta’s Morehouse School of Medicine, stated that blue light may damage the eyes, but only if the wavelength is less than 455 nanometers, and the intensity is high.
“There are photoreceptors that emit blue light in the retina that directly communicate with the brain circadian clock,” Tosini, who was not part of the ANSES report sent an email. It’s real that exposure to light during the evening can influence the circadian rhythms of sleep in a variety of ways, including reducing the production of the sleep-promoting hormone Melatonin.
He also stated that some studies have proven that exposure to blue light during the middle hours of the day could improve alertness.
Janet Sparrow, a professor of Ophthalmic sciences at Columbia University, wrote in an email that “blue light is believed to help individuals to maintain the rhythms of their day that allow the body to rest.”
The retina “accumulates fluorescent molecules, commonly referred to as lipofuscin,” explained Sparrow, who was not involved in the ANSES report. “These compounds are more abundant as you age, and they are more sensitive to blue light.” Early evidence suggests that this light sensitivity could cause poor optical responses over time she added.
Tosini said that researchers believe that exposure to LED blue light with a wavelength of 470-480 nanometers over a brief to medium duration (days to weeks) should not significantly increase the risk of developing an eye disease, however, this is not necessarily true for exposure that lasts for a long time (months to years).
He said he believes that further research is required to better understand the issue, which is affecting many people’s health. Intelligent lighting systems that can alter the composition of light during the day may be an answer to the blue light problem the doctor said.
An unrelated review of studies in the field also provides evidence to the ANSES report that the use of sunglasses and filters might not provide us with the protection we need. The review examined the possible positives or disadvantages of “blue-blocking” lenses, which are advertised to protect against phototoxicity, and found “an absence of quality evidence” to support their use “for the general public to improve their the quality of sleep or performance in the eyes and reduce fatigue in the eyes or preserve the health of our eyes.”
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Sparrow declared that sunglasses don’t block ultraviolet light and that those with a yellow tint are better because they reduce the amount of light reaching the retina.
ANSES believes that the highest amount of exposure to blue light should be reduced even though the majority of people aren’t able to reach it. The French agency pointed out that teenagers and children are especially sensitive to blue light as their eyes do not filter it fully. The authority in France recommended that consumers only use low-risk LED devices and that the brightness of the headlights of cars should be reduced.
Many are worried about what could happen if they touch a Neon LED sign.
Anyone can be touched by LED neon signs. That’s because custom-made Neon LED signage produces minimal heat.
This means that they are safe to touch if you do. What’s more, these are completely different from neon signs which heat up more and are risky to handle when on.
That’s the reason Neon LED signage is growing in popularity at a rapid rate among businesses as well as households.
Can You Touch a Neon LED Sign?
There’s no reason not to. Both the environment and the human population are safe from neon LED signs.
Its light production allows it to generate enough heat while also reducing the amount of heat it produces when it’s active. It can be touched with no worry (only when it is necessary). It can be a result of cleaning or adjustments.
They are also more robust. Glass breaks are not feasible because of overheating. Therefore, you can agree that there are little to no risks.
Yet, please make sure you have a professional install the signs on your behalf, and that you use the Neon LED signs with attention.
Are neon LED signs dangerous?
The research shows that the advantages outweigh the negatives. They have been proven to be more environmentally friendly than their counterparts.
LED neon signs can now be custom-designed with distinct designs, styles, and feels. Modern technology and manufacturing methods can create distinctive designs. It’s not the same as conventional neon signs.
Here are more reasons why neon LED signs aren’t dangerous to your space and everything in it. These are all possible reasons to move away from conventional neon signs.
1. Improved Construction
The LED neon signs are made of a mixture of plastic, acrylic as well as LED light bulbs. They also consist of many small individual bulbs.
There’s so much craftsmanship involved in its design, construction, and manufacturing.
You can decide what is best for you. The result is a glowing and bright appearance without the use of neon gas or argon. The light isn’t requiring fragile gas like in conventional neon lights.
2. Plenty of brightness
In an age where people are more conscious about their eyesight, LED neon lights are an attractive option. The lights are visible throughout the day.
The clarity of their images is amazing and it is possible to read them from a distance with ease. Unfortunately, traditional neon signs are blurry if looking at them from an extended distance.
3. Affordable Price
Everyone wants lighting to be extraordinary. But, the light must also save as much money as possible during buying and installation.
LED neon signs are less expensive than traditional neon signs. They are additionally less costly to operate as compared to conventional neon signs. They require little maintenance.
4. Space-saving
Most traditional neon signages are thicker than LED neon signs. Their thickness is what distinguishes the amount of space they consume.
Older designs had tubes that had to be extended further from the backing. This creates a depth of 3 to 5 inches deep.
This differs from LED neon signs, which are one inch thick. They can be made in any size that fits your needs and space.
5. Environmentally-safe
LED neon signs are green and consume fewer watts. They use six to 10 percent less energy than other neon signs in studies.
They emit less heat, and they are cool to the feel. This contrasts with neon gas signs.
Since they consume less energy, they’re cheap to run and maintain. Additionally, Neon LED signs don’t emit harmful gases like argon.
Is touching an LED Sign Your Body Burning?
There aren’t any dangers of burning by touching LED neon lights. Yet, it is a primary concern amongst most potential buyers, and I can understand why.
You must be able to understand the construction of neon LED signs. They are quite similar to conventional neon signs. However, the materials and mechanisms utilized in these signs are distinctly different.
Many people believe that LED neon signs are dangerous because they contain numerous small bulbs. It is an illusion!
The lights that they use are more efficient. They emit less heat into the room and will not get hot to the point of burning the user.
I would describe their temperature as moderate. If you have floor signage It’s very small and won’t cause any harm to a baby.
LED neon signs are therefore safer to touch and pose no danger of burning. Importantly, however, they must be put in place properly.
All LED neon signs made by us are high-quality. If you’re not confident in your electrical skills You can always seek help from a professional.
NeonCraftsman is a business that puts safety and quality first. We do not play on the construction materials in the name of our client’s safety and comfort.
How Do You Take Care of Your Neon LED Sign to Make It Safer?
1. Clean Your Neon LED Sign
The weather and the location will determine how often you wash your home. But activities and personal preferences are also factors to consider.
In time, signs get dirty and accumulate. Therefore, the first thing you need to do when you want to maintain your signage is to clean it thoroughly.
Professional help is needed If your signs are bigger than average. Experts can assist you in cleaning and maintaining the NeonLED sign. They will do it without harming them.
2. Check Your Neon LED Sign to determine if There are any Damages
After you have cleaned your sign, make sure you inspect it for structural and cosmetic damages. It is possible to seek help from a professional when you spot an issue.
It is important to be aware of dimming and flickering lighting on outdoor LED neon signs. Chipped paint and rust are the other two. Other signs are cracks, holes, and discoloration.
Damage to the physical structure will indicate that you need to check the lights in-depth for any deeper problems. Be aware of rusty fixtures and damaged or dirty bulbs.
Another cause of concern is faulty wires. However, do not attempt to fix any wire in the absence of technical know-how. It’s risky for you and your sign.
Seek professional help whenever you’re unsure about what to do. This is to ensure the safety and durability of your LED neon sign.
3. Upgrade Your Signage Installation
How old is your LED neon sign? Do you think it’s as old as your home or your business? It could be time to consider an upgrade.
There can be so much effort involved in choosing the right LED neon sign to fit your space. The brightness of LED signs can be enhanced by changing old signs with more modern ones.
Additionally, you’ll save on electricity or energy costs. LED neon signs are visible to customers and attract more interest. The signs are visible from a greater distance and visitors are more likely to come in.
It is possible to replace all of the lighting in your area with LED neon signs for more effectiveness. Because they’re more bright and more appealing, it is also easier to install.
Many customers have ordered neon signs from us but don’t know how to put them up. There are different options depending on what you need the sign for. This article will discuss common options for neon signs and explain how to install them.
There are four main ways to mount a sign.
Mounting screws on walls (Drilling may be required).
Hanging or suspending using wires. Drilling is unnecessary and can be done easily.
A table is provided with support.
Attaching to the surface by a 3M strip. No drilling is required.
OUTLINE
These are some tips before you install.
How to mount a neon led sign using mounting screws
How to hang a neon led sign?
How do I make a neon led sign sit on a table?
How to fix the neon led sign temporarily for an event without drilling?
How to conceal neon sign wires
How do you operate a neon sign and control it with a remote?
TIPS FOR YOU BEFORE INSTALLATION.
1. If your sign is particularly large, get help from a friend.
2. Keep your sign in place and watch out for falls.
3. Place your sign somewhere safe to prevent scratching and damage.
4. You can now display your sign on an acrylic board, instead of carrying wires.
5. Only after installation, connect the sign to the electricity.
HOW TO INSTALL A NEON LED SIGN BY MOUNTING SCREWS?
Mounting screws, our default choice, is the most widely used option. It is ideal for mounting screws on surfaces such as walls or flower/grass backgrounds. The surface must be drillable. Mounting screws are required to secure your neon sign. Once it is installed, it can’t be moved around. Let’s say you need to move it one day.
1. MARK THE SPOT.
Place the neon sign against a wall. Use a pencil to mark the spot through the holes in the acrylic board.
2. DRILL HOLES IN THE WALL.
Make sure to drill holes at the marked spots. Please drill slowly, and steadily.
3. FIX THE SCREW NUT INTO THE WALL.
The wall anchor should be inserted into the holes. Next, drill the screw through to the hollow base and into the wall anchor.
4. CONNECT CREW CUP AND SCREW NUT TIGHTLY.
Install your neon sign by placing a cushion over the screw nut. Check that the holes in the acrylic board are aligned with the screws nut.
Connect the crew to the acrylic backboard with a cushion and then tighten the screw.
5. PLUG-IN & ENJOY THE NEON SIGN.
HOW DO YOU INSTALL A NEO-LED SIGN BY HANGING WIRE?
The hanging wires can be used to suspend a neon sign from an archway, front window, or door. Hanging wires can be installed easily by anyone, but we recommend hiring someone for larger sizes. Most importantly, it doesn’t require you to drill holes if not desired.
You can simply pass the wires over the holes on the acrylic board to hang your neon sign in any way you want.
HOW TO MAKE a NEON LED SIGN ON A TABLE?
A stand is needed to place the neon sign on a table so that it can be moved around easily. This option is perfect for bedroom tables or wedding reception tables. This is the easiest method to install neon signage. Just place your sign on a stand.
HOW TEMPORARILY TO FIX A NEONLED SIGN FOR A EVENT WITHOUT DILLING?
1. 3M STRIPS
3M strips can be used to attach your neon sign to the wall without leaving holes.
Take the strip apart and click it together.
Take one liner out and stick it to the acrylic back.
Peel off the excess liner, and stick your neon sign to the wall.
Remove the neon sign from your wall and press each piece firmly.
Wait for 1 hour before you realign your neon sign to
2. HANGING WIRES
CandyNeon’s hanging cables don’t require drilling. As mentioned in the hanging wires section, simply pass the wires through holes in the acrylic board to hang your neon sign as you,, please.
HOW TO HIDE NON-SIGN WIRES?
CandyNeon neon signs come with a 1.5m of plug adapter (1.5m clear cable) and 2m clear cable. These are necessary to power the neon sign. Two methods can be used to conceal the wires.
1. BUYING A NEO SIGN WITH COLORED ACRYLIC BOARD
CandyNeon offers acrylic boards in white, silver, gold mirror, and gold mirror colors. Colored acrylic boards allow you to hide the wires.
2. HARD-WIRING A CABLE INTO THE WALL
You will need an electrician if you plan to hard-wire the cable to the wall. By doing so, you won’t be able to control the light on/off/brightness/flashing with a remote, as the led controller won’t respond to the remote through the wall. The electrician could still connect the neon sign to a light switch, allowing you to turn on/off your lights.
HOW DO YOU USE A NEONLED SIGN & CONTROL WITH A REMOTE?
After you’ve installed your neon sign, connect it to power.
1. Check that there are batteries in your remote.
2. Connect one end of the led controller to a clear cable.
3. Connect the other side to the adapter
4. Control light on/off/brightness/flashing by remote.
It doesn’t matter which option you choose for installation, it’s extremely easy to use. You don’t have to worry about neon sign installation is difficult. The product is already in your possession so you can easily install it as you,, please. The instructions given are only suggestions. Many of our customers simply use the supplied accessories and install them as they see fit.
Green is the best choice if you want to make your space stand apart with a unique vibe. Whatever color you choose, a neon green sign aesthetic can instantly make you and all your guests feel comfortable and revitalized. This is also an excellent addition to any festive setting.
You can use our guide to inspire you and discover how to create your own relaxing ambiance using a green neon sign for sale.
LEDs are Greener
You can create a beautiful aesthetic at your home or workplace by avoiding the buzzing sound and heat of traditional gas-based neon signs. They also consume a lot of power.
LED neon signs solve this problem by using truly green technology. It runs faster and is also more visible than any other. These diodes have a higher power and last so the room stays cool even after being used for several hours.
The best part? These are even more simple to install, and maintain — they can be plugged in while you clean them with a damp cloth.
Create a relaxing vibe
You can make green a relaxing color and use it in your office or room with the right custom neon sign. You could, for example, put up a green Girlboss sign in your workplace to encourage productivity and remind the team that hustle doesn’t have to be stressful.
Renovating the man cave is a good idea for the home. You can also set up an AMG neon sign to represent your favorite F1 driver. An Ambilamp can be used to cast green light around the corner.
A green neon sign for sale is a great addition to any kitchen. Up for a quick midnight sandwich? Add some neon to complement the leafy greens.
Keep It Lit
This is the elephant in a room. It is the color of everyone’s favorite flower, so it makes a great backdrop to create a chilled vibe with a neon sign. For a subtle way to show your appreciation for your buds, hang up an emerald nubs neon sign.
However, a neon sign to promote the party scene is not limited to weed. You can celebrate a night with a Heineken sign. It’s a great brand that deserves to be remembered.
Green lights up the night
Event organizers who go above and beyond to ensure that the decor stays with them long after the lights go out are the best. This is where you have plenty of freedom to experiment with a green neon LED sign theme. A neon sign could be the focal point of a grass wall. To add that personal touch, we suggest lighting someone’s name in neon.
Consider using green lights to accent your party decor if you want a lighter touch. Nothing can make a margarita sparkle like a green ‘Open’ LED light at its bar.
Make your Sign Custom
A great collection will have many options that you’ll love. You are the only one who can create a sign that represents you, your personality, and your space. Design your own green neon sign, with the help of a trusted group of experts.
This is where you need to be cautious. A custom sign can be tricky, especially if your goal is a more complex design. If you have the right suppliers, your sign will be delivered on time and exactly as you had hoped.
Radikal Makes Emerald More Beautiful
The best people will help you create the dream-like environment you desire with green neon signs.
You don’t know who to call for a beautiful custom neon sign? Radikal Non can help you with all your LED neon sign requirements. Our experts can help you create the ideal neon sign design with long-lasting LED lights, tailored to your specific needs. Call us today and find out what we can offer you!
Neon-colored signs are a great option for your business. Numerous businesses invest thousands of dollars in signs that are striking and appealing. The use of bright neon-colored signs for your business is rapidly becoming a fashion that business owners everywhere want to keep up with. Alongside making your business look pretty and attractive, below are a few advantages you will gain when you use a customized neon sign for your company.
What is Different About Neon Signs?
These neon signs are extremely fashionable. They’re extremely popular and in high demand. Their popularity is the primary reason. They effortlessly grip the attention of the public. Here are seven reasons why you should install a neon sign for your business.
They offer the Freedom to design and customize
The main advantage of using custom signs is the freedom to express your creativity. This allows you to utilize any design you’d like to show your business. This is because it offers an extremely high chance of customizing. It is possible to have them created in any size, shape, or color and the list goes on. You can get them in any shape, size, color, or design that is appropriate for your company. Signs can be as small as a logo phrase or quote that matches the products or services you offer.
They are Highly Attractive to Customers
Brands have been using neon signs to promote their services and products since the 1950s. A lot of big companies have employed neon signs as a way of marketing their brand locally through campaigns throughout the years, as well, customers have paid attention to the signs by paying the attention they deserve.
Customers rely on neon signage to make sure whether the business is still operating and what specials are currently running. Every customer can see an illuminated sign in a short time. A custom neon sign can assist businesses to attract new customers.
They Function Well in the Night-time
Neon signs make it unbelievably simple for customers to perceive and spot your brand even at night. Since it has flashing lights, neon signs are truly more noticeable at night; consequently, they draw people’s attention to your business regardless of the lighting conditions. While it is feasible to make use of conventional lighting to illuminate your business’s signage, neon lights are more sensible and easy to maintain, particularly as far as installing and maintaining are involved.
You are missing out if you don’t have a sign to represent your company’s brand. These lights can help draw new customers in, boost the visibility of your business, and increase the brightness of your signage at a reasonable cost.
4. They are Energy Efficient
The fifth most prevalent biochemical element is called neon, which is followed by carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Due to this factor of being plentiful and extremely affordable, it is a great value as well.
These electrodes in neon are used to make these signs. They aren’t conductive and don’t get heated up as significantly when they are lit. This suggests that all-electric energy transforms into light energy and no amount of electricity is wasted. The neon sign is 90 watts on average. Kitchen appliances like a toaster use 900 Watts. This means that you can leave the neon sign on for hours.
They live a long span
If they are properly assembled and set up according in accordance with the specifications, and kept well, neon signs last between 10 and 12 years. Because the bulbs in the neon light don’t require much maintenance, other signs can burst in just six months.
They don’t need to heat up because they don’t have filaments. This means they can last for a long period of duration. They do not need to be replaced and require minimal maintenance. This is a much more reliable and sustainable alternative to other signs and lighting boards.
They are Very Perceptible
Custom neon signs, apart from being colorful, also offer high visibility with a flashing look. This is the reason the majority of small businesses utilize these signs today to start their business.
The public has become used to paying attention to neon signs, that have been utilized in advertising for so long. We have discussed people look at neon signs to see whether the shop is functioning and if they have any promotions.
Cheap and Good Investment Option
The neon sign is favored by many business owners over other lighting options. There are numerous choices and they can be customized at an affordable price. While other options for advertising cost a lot and are only temporary, neon signs will last for a period of 10 to 12 years following the time you install them. If you are looking to catch the attention of your clients quickly and do it in a cost-effective and long-lasting way and with minimal investment, then a custom neon sign is something your business must-have.
Create an Individual Neon Signage to Promote Your Business Right Now!
GetCUSTOMNEONSIGNS can help you find a place to purchase a custom neon sign that will help promote your company. They have a broad range of designs that you can select from, and you can also come up with a unique design yourself. There’s something that meets the needs of each company.
These brilliantly shining signs are sure to get your business more clients as they won’t have any trouble noticing you at all. Don’t think and contact these signs now to provide your company with the special treatment it deserves.
You are looking for a way to bring an artsy, funky spiral into your home? Consider custom neon signs.
You might initially think this is a tacky idea, usually reserved for bars or tattoo parlors. It is possible to have neon lights installed in your house in a way that adds style and class. There are many uses for neon lights in your home, including accentuating word art or setting up an art or gaming room.
This is a simple way to transform your home into the look you have been wanting for years. The Custom Neon Sign can be purchased in the market at a very reasonable price. The cost of renovating a house can be reduced by buying a small sign for a minimal price. They are usually easy to mount on walls and other places. Installing a neon sign can be a great way to decorate your home’s interiors. Continue reading to learn more.
There are many words you can use to describe the vibe
Today, neon lights are most commonly used to spell out words that create a mood or vibe in a residence. You can use this as motivational material. You could use words like the ones below to motivate your living room.
Welcome to Home
Family
Dreams become reality
Inspirational quotes such as “do what your heart desires.”
Hello
Be happy every day
Good Night
Positive vibes only
You can find the lyrics to any song you love here
Other than that, you have the option to choose images or shapes such as a flower, a symbol with deep meanings, etc. The layout of your living room will impress anyone who comes to visit.
Accent other Things with Neon Lights
You can also make great use of neon sign lights by accentuating existing decors and items in your house. For an elegant look, place pink neon lights behind the kitchen cabinets. They can match the color of the dining room wall or be placed behind the couch.
To give a glowing effect to the bottom of furniture pieces in your home like your sofa or armchair, you can also use custom neon signs. There are many ways you can highlight any item in your home.
Building a Futuristic Universe
An even more sophisticated idea is to decorate your gaming room using neon signs. If you add neon vertical signs to your place, and lots of them, it can give it a futuristic look. It is ideal for creating the right atmosphere and setting in a gaming area. You can also use it to decorate your dens.
The neon light signs are customizable and can come in any form or shape. Neon lights are great for gaming rooms and other areas with machinery or computers.
Bedroom Decorating with Neon Lights
Everyone thinks of neon lights when they talk about bedrooms. Installing neon lights in bedrooms is very popular. They can replace traditional lighting and add a more lively and welcoming vibe to any bedroom. The neon sign can be placed on either the side of the bed or the entire wall behind the bed. You can also use different words and lines to give the room an inspiring and hip vibe. You can also choose to use simple symbols, such as a heart, a symbol, or the shape of an electrical current. There are so many choices.
Adding fun to your office space
You don’t want your office to be boring. A small custom neon sign can be placed around your office to add some humor. It could be a coffee mug or flamingo, or even a laptop. It is important to make your workspace more fun to increase productivity. You can hang small signs on the desk if it is not possible to mount them on a wall. These are beautiful and personalize the area.
Make Your Surroundings Vibrant Now!
Get CUSTOMNEONSIGNS has the best selection of neon signs in the area. You can either pick from their existing designs or request a custom neon sign for your office or house.
Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival that commemorated the end of summer and the onset of winter, is the inspiration behind Halloween. During this season, it was observed that the line between humans and supernatural beings was at its thinnest. Halloween celebrations are tied to haunted costumes and other eerie decorations.
The imitation of ghosts and adding spooky elements in festival traditions that were originally founded as a religious belief has become a common practice. Halloween is known for its eerie and scary themes.
LED Neon Signs Provide illumination and amazing decor for Halloween. It’s a season of fun with trick-or-treating and parties after sunset. Customized-image neon signs can be used to decorate your home or window, or for passing motorists to admire.
Because neon signs are easy to change and allow people to choose from many cheerful colors, they are considered the best way to decorate any holiday, particularly Halloween. For Halloween, some people like to keep things simple and sophisticated with pumpkin orange color. For a more Gothic look, some people combine their Halloween neon signs and bales of hay with a few pumpkins in their yards. Some people love to create scary neon signs from eerie quotes. With various effects and colors, you can make anything: a party theme, a haunted experience, or even a home.
Halloween Neon signs make your decor look scary, creepy, and fun
Not only are neon signs the best way to brighten up any festival but they can also be used as decor to create a specific theme for your parties, events, or get-togethers.
You can customize the sign to suit your tastes or choose one of our signs. Choose whether you want it to be scary and spooky or fun and light for Halloween decor.
You can use HALLOWEEN GHOST NEON SIGN for spooky wall art to decorate any home, office, or commercial space. This will make a fantastic Halloween party. Some people will get goosebumps from a glance at it. It can be placed in any room, yard, or garden that you wish to scare. You will be able to send ominous energy throughout the area. It will also have a terrifying and petrifying effect on your clicks. You can also gift this work of horror art as a gift.
Another option is to go for one of Halloween’s most famous elements, the bats. For a charming, creepy neon sign for sale that is both charming and effective, choose a Geometric BAT HAPPY Halloween SIGN. It can be lit in a variety of colors and creates a lasting visual effect. Without bats, Halloween wouldn’t be as scary or fun. Get this neon sign to add some spooky fun to your Halloween parties.
Make Your Spaces Illuminating With Spooky Words And Phrases
Custom Neon signs With seasonal slogans or phrases, can make a lasting impression. These lights are perfect for Halloween parties as well as house decorations. These are just a few suggestions to get your text neon signs ready for a unique Halloween party.
You have many font options, but we recommend using basic cursive fonts. This will allow everyone to read and understand the sign’s message. It’s also more attractive to have a well-written script.
1. Boo!
This frightening term is short, concise, and straight to the point. It perfectly captures the holiday. It can be combined with other words, such as “Boo!” “I see you!”
2 Hocus Pocus is the perfect term for your Halloween celebration.
This sign will capture the spirit of this time. Everything is beautiful and exists in a way that transcends reality. Combining phrases such as this with a witch’s hat and jack-o-lantern can make a powerful statement.
3- Do Not Be Afraid– Create a scary atmosphere on your special occasion by hanging a neon sign warning about the dangers nearby.
4 Trick or Treat– Every kid who seeks out sweets on Halloween night says this familiar phrase. Because it’s entertaining and not too scary, it can be used at family-friendly parties. You can also invite your neighbors to come to your home by hanging it on a doorknob or window.
When it comes to subject matter which combines light and color in creative and interesting ways, few things are so captivating or fun to look at as exquisitely constructed custom neon signs. If I’m out driving on a summer’s night and come across a fascinating bit of neon, it’s difficult not to pull my car to look at the sign maker’s skill and take a few pictures for my collection. As I was making a quick turn into a parking lot along Route 1 in South Florida, I almost ended up in an accident. The neon horse (#1) was a bit of a surprise the thing I was able to see. It’s impossible to predict the moment you’ll see an amazing neon sign at night. The name, early observers of neon signs would often refer to neon as the “living flame.”
While truly unique and complex signs are getting more and more difficult to find There are still some interesting and beautiful signs to be discovered even in the simplest pizza eatery, liquor store, or barroom window. Certain places, like the Las Vegas Strip (#2/33) or Times Square (#4) in Manhattan have a broad assortment of signs. You could spend the whole day photographing them.
While taking photos of neon isn’t difficult, some tricks can help you improve the number of keepers. These tips will enable you to capture the most vivid and accurate color. Even cameras with basic settings can produce great results with just a few basic settings. Be sure to, shoot in Raw format, where you can hone in on the exposure and color. I’ll go over it in a future post.
Time Of Day & the Time of Year While it’s obvious, the ideal time to photograph neon signs is after darkness is falling, there are some exceptions. For example, if you’re lucky enough to photograph an old-fashioned sign, such as the Hollywood Theatre sign (#5) taken by Janet Loughrey in downtown Portland, Oregon, you might prefer shooting at twilight so that you can use the low angle to get a clear blue sky to create a stunning background. If the shape of the custom neon sign is intriguing (some older motel signs are very interesting) It’s a good idea to have a bit of light to show these details can be extremely useful. There is, however, an issue of seasonality that could be encountered when shooting neon after dark it was never a thought to me until I started shooting lots of signs. The reason why a lot of neon is found in the windows of retail stores is that these shops typically close their signs following the closing of the shop. If a shop closes at 8 p.m., but the sun shines until nine, it can be a problem. The intriguing sewing machine (#6) was photographed in a window of a tailor’s store on a night in March. In summer the sign would’ve become dark by that point. Sometimes, you’re lucky. I shot the Corona beer sign (#7) from an alcohol store’s window in August, which was the time it was still light outside, even after 9 pm. The sign was illuminated by a timer that kept the sign lit for several hours after it closed. Restaurants and diners (#8 and #9) remain open late and their signs are often situated
There are times when you just have no choice about timing If you’re at the location and the light is on, shoot. I snapped the “Safe Ice Cream” sign (#10) near the Eiffel Tower in Paris during a stroll during the evening of a summer night. There was still some light on the horizon, however, the sign was bright enough, and also had a dark enough background that it did the job. In addition, I was able to capture some of the details on the other signs.
However, in the majority of cases in the case of retail neon, most of my shooting takes place during winter or in the fall when the daylight is shorter. I despise short days and cold temperatures, but at least the neon gives me something to look forward to shooting during the winter months.
Metering and Exposure It is simple to measure and then expose for neon. Most patterned meter modes (Matrix, Evaluative, etc.) If you’re shooting close-ups of signs, the patterned meter modes (Matrix and Evaluative.) provide an extremely accurate exposure. In addition, I’ve noticed that there is quite a lot of exposure sway when using neon tubes. You can alter the intensity by a stop or more, and still achieve good results.
As you adjust the exposure, the primary changes are in the saturation of color. Underexposure creates saturated hues. Slight overexposure often causes an effect known as “halation” (#11), which is a noticeable glow around the tubes that can reduce their sharpness (it is particularly evident with blue-colored tubes, for a certain reason). Since the light sources are extremely bright, I usually shoot with a low ISO (usually 100 or 200): there’s no point in introducing noise by using higher ISOs if they’re not required, even if it’s dark out.
A camera that is positioned close to a bright object, such as neon may cause it to expose the background too much and bias the exposure towards the brightest area of the image. This is generally the result you’re looking for. I usually use a -1EV exposure compensation to avoid a habit and also to cover.
It is possible to reduce the effect of background on exposure by moving closer to the sign. Sometimes you don’t need to alter the minus compensation. For example, in this image of an old motel sign (#12), I chose a wider focal length setting which meant that the black background played more of an impact on how the exposure was read. Then I zoomed in to take an exposure from only the tubes. You can also accomplish this by walking further in while taking and locking the exposure, and then returning to your original perspective (#13).
Although neon can be shot handheld, I prefer using tripods. That way I’m not having to fear camera shake when I use an extremely slow shutter speed to increase the depth of field. Another reason is that I am far more likely to experiment with techniques for composition and even offbeat ones like “zooming while exposing” if the camera is on a tripod.
Shooting In Raw As previously mentioned, when it comes to neon I shoot in Raw format because it provides numerous editing options that are not destructive that I consider helpful. My favorite option is the capability to alter the White Balance (WB) following the fact. By altering the temperature of the shot you can alter the coolness/warmth as well as the colors of the neon. I have found that this gives me more control than making adjustments after the fact with hue and saturation control, which can be quite unwieldy or trying to always guess what the proper WB is. (An auto is always a good option, but it is also possible to experiment with different styles too with WB bracketing if your camera offers it, or just make some shots using various WB settings.)
Similar to the previous example Although I do my best to adjust the exposure, sometimes I find it difficult to make crucial exposure choices when I’m checking the LCD panel. Sometimes, it’s better to make these choices later in the process. Another tip: the Vibrance slider, an option within Adobe Camera Raw (and other processing software), can bring out neon colors. Although it is always recommended to do it “in camera,” there are a variety of options in the software that can provide some spice to those neon images.
Search and You Will Find Although neon is not as common these days, however, it’s still easy to find great neon signs in any American town. The most appealing aspect about finding neon is the fact that you don’t know the location it may be, whether it’s in the form of a street sign or an old window of a drugstore.
The Color Of The Glow The principle behind neon signs is that a tube made of glass is “evacuated” that is, it takes in air and is replaced by an inert gas. Electrodes (one positive and one negative) are placed at each end of the tube and when the electric charge passes between the two poles, the gas acts as a kind of filament and creates a glow.
Though lighted signs are all generally referred to as neon signs, sign makers use a variety of gases including neon, argon (usually mixed with mercury) as well as xenon, krypton, and helium. Each type of gas produces a different color that in combination with the hue of the glass (and the type of glass coating) determines the color of the glow. It is possible to get the neon’s natural glow by putting it in a clear glass tube. If you add argon to the tube, it’ll produce a red-orange glow. It’s akin to playing with lights and gels but you’re mixing colors from glass and noble gases.
Sign makers today employ UV-sensitive, phosphor-coated (“phosphorescent”) tubes. They can expand their color palette and increase the intensity of colors. Phosphor tubes are made with a wide range of colors, which when combined with various gases produce an entirely new spectrum of colors. The glass bending process is a completely different art style.
It’s a rainy evening in Hong Kong. The young man gets ready to go and leaves the apartment. He takes the bus down Lockhart Street. His surroundings are dotted with neon signs. He passes CLUB CELEBRITY. The OK, CLUB HOT LIPIS, and the PALACE SAUNA. There are other signs too flashing by too quickly for him to see. The night is bright red, green, yellow, and pink. There are neon signs for sale in Chinese. English signs are available. There are many types of signs: horizontal, vertical, wavy, small, large, and half-circles. The colors, letters, lines, and symbols are reflected in the puddles along the street, as well as the bus windows. The rearview mirror shows the face of the young man: sleepy, dreamy, and even innocent. He’s about to kill someone.
We’re currently watching Fallen Angels (a 1995 classic film directed by Wong Kar Wai in which Leon Lai portrays a professional assassin). Lai’s character will walk into a restaurant to complete his job in a matter of seconds. He will leave behind half of the bodies and then return to the same bus route to continue up Lockhart Street passing through the neon. It is one of the most memorable sequences in a film. The scene is set at night and is lit up by many city lights including jukeboxes. The city splits into many glowing lights, much like multiple personalities. Some are mobile. Some remain in one spot. These are too numerous to ignore. Neon’s transcendent beauty makes it even more compelling. It makes us forget all the victims of our melancholic killer. The city’s realities are lifted by the pulsating tube.
However, they are a vital part of their culture. It is not a surprise that neon lights play an important role in Wong Kar Wai’s electrifying film. The film was made in part to capture Hong Kong’s spirit. 1 The city’s visual language was provided by the colorful, gas-filled tubes made of glass. The Hong Kong Report for 1963 states that a million neon signs are visible on the streets, proclaiming messages in every color. 2 Designers have been able to take on new and innovative projects because of the local creativity combined with the influence of Western visual culture, the 1930s-1940s, and low production costs. 3 Hong Kong’s densely populated areas were a battleground for attention. Neon became a crucial tool. Signs used by business owners were often larger than those of their competitors. Or, they used signs that were so iconic they became landmarks in the city. One of the most notable examples is the Emperor Watch & Jewellery sign, which juts above Nathan Road. Another is the Sammy’s Kitchen neon cow, which is an airborne neon cow. 4 Although the tubes created a lot of attention, they also established a tradition. Simon Go, the historian, points out that entrepreneurs would put their money into a sign that would be durable, so it could be passed from one generation to another. 5
But a neon sign for sale has always played an uncertain role since its remarkable red hue was first discovered in a London laboratory in the late nineteenth century. On one hand, neon’s flashing tubes seem to be distinctly urban. Their vibrant colors have ignited squares and streets all around the world with their pulsating energy. Numerous films, stories, and artworks of art have used neon to depict these streets and squares in vibrant and often violent settings. From small-town America depicted in 1946’s It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) to Vladimir Nabokov’s novel Lolita (1955), Ridley Scott’s sci-fi thriller Blade Runner (1982), and contemporary artists such as Tracey Emin and Bruce Nauman, the arc stretches across the globe. But glowing tubes didn’t shape cities like steel, concrete, and giant LED screens. This force is too much for neon tubes, which are far too small and fragile to handle. Glass tubes, made of natural gas and hand-crafted by meticulous craftsmen, have an elegant fragility that contrasts with urban monumentalism. This is why neon has always flickered in urban cultures. Lockhart Street is a sad example of this. All signs in Fallen Angels that were supposed to work their magic have disappeared.
History of a Natural Product
Basic chemistry mirrors this tension. Neon is 0.00046% of the atmosphere. It’s not synthetic. It’s everywhere, in every part of our bodies and our lungs. British chemist William Ramsay, a future Nobel laureate and British chemist, discovered the gas during a campaign to fill the remaining gaps on the Periodic Table. To identify the substance, he put it in a glass vessel and charged it with electricity. Soon, he noticed a blaze of color that held him and his coworkers ‘for some time spellbound’. The ‘dramatic way” the gas appeared in their apparatus and its magnificent range amazed them. 6 London, like many other European capitals, became a major center for illuminated advertising and electric light during this period. Ramsay did not intend to use his invention for commercial purposes. The neon father compared the brilliant glow to a natural phenomenon, the Northern Lights. These are the spectacular displays that occur when electric currents color our skies. 7 Neon is often used as a metaphor for artificiality.
Paris saw a shift in the world. Georges Claude was a French engineer turned entrepreneur who made electric tubes and commercial signs. He created the first neon letters advertising a company in 1912: PALAIS COIFFEUR gleamed above Boulevard Montmartre. To increase the neon’s glow, Claude widened the glass containers. His customers were able to choose from argon gleamed violet to xenon pale blue to helium pink to krypton silvery-white. These gases were combined to expand the options, with tinted glasses and colored metallic adding more options. The custom neon sign was not garish at this stage. The new tubes proved to be easier on the eyes than the earlier, more blindingly round incandescent lightbulbs. Some writers compared the softness and glow of neon to that of glowing candles. Claude’s slender tubes illuminated the Paris Opera and banks as well as luxury stores, luxury shops, and churches. They were perceived as signs of sophistication.
People in Paris saw the City of Light as a glowing city and decided to take some home. Los Angeles car dealer, who had just returned from Paris in 1923, installed luminous orange letters spelling PACKARD high up above the streets. Neon arrived in America and was immediately noticed by motorists. Georges Claude created the franchising model that made Neon a global success. His patents were crucial and he sold global licenses to all customers around the world. Claude Neon Associated Companies existed in the United States, Canada, Mexico City, Havana, and Cuba as early as 1930. There were branches in Australia and Paris, Neon signs, 1931. New Zealand, Tokyo Osaka, and Shanghai. 8 A Claude shop in Hong Kong was also opened in 1932. A company magazine called the Claude Neon News kept its readers updated on the latest developments and legal troubles facing anyone who infringes on Claude’s copyrights. An article in Claude Neon News praised the New Lights of Tokyo’ in early 1930. It had four signs. One advertised an automobile company and one a newspaper. The fourth was a textbook publisher. The fourth, which was located in Asakusa, indicated the route to the “Headquarters of Beef Pot”. 9
Neon quickly spread throughout the world, with the first neon sign appearing in China in 1926. This was an advertisement for Royal typewriters at Shanghai’s Nanjing East Road. However, the United States was the epicenter in the 1930s. These tubes became an integral part of a vibrant pop culture that was struggling to overcome the Great Depression’s profound economic crisis. The neon was essential to the success of America’s new movie theatres. One Hollywood entertainment palace stated its philosophy in a glowing letter: ‘Through this portals pass the best girls in the universe.’ The neon was the centerpiece of New York’s most intricate visual effects. Advertisements depicted neon fish as big and as big as whales. Neon roses 30 meters high sprang up, then faded again and again. New Yorkers were amazed by the coffee advertisement featuring neon and the actual smell of coffee. An attentive pedestrian could spot 300 neon installations from any corner in Times Square. Broadway, which was previously called ‘The Great White Way,’ was renamed ‘Rainbow Ravine,’ in this new age of colored lights.
The center of New York was still flooded in 1950 by neon signs. Louis Faurer, bus No. 7, New York City, 1950. Photograph, 20.7 x 30.5″, Gift of Gordon Lee Pollock. 1989.544.5
Times Square gave neon life-size proportions. Claude’s patents had run out, so the signs still had a very human touch. These tubes were produced in small workshops. These tubes were made by artisans who created letters and symbols to meet the requirements of their customers. After they settled on a design they used their breath to form glass containers. They then used their hands to form desired shapes. Rudi Stern (New York neon guru and founder of the legendary workshop Let There Be Neon) stated that glass-bending is easy. Stern highlighted the importance of touch, breath, and experience in bending simple circles. To sense heat in the glass, one needs to have a wealth of experience, Stern said. You must be able to recognize the right moment to mold the fragile tubes into their correct form. 10 It takes a certain level of mastery to work with neon tubes. This skill now endangered by the industrial revolution. Richard Sennett, a sociologist has just published The Craftsman. It is a study that praises craftsmanship as a way of living, a commitment to ‘to live life with skill’. 11 This way of life was maintained by the neon-sign maker in their workshops.
However, this ability would soon become less in demand. The 1950s saw the United States redesign its cities to accommodate automobiles instead of pedestrians. Larger signs were required in an increasingly suburban country. These signs, made of plastic, were more durable and powerful than their neon counterparts. Plastic signs were made by machines, and also by new advertising concepts of a motel or restaurant chain chains. In America’s middle class, neon was gradually pushed aside and left to hang around above motels and bars. It was a dimming light in postwar-era areas. There is a close connection between inner city decay and neon’s fall. The glitzy American downtowns of the first ten years of the twentieth century became crashlands. A symbol of the down-and-out and the red light district was created by an advertising technology that was once used for decorating churches and luxury stores. Before neon, it had been used to advertise the ETERNAL SOUND and WONDERFUL TREASURES OF Egypt high above Parisian street streets. A lighting fixture in Times Square had also asked passers-by: HAVE YOU WRITTEN To MOTHER LATELY?” Now, it is old, decrepit, and carelessly treated. In Times Square, a neon fixture asked passersby: HAVE YOU WRITTEN TO MOTHER LATELY? However, its casinos and hotels went on to become other forms of advertising within a matter of years. While Asian cities had been spared much of the American urban decline, there was no denying that neon’s seedier associations would be a problem in these places, which included pawn shops and massage parlors as well as hostess bars, pawn shops, and other venues of ill-repute. Neon had hit a low.
Neon’s Friends and Foes
Writers and intellectuals revived Claude’s tubes. However, they did so accidentally because neon was a symbol of a worldview they disliked. Insisting on the energy of mass culture, a postwar generation discovered that neon was a useful metaphor for modernity’s superficial flashiness. Theodor Adorno developed a theory on music in the late 1940s. He attacked the all-powerful neon lights style’ of the culture industry. Adorno saw genuine art as a dark, complex, and deep counterforce to the entertainment industry’s superficial terror of commerce, brightness, and entertainment. Guy Debord’s concept of the society of the spectacle in 1967 is similar. Visual effects hypnotize customers, reducing their worlds to a conglomeration of images and products. 12 Vladimir Nabokov’s 1955 masterpiece Lolita was a strong metaphor in the realm of fiction. The novel’s obnoxious and violent narrator, who rapes the object he desires ‘in the neon lights 13 Theodore Roszak was a cultural critic who wrote an essay in the early 1990s titled “The Neon Telephone”. It attacked technology and consumerism. Lauren Langman, an American sociologist and author of ‘Neon Cages’, depicts modern consumer spaces in the context of techno-fascism. It describes shopping malls as a utopian environment where everything is controlled. Pei-Chia Lan used Langman’s terminology when she studied the work habits of Taiwanese cosmetic saleswomen. Lan examines the new ‘neon cells’ that keep women constantly exposed to bright lights. They must perform constantly and are under constant surveillance. 16
Even though it was not a viable technology, the use of neon as a metaphor has grown to be more extensive. Langman’s ‘cages,’ Lan’s, might not be lit by neon at any time — or by argon and xenon or other noble gases Georges Claude once experimented with. Instead, these sociologists appear to refer to spaces lit by fluorescent tubes rather than neon. (The term doesn’t sound half as elegant). However, even “good old neon” doesn’t always sound so innocent. 17 Neon fans need a certain amount of willful naivety and a willingness to change from pulsating Sauna to Pulsating Sauna, from CLUB CELEBRITY, CLUB HOT LIPIS, and to see these signs only as signs. Their beauty makes it easy to forget about the bodies at the office and the bodies on sale. It is a bit of a postmodern flirtation to follow Learning from Las Vegas and to hail a recognized gambling hell on the Nevada desert as one of the most fascinating places modern architecture has ever created. We are all too quick to ignore urban realities. We tend to be drawn to gimmicky capitalist spectacles that look great, and even better in the rain. Some cultural critics, however, take a different approach. Bruce Begout was a French philosopher who once found himself in Las Vegas. He looked at the giant neon cowgirl, known as Vegas Vickie, and saw only the “boundless cruelty” of a “celestial, mechanical whore”. 19
However, neon’s story has a lot more to it. While glowing tubes might have made grotesque cowgirls, However, they were also used by individuals and groups to create niches. They worked with neon to establish themselves in urban areas. In neon workshops, artisans maintained their independent craft for an as long time as they could. Neon was a delicate lighting technology with a limited range that linked neighbors. Some authors even noticed. Nelson Algren, a Chicago novelist, created the term ‘neon desert’ in late 1940s Chicago. Algren describes poor and marginalized communities in cities as they struggle to resist the modernizing forces. He does this with great humanist empathy. 20 Peggy Lee (a jazz singer and Algren’s contemporary) co-wrote and sang ‘Neon Signs(I’m Gonna Shine like Neon Too’), an upbeat song celebrating the city as a joyous place. 21 These texts acknowledge that neon can be distracting from urban reality. However, they insist that the glowing symbols and letters are a reference to communal institutions that have the potential to transform cities from the ground upward.
This was the context in which neon’s most recent transformation occurred. American cities were home to the first generation of light artists in the 1960s. They lived and worked in neighborhoods caught in rapid de-industrialization. These areas were void of blue-collar jobs. Hardware stores, industrial items, and even the idea of craftsmanship seem outdated. These artists used glass tubes as detritus along with a variety of seemingly useless materials. Joshua Shannon, an art historian, describes the late 20th-century movement of resistance to the service industry taking over artists’ environment. 22
Neon looked like a boring and insignificant technology. Then it became an inspiration material for conceptual art, confessional installation, and minimalist experiments. Bruce Nauman’s installations hypnotized audiences with simple linguistic and corporeal forms. Dan Flavin developed a language to represent space in space, even though he used neon-free fluorescent tubes. Joseph Kosuth did philosophical research on the neon signs for sale. Artists such as Lili Lakich, Chryssa, and others used neon to create life narratives that were closely connected to urban spaces. British artist Tracey Emin discovered neon in her search for a sensitive and fragile material that could be used to express intimate feelings in public spaces. Her first encounter with neon was in Margate, an English seaside resort that was in decline. Because neon is symbolic of cities in crisis, artists today did more than simply breathe new life into old advertising technology. Neon art — light art — has revitalized cities by being displayed on streets and squares as well as in art spaces.
Similar stories may unfold in Hong Kong. Neon sign for sale is losing their importance in Hong Kong. LED allows for brighter, more affordable light. These tubes were originally introduced to Asia through Georges Claude’s brilliant international franchising scheme. But, ironically, today’s global corporations are demanding that their advertising be consistent for all franchise branches. 23 Hong Kong’s independent eateries, which are decorated with neon and offer food on the outside, remain strong places for family and social ties. The gleaming signs are a link between a bustling metropolis and the small fishing community it was once. Neon pulses: It is a part and a stranger to the city.
By definition, the atoms in gas molecules that are inert like neon, helium, or argon do not (well nearly never) form stable molecules by chemically bonding with other molecules. It is, however, quite simple to construct a gas discharge tube such as a neon sign for sale that demonstrates that inertness is an issue of degree. You only need to apply an electric voltage of a small amount to electrodes at the ends of a glass tube containing the inert gas and the light starts to light. It’s a lot easier to explain why neon isn’t inside the discharge tube than it is to explain why it is inert to chemical reactions. The voltage across the discharge tube can accelerate an electron that is free up to a certain amount of kinetic energy. The voltage should be high enough to ensure that the energy is greater than the amount required to “ionize” the atom. A positively charged ion is an atom that has been ionized. That means it’s been able to take an electron from orbital to be “free” of a particle. The electrical current that runs between the electrodes of the tubes’ tubes is transported by the charge of charged electrons and ions.
Photo ( above), shows the gas discharge sign Sam Sampere, Syracuse University created by Sam Sampere, Syracuse University. The sign includes a neon discharge tube (the “Physics” word in orange) and mercury discharge tubes (the “Experience” or the “Experience” word in blue) and an outer frame. The neon sign for sale bottom sculpture represents the electric and magnetic fields of light. The white and yellow sine waves in the sculpture represent fluorescent lights. These fluorescent tubes are mercury discharge tubes that have special coatings on the inside walls. The ultraviolet light produced by the mercury discharge inside a tube is taken up by the coating which subsequently emits light of another hue (and with lower energy). A range of colors is achievable based on the substance of the coating.
Why do gas discharges emit light? In addition to being eliminated by the force of a collision electrons on an atom can be excitation. The electron is believed to have been elevated to an orbital that has more energy. When the electron eases back down to its original orbital, a particle of light (a photon) can remove the excitation energy and the discharge tube glows! The energy of the photon (or its wavelength or color) can be determined by the difference in energy between orbitals. Atoms can emit photons with different energies, which correspond to the different pairs of orbitals. These photon energies, also known as emission lines are spectroscopically unique to the element. As is evident in the sign, the mercury discharge tubes have distinct hues from what the neon discharge tube does. Helium, an inert gas, was discovered in this manner, and observation of the sun revealed a sequence of photon energy levels that were never seen in discharges on the surface of the earth.
It’s more difficult to explain the chemical inertness of some gases. The most common rule is that when two atoms are in proximity, their most energy (or their valence), the orbital of the atoms shifts significantly as the electrons of those atoms reorganize. A chemical bond may form when this reorganization decreases the energy of electrons in total. For normal, non-inert atoms, the electrons are relatively flexible and bonds are often formed. However, the electrons of the inert gas are more insensitive to this effect of proximity and, consequently, do not form molecules.
Another example of a larger phenomenon is the unbearable inertness of matter. This is a contradiction between the inertness (about chemical bonding) of a gas and its vitality in a glow discharge. An atom can be thought of as an inert and unreactive particle as long as the energy that it interacts with other particles (including photons) is small enough so that electrons in the atom don’t get excited. The most patient and laid-back atoms are those made from inert gasses like neon. Still, as interaction energy increases, they lose their inertness and we ultimately get an inert nucleus and electrons in a highly excited plasma. The energy can be increased as well as the nuclei become less inert. Instead, we can drink a mixture of nucleons, similar to neutron stars. Step up the energy some more and we are in the world of quarks. Even nucleons cannot be inert and we’re returning to the primitive, energetic conditions that existed just after the Big Bang.
