STARGLOW COATINGS

and how best to use them for optimum performance

A range of professional grade, specialised coatings based on an advanced water based Polyurethane (PU) formula for its safety, performance and durability. To get the most from your paint please follow the guidelines and instructions below.

Please Note: There are paint-specific instructions further down this page

Some General Do's and Don'ts first

Do

Do Not

Stir / shake very well before each use and use the paint within 6 months from the date of purchase.
For best results apply over a white (or white primed) surface.
Ensure surfaces are clean, dry, free of grease, oil or loose particles. White prime your surfaces to achieve a good bond and enhance the glow / UV effect.
Apply each coat at a right angles to the previous coat. This will help average-out the smart paint particles to help achieve a more even and smoother finish.
Wash brushes and associated equipment in water. Seal jar properly and store in a cool, dark place.
Follow the basic safety rules when using these paints and ensure children are supervised when using these paints.

Do not inter-mix our paints with any other make or type of paint.
Do not apply over a black or (dark) surface as this will degrade the glow / fluorescence.
Do not dilute our paints with solvents, spirits or thinners. If required, you may use a little water to let down the paint for spraying etc.
Do not apply too thick a coat. Several thin coats are far better then 1 or 2 thicker coats (Note: Reflective paint requires only one thin, even coat).
Do not apply additional coats until the previous coat has properly dried / cured.
Do not use Starglow paints on skin or hair and keep away from young children.

Luminous / UV Smart paints are essentially non-dissolvable, microscopic crystals suspended in a clear viscous medium. These ‘smart’ particles generally have a high specific gravity, so they will settle over time, which is why you should mix the paint well each time before you use it.

So What are Starglow Paints?

Starglow paints are based on a water-borne polyurethane formulation, and as such exhibit excellent UV, weather and abrasion resistance. The Starglow range of paints has been developed to meet EU regulations regarding volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) and possess excellent flexibility and hardness that resists cracking or scratching of the coatings when applied to rigid or non-rigid surfaces.

Starglow paints are ECO safe, non-flammable and non-toxic with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and are classed as non-hazardous. However, normal ‘safe usage’ practices should be observed; the paints kept out of reach of children and the product stored and handled appropriately.

The paints are ready to use and require no secondary addition to promote cure, they rely instead on the evaporation of the water content to allow the resin base to begin the curing process. When all the water has evaporated, the coating becomes a solid layer of polyurethane.

Starglow paints are permanent when dry and extremely wash-resistant when used on fabrics. Starglow paints are suitable for use indoors and limited use outdoors. However, for prolonged outdoor use of Starglow Luminous and UV paints, we recommend you avoid using on South facing surfaces, which will limit the cumulative degrading effects of exposure to direct sunlight on the smart pigments. UV Neon and Clear UV paints should not be used where they will be prolonged exposure to directly sunlight.

Starglow paint is an easily applied coating that exhibits excellent light emitting properties. The coating cures to a satin finish (or gloss finish in the case of Reflective and Protective Coatings). When cured, Starglow paint is flexible, hard wearing and has excellent resistance to Ultra Violet rays. Starglow paint adhesion to properly primed wood, brickwork, concrete, metal and most plastics surfaces is excellent.

Starglow paints are NOT suitable for use on skin or hair.

Always wear appropriate safety equipment when using these paints.

Surface Preparation

All surfaces to be coated must be clean, dry, and free of any contamination such as dirt or grease. Starglow paints should be applied to a properly ‘primed surface’, failure to do so may result in poor adhesion and reduced weather resistance.

Ideally Starglow Luminous and UV based paints should be applied to a white primed surface as this white / light background will give the maximum level of ‘glow / fluorescence’ from the coating. Applications to dark surfaces may severely reduce the level of light emissions (luminosity) and increase its apparent visibility.

Starglow paints may not compatible or suitable for use with some solvent based primers or top-coats.

Do not use these paints for applications where the coated surface will be permanently immersed in saltwater or in contact with strong solvents.

Whilst these paints are non-hazardous, normal safe usage practices should be observed; the paints kept out of reach of children and the product stored and handled appropriately.

Using Starglow Paints

Smart paints should be stirred well for 1 minute before use to ensure the pigments are re-suspended in the paint medium ready for use.

Always make a test / sample patch first to check the paint’s suitability.

Sometimes the paint’s settling process may leave a clear residue on top of the paint. Stir / mix this back into the paint before use.

Starglow paints may be used on a wide range of surfaces providing they are pre-sealed with a water based, base coat (or white primer where appropriate). Do not apply over solvent / oil based primers or base-coats as these may reject the paint. Ensure surfaces are clean and free from dirt, oil, grease and loose particles etc.

Ensure each coat is touch-dry before applying further coats. The time for drying of this coat should be between 30 and 60 minutes depending on the ambient temperature and humidity.

Drying times may be accelerated using a warm airflow across the wet coating, but below 100 degrees Fahrenheit or approximately 40 degrees Celsius. Allow the paint to fully cure to achieve maximum hardness and flexibility. This may take up to 24 hours depending on temperature and humidity.

The coated surface should be sufficiently dry to handle within a few hours of the final coat. After the Starglow paint has fully cured, the coating may be further protected by the application of a protective clear top-coat. These additional layers will protect the paint from dirt, grease, weathering, scratching and abrasion.

For Luminous and UV paints, apply 2-3 coats, each in differing directions to help ensure a more even / uniform distribution of paint onto the surface. Note: The more coats of Clear UV paint applied will increase the apparent visibility of paint on the surface. The darker the background the more visible this paint will be.

Reflective coatings require a single thin, even coating (preferably applied by a suitable spray-gun or firm foam roller to serve as a final reflective surface. Do not apply any form of protective top coat over a reflective coating as this will nullify the retro-reflective effect.

Do not expose the coating to surface abrasion or impact until it is fully cured clear.

For brush or foam roller applications, use only good quality brushes or smooth firm foam rollers. Allow to fully-dry before applying further coats. Wash out spray gun / airbrush, brushes and rollers in clean warm water.

When using Reflective paint with a good quality adjustable spray gun, please order this paint to be made ‘THIN’. Starglow Paints may also be thinned with a little water (10% max). Reflective paints contain a large amount of heavy microscopic ‘glass spheres’ so ensure spray equipment can handle heavily pigmented paint and not clog the nozzle!

Please Note: STARGLOW Paints are NOT suitable for use on HOT surfaces or any high temperature applications.

Gently does it

Starglow paints are essentially decorative in nature and therefore are not suitable for ‘heavy duty’ applications such as a floor paint or any situation where the paint will be exposed to excessive wear and tear or physical contact. Protection from occasional light wear and tear or abrasion may be achieved with several coats of protective top-coat or a clear resin layer where appropriate.

Estimating how much paint you'll need.

Maximum coverage achievable depends on several factors such as surface type, texture, absorbency, application method and coating thickness etc. As a conservative estimate of coverage, a 30ml pot of paint will cover an area approximately the size of an A4 piece of paper, where as a 1lt pot will cover an area approximately 8 – 10 Square meters. For a nice even coverage you’ll need 2 or more coats, 3 in most cases; except Starglow Reflective paint which only requires one thin, even coat. For Starry Sky Paint guidelines. See below.

Apply Starglow Paint using…

Which paint will you be using?

Please tap / click on a paint jar for details

Luminous & Hi-Vis Paint

Water based, solvent-free, low VOCs
Brushes wash out in water
Apply to white (white primed) surfaces
Coverage: 8-10 Sqm per Litre (approx)
Quick drying (touch-dry in 30 mins)
Made fresh to order

Starglow luminous ‘glow’ paint is a water-borne polyurethane suspension containing a strontium-aluminate based photo-luminescent pigment. For optimum glow performance these paints should be applied over a white (or white-primed) surface. Do not apply over a black (or dark coloured) surface as this will reduce the luminosity and glow duration of the paint.

Starglow paints may be used on a wide range of surfaces providing they are pre-coated with a water based base coat or white primer where appropriate (do not apply over solvent / oil based primers or base-coats as these may reject the paint) and clean and free from dirt, oil, grease and loose particles etc.

For best results, apply to a smooth white surface using a spray-gun / air-brush, foam brush or fine bristle brush.

For optimum luminescent performance and appearance, you should apply at least 2–3 coats.

Photo-luminescent paints absorb the invisible UV energy present in daylight and most artificial light sources and converts it in real-time to visible light i.e. its glow. This process is happening all the time unless it is in darkness, whereby the glow is derived from residual energy stored within the crystalline structure of the pigment.

The paint will glow brightly and burn-off most of the incoming (or stored) energy for the first few minutes, then it will settle into its afterglow phase – which delivers a dimmer but long-lasting glow that usually requires complete darkness to be seen and gradually diminishes over time. For this reason Glow / luminous paints are not ideally suited for outdoor use where daylight is the only source of energy for the paints to obtain their charge (see our FAQs page for more on this). Therefore, if using glow-in-the-dark paint outdoors, ensure the area is totally dark at night and not lit by any form of lighting, including street-lighting.

Important note: Each colour of Starglow Luminous paint has very different performance characteristics in terms of its glow intensity and duration. Starglow Paints should NOT be intermixed. Please see website for details on each colour.

Starglow paint can derive energy (charge) from many different sources of light however the richer in UV the quicker and stronger the charge. For this reason we recommend a UV Blacklight for quick-charging the paint as required. Luminous paint will continue to glow once the energise light source has been removed.

The performance and life expectancy of this paint may be dramatically reduced if using outdoors where there is prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Therefore to maximise its lifespan under prolonged outdoor use, apply only to North facing surfaces.

Please Note: STARGLOW Paints are NOT suitable for use on HOT surfaces or any high temperature applications.

We strongly recommend you order a sample jar, to test if the paint is suitable for use with your application before ordering a larger size, as our paints are made-to-order and non refundable and non-returnable.

UV NEON Fluorescent Paint

Water based, solvent-free, low VOCs
Brushes wash out in water
Apply to white (white primed) surfaces
Coverage: 8-10 Sqm per Litre (approx)
Quick drying (touch-dry in 30 mins)
Intermixable for other colours / tones

Starglow UV Neon Paints are water-borne polyurethane coatings containing a vivid fluorescent (Day-Glo) pigment which reacts to longwave UV light at 365nm – 390nm by fluorescing brightly in one of several colours.

UV Neon paints are visible in normal light.

For best results Starglow UV Neon Paints should be applied of a light or white primed surface. Do not apply over Black (or dark colour surfaces) as this may reduce the fluorescence of the paint. Starglow UV Neon Paints are best used as supplied, but may be intermixed to produce other colours or tones.

For optimum fluorescent performance and appearance, you should apply at least 2–3 coats.

For best results, apply to a smooth white surface using a spray-gun / air-brush, foam-roller or brush.

If applying using good-quality spray equipment, Starglow UV Neon Paints may be thinned a little (up to 10% MAX using a little clean water). Please choose THIN consistency when ordering for use in a Spray gun pr Airbrush.

Starglow SMART Paints are essentially decorative in nature and are therefore unsuitable for use as a floor paint or any situation where the paint will be exposed to excessive wear or physical contact / abraison. We recommend using 2-3 coats of Starglow protective top-coat if there is any risk of regular wear-and-tear or if using outdoors.

The performance and life expectancy of this paint will be dramatically reduced if using outdoors where there is prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Therefore to maximise its lifespan under prolonged outdoor use, apply only to North facing surfaces.

Please Note: STARGLOW Paints are NOT suitable for use on HOT surfaces or any high temperature applications.

These paints are NOT suitable for use on hair or skin.

Do not allow children to use this product unsupervised.

For for best results use within 6 months of receipt.

10 year Guarantee does not apply to Starglow Paints used externally.

Clear UV Fluorescent Paint

Water based, solvent-free, low VOCs
Brushes wash out in water
Apply to white (white primed) surfaces
Intermixeable for other colours / tones
Quick drying (touch-dry in 30 mins)
Dries Translucent - Opaque
Made fresh to order

Starglow Clear UV Paint is a water-borne polyurethane suspension containing a ‘smart’ UV pigment which reacts to longwave UV light at 365nm by fluorescing brightly in one of several colours. When applied over white or light colour surfaces, the paint should be translucent or opaque depending on the UV colour together with the number and thickness of coats applied. Do not apply over Black (or dark coloured surfaces) as this will severely reduce the fluorescence of the paint and make it more visible / apparent under normal light.

Please note: These paints are often called ‘Invisible’ UV paints. This refers to the ‘hidden’ colour they produce when exposed to UV Blacklight and it does not mean the paint itself is invisible!

For best results, apply to a smooth white (primed) surface using a spray-gun / air-brush, foam brush or fine bristle brush.

The fluorescent (glow) effect of this coating is entirely dependent on the UV light source used. The stronger the UV the brighter the resulting fluorescence. The higher the quality of UV (i.e. its frequency and purity) the richer the resulting fluorescent colour. However, if the paint is illuminated using an inferior UV LED light source emitting a low-quality UV output, then the paint’s colour may be adversly affected, resulting in a more bleached or washed-out appearance. Therefore, only use NON-LED blacklights at 365nm frequency.

Starglow Clear UV Paints may be inter-mixed to produce other colours and tones.

The more coats you apply the stronger the fluorescent ‘neon’ effect will be under UV Blacklight (365nm). However, the more visible the coating it will become under normal light (especially if applied to a darker surface instead of white).

Starglow Clear UV Paints may be thinned with a little (up to 10% MAX). If the coating is likely to suffer from regular contact, abrasion, wear and tear or be used outdoors and exposed to the elements, then apply 2-3 coats of Starglow protective top-coat.

The performance and life expectancy of this paint will be dramatically reduced if using outdoors where there is prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Therefore to maximise its lifespan under extended outdoor use, apply only to North facing surfaces.

Please Note: STARGLOW Paints are NOT suitable for use on HOT surfaces or any high temperature applications.

Whist these paints are not specific made for use on fabrics they should be suitable for use stronger fabrics such as cotton, however it would be necessary for you to test the paint on sample of the fabric first. Do not use Clear UV paints on WHITE fabrics! They will probably be UV sensitive and will clash with the paint as both fluoresce together! Instead choose a UV safe off-white colour such as Ivory or cream.

Clear Retro-Reflective Paint

Water based, solvent-free, low VOCs
Applicators wash out in water
Apply to any colour background
Coverage: 10-12 Sqm per Litre (approx)
Quick drying (touch-dry in 30 mins)
Made fresh to order

Starglow Reflective Top-Coats are clear water-borne polyurethane coatings containing microscopic glass beads (micro-spheres) which sit partially submerged within the surface film. These micros-spheres reflect incoming light back to its source (a process known as retro-reflection).

Reflective paints may be used on a wide range of surfaces providing they are pre-coated with a water based base-coat or sealer where appropriate, and be clean and free from dirt, oil, grease and loose particles etc. Do not apply over solvent / oil based primers or base-coats as these may reject the paint.

Starglow Clear Reflective may be applied over any colour base-coat to make it ‘retro-reflective’ when hit by a beam of light. Note: The colour of light reflected is the same as the light source and not the background on which the paint is applied.

Starglow Ultra Reflective is also a clear coating best applied to only black or darker coloured surfaces, as it will slightly darken a white or light-coloured surface owing to the nature of the metallised glass beads used to make the paint. Starglow Ultra Reflective does however provide a superior level of reflection than Starglow Clear Reflective Paint.

Starglow Clear Reflective top-coats can be applied (in order of best results) by a suitable spray-gun, smooth firm foam roller or brush on a smooth flat surface. The best results are achieved with a single thin coat applied using a good quality spray gun, smooth foam roller or brush. Irregular or rough surfaces will require a spray or brush application.

Please Note: If you apply a 2nd coat or a clear top-coat the reflective properties will not work.

When using Reflective paint with a spray gun, please order this paint to be made ‘THIN’. Starglow Paints may also be thinned with a little water (10% max). Retro-Reflective paints contain a large amount of heavy microscopic ‘glass spheres’ so ensure spray equipment can handle thicker, heavily pigmented paint and not clog the nozzle.

A simple way to test if you have applied the paint correctly is to take a FLASH photo with your smartphone from at least 3m (10 feet) away. When you look at the photo you should see a bright reflection from the coated surface. The flash and the lens of the phone are ideally (closely) positioned to get the best effect from the retro-reflective effect. If it does not, then the coating applied is too thick or a second / top-coat has been applied. The effective is very much dependent on light / flash intensity and distance.

Please Note: STARGLOW Paints are NOT suitable for use on HOT surfaces or any high temperature applications.

Do not apply any form of top coat over a reflective coating as this will nullify the reflective effect.

Starry-Sky Paint

Water based, solvent-free, low VOCs
Brushes wash out in water
Apply to white (white primed) surfaces
Coverage: 8-10 Sqm per Litre (approx)
Quick drying (touch-dry in 30 mins)
Made fresh to order

Starglow Starry Sky Paint is a water-borne polyurethane coating containing large photo-luminescent particles / granules in 2 glowing colours: green and sky-blue. This coating should be applied only by brush and the particles will be deposited randomly onto a flat or textured ceiling (ideally).

Starglow Starry Sky Paint is not intended as a total surface-area coating, rather it is best applied as irregular shaped strips and patches of random size, shape and position across the surface (usually a ceiling) so in darkness it resembles a starry-night sky.

Owing to the large size of the photo-luminescent particles used in this Paint, please ensure the coating is applied to a high surface which is safely out of reach of children and is not exposed to any abrasive contact which could potentially dislodge the particles. For this reason the paint should only be used on ceilings / high wall sections.

Starry Sky Paint should be thoroughly mixed before use and re-mixed periodically during use to ensure the particles are properly suspended in the paint and not left to settle.

The clear medium used to make this Paint has a matt finish (slight sheen) when dry, which means the paints presence will be less apparent in the daytime; depending of course on how the light is reflected off the ceiling surface. There is bound be some visible difference in the very ‘dry’ matt finish of a white emulsion ceiling paint and that of the polyurethane based Starry Sky Paint. We recommend you make a small test patch first to see how the paint will look when dry.

For maximum concealment, we recommend using on white textured ceilings, as unlike smooth white matt ceilings, the irregular textured surface helps conceal the paint’s / particles presence from the casual observer.

Starry Sky Paint is NOT suitable for outdoor use.

Universal White Primer

The Starglow Universal Primer is a water-borne polyurethane coating and is suitable for use with a variety of substrates and surfaces, however it is up to the user to determine if this product is suitable for the application. Do a test sample and verify. Ensure that the white primer is totally cured prior to applying any further coats.

Universal white primer provides a good key for Starglow paint, so ensuring good adhesion to the surface. White Primer also serves to enhance the glow for luminous and UV based paints so providing optimum glow performance

Please Note: STARGLOW Paints are NOT suitable for use on HOT surfaces or any high temperature applications.

Protective Top-Coat

Starglow Protective Top-Coat is a waterborne, clear polyurethane coating. It exhibits exceptional light clarity when cured and has a high UV resistance and produces a hard, yet flexible coating for application to a Starglow Luminous or UV based decorative coating.

Use this where there is the likely hood of wear and tear to the painted surface for frequent contact, hand or foot traffic or abrasion etc. Also serves as a clear water-proof protective barrier against weather and rain erosion.

Starglow protective top coat may be applied by spray, brush or roller, and should only be applied to fully cured Starglow paint coatings (not reflective coatings). For optimum protection, you should apply 3–4 coats.

Please Note: STARGLOW Paints are NOT suitable for use on HOT surfaces or any high temperature applications.

See ‘Delivery’ for our dispatch days, shipping costs and options. Prices exclude VAT.

0161 726 5904

help@glowtec.co.uk

STARGLOW COATINGS

Some General Do's and Don'ts first

Do

Do Not

So What are Starglow Paints?

Surface Preparation

Using Starglow Paints

Gently does it

Estimating how much paint you'll need.

Which paint will you be using?

Luminous & Hi-Vis Paint

UV NEON Fluorescent Paint

Clear UV Fluorescent Paint

Clear Retro-Reflective Paint

Starry-Sky Paint

Universal White Primer

Protective Top-Coat