| Who today doesn't have in its cupboard a dozen of | | | | applications. Electroluminescent lamps may be found in |
| lousy tees with a company name printed on it? From | | | | clock and instrument dials, in safety lighting and bill |
| College, Mom and Pop shop to top 500 company, | | | | board displays. However, an electroluminescent light |
| advert tees have became such a norm that it has | | | | source in its simplest form is not readily adaptable to |
| almost became an obligation for any company to | | | | more creative applications. |
| give away tees with their brand printed on it to their | | | | Early Developments in Electroluminescent Lighting. |
| customers. However, because it has became a | | | | In the 1970s the basic electroluminescent lamp was |
| decades old norm in a media saturated age, printed | | | | modified and a wide range of applications for |
| garment are losing their advertising power.A company | | | | electroluminescent lighting became apparent. The |
| based in New York with manufacturing facilities in | | | | most significant modification being that the |
| China has found a radical new way to give a | | | | phosphorous material is no longer sandwiched |
| tremendous boost to printed ads on garments with | | | | between two electrodes. (2) Rather the two |
| electro-luminescent technology, distributing its light up | | | | electrodes, separated by an insulating film of |
| shirts also called EL shirts to a wide range of | | | | polyester, form an electrical grid on top of which the |
| industries. | | | | phosphorous material may be 'painted'. The grid-like |
| Simply imagine a neat Neon Sign, like those in Las | | | | nature of the electrode continues to allow the |
| Vegas, reduced, flattened out and patched directly | | | | electric field to penetrate the phosphorous layer. This |
| on almost any garment. A regular Tee is now turned | | | | form of electroluminescent lighting has been used to |
| into a wearable Luminous Animation. Not only that | | | | literally paint electroluminescent artworks. |
| but it comes with mind blowing features, such as | | | | Further Developments in Electroluminescent Lighting. |
| being sound sensitive with a logo on the front shirt | | | | Further modifications to the basic electroluminescent |
| lighting up with the sound of your voice or with the | | | | lamp bring us to the electroluminescent panel found |
| beat of music. Because of those luminous features | | | | on 'light up' t-shirts. Like the electroluminescent lamp |
| those Light up Shirts are showing that they can | | | | developed in the 1970s today's electroluminescent |
| increase by the 1000' fold the viewer and passer by | | | | panels consist of an electrical grid on top of which a |
| attention, making them an ideal way to advertise a | | | | phosphorous layer is printed in the desired design. A |
| brand. Big corporation are now increasingly turning | | | | thin pliable and transparent sheet of material is placed |
| their attention to this very promising advertising | | | | on top of the phosphorous layer. Areas of the |
| medium. Warner Bross is the latest in a row to start | | | | membrane are opaque while others are transparent in |
| advertising their product on Light up Shirts, among | | | | accordance with the printed design of the |
| dozens of others brands varying from FM Radio | | | | phosphorous layer. A transparent protective coating |
| station to Hokey Team. That's what Light up Shirt | | | | is applied as the final layer. Using different |
| are all about, and this technology is about to give a | | | | phosphorous materials creates different colors while |
| pretty big revival to the traditional garment printing | | | | alternating and dividing the power supply between |
| industry. | | | | different areas on the electrical grid creates designs |
| How does it work? | | | | that light in sequence. Finally an inverter is used to |
| Light up shirt, luminous shirts, glow-in-the-dark tees, | | | | allow the electroluminescent panel to be run by a |
| electro shirt, EL shirts, Animated Shirts are an | | | | small battery pack. |
| ordinary t-shirt enhanced with a graphic illuminating | | | | Electroluminescent Panels and Light up T-shirts. |
| electroluminescent panel. While glow-in-the-dark | | | | A light-up t-shirt is created by applying an |
| apparel and apparel utilizing LED displays have long | | | | electroluminescent panel to an ordinary t-shirt. In a |
| been popular novelty items, light-up t-shirts with | | | | well made light-up t-shirt the electroluminescent panel |
| electroluminescent displays are a fairly recent | | | | will be stitched to a Velcro backing. A Velcro patch |
| phenomenon. The unique characteristics of | | | | sewn to the t-shirt allows the panel to be attached |
| electroluminescent light-up technology make light-up | | | | and removed at ease. A slit in the t-shirt itself and |
| t-shirts a versatile and unique alternative to traditional | | | | Velcro patch allows wiring from the panel, in the form |
| light-up methods. This article aims to discuss the | | | | of a thin plastic cable, to be threaded inside the |
| science behind an electroluminescent display and | | | | t-shirt. Wiring then runs to a battery pack concealed |
| maps the development of electroluminescent displays | | | | inside and at the base of the t-shirt. For a graphical |
| from their most basic form to use in today's 'light-up' | | | | description of this process please refer to |
| t-shirts. The process of creating a completed 'light-up' | | | | The Future of Light up Apparel |
| t-shirt will also be discussed. | | | | Electroluminescent panels today are a highly versatile |
| AN ELECTROLUMINESCENT LIGHT SOURCE. | | | | light source. Electroluminescent panels may be |
| In its most simple form an electroluminescent light | | | | created in an infinite number of designs and in a |
| source consist of a phosphorous material sandwiched | | | | range of colors. Flashing sequences may be |
| between two electrodes, one of which is | | | | manipulated to animate the design and in recent |
| transparent. A phosphorous material is simply a | | | | developments may even combine a sound activation |
| substance that glows when excited by electricity. An | | | | device to create sound responsive animations. |
| electrode is a material that emits or receives | | | | Electroluminescent panels are increasingly popular in |
| electricity, for example glass or metal. Two fine wires | | | | the advertising industry for their versatility. The |
| lead from the electrodes to the source of power and | | | | light-weight and flexible design of an |
| an AC current is required. The device remains cool | | | | electroluminescent panel allows it to be applied to a |
| while lighting up and this is a defining characteristic of | | | | variety of other mediums, besides t-shirts. Light-up |
| a luminescent light source. Electroluminescent light | | | | caps and light-up wrist wrap or independent light up |
| sources provide bright uniform light over a large area | | | | panels are increasingly popular forms of light-up |
| and are extremely thin. For this reason | | | | apparel and work in much the same way as the |
| electroluminescent lamps have many practical | | | | electroluminescent t-shirt described above. |