Firefly Markers: Prototypes and Final Versions
I don't often show the items that don't work, but its important to test each and every product until its perfect. In the photo above you can see an original prototype that was made using a crushed chip for the glow material. This is a fairly common material with a plenty of uses. The glow from it is not deemed to be of commercial grade and the length of time that it can physically glow is a mere matter of hours.
Next to that, second from the left is one of Law Industries Royal Purple markers. Although it appears to not be as bright when compared to the other markers, the glow is often well over ten hours, but it will take longer to charge and the glow is not initially as bright. This is a perfect marker for viewing through a scope, camera or NVG, even a cell phone camera. The human eye does not see all of the radiated light on the low spectrum scale, but digital technology views it just fine. Red/Blue is the slowest light and therefore not as bright as the faster light end of the spectrum such as green or white.
Third from the left is one of the glow compounds without the carrier material. This is a plain granulated compound that radiates light, but the edges of the material lose light the fastest and this led to the material looking dull and almost like cooling lava. It worked well for long periods of time but the light loss around the edges lead to the carrier medium to increase light going into or from the compound. (Fourth from left, Extreme glow version with carrier medium) As you can see the final version radiates brighter, takes on light to charge faster and continues to give light for a minimum of ten hours. We have seen glows continue for over 12 hours.
The far right is the EXTREME glow in the natural color. This is the brightest of any material, it has a large granular size and charges as well as radiating light very brightly for many hours. We will continue to make these markers as they are stable, reliable, they don't use or require batteries or chemicals to make them glow. All you need is some light.
You can illuminate notebooks, maps, indicate people, locations, gear or pathways with the simplest of lights and they wont let you down. So they have hundreds of uses. We have continued to bring you the very best levels of easy to use, reusable light in a compact, easy to use package.
(They can even be used as fishing lures for octopus, cuttlefish etc)