Highlighters

How do they make highlighter (neon) pens so bright?

I was using my highlighter and suddenly realised my amazement at how bright it is please tell me how they do this, what is the magic ingredient?!

Public Comments

1. Ink is the magic ingredient. There are special types of dyes inside the ink so they glow. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highlighter
2. The brilliant colors are the result of UV-sensitive fluorescent pigments in the ink. The pigment absorbs UV light, then fluoresces that energy back out at a visible wavelength. Same principle as behind the black light paints they use in those wild posters you can get at Spencers. If sometime you should happen to be near a "black light" bulb somewhere, pull out your highlighter, or a paper that you've highlighted, and expose it to the emissions -- you will see that same brilliant glow.