Don’t get spooked… this print comes alive when the lights go out.

Something wicked glows this way… This month’s screenprint brings a dark twist to print, layering glow-in-the-dark, colour and gloss inks to create a design that shifts between worlds. Bright and colourful under daylight, this spooky print comes alive a ghostly green once the light fades to dark.

Bringing the print to Life:

Our latest creation brings together glow in the dark screen printing and gloss ink detailing to conjure a design that awakens after dark. Once the eerie AI artwork was refined into print-ready layers, the process began.

To bring the design to life, we used three layers of ink. First came a glow in the dark base that absorbs light and emits a soft green glow once the lights go out. Then a colour layer was added to build contrast and definition while still allowing the glow to show through. Finally, a selective gloss finish was applied to the snake’s scales to create a slick, dimensional texture that reflects the light differently from every angle.

How do Glow-in-the-Dark Screen Prints work? 

Glow-in-the-dark screen printing uses a special class of pigments called phosphors, which absorb energy from light and release it slowly in the dark. These pigments store light particles in their crystal-like structure (a bit like charging a battery) and then re-emit them as visible green light once the surroundings go dark.

When layered with gloss ink, the two materials interact in opposite ways. The phosphorescent layer absorbs light, while the gloss topcoat reflects it. In daylight, the glossy areas dominate; giving a sleek, wet look and subtle 3D definition. But in darkness, the stored energy from the base layer pushes back through the semi-transparent colour and gloss, creating a soft internal glow that appears to come from within the print.

That’s what makes it feel almost alive — you’re not just seeing light bounce off a surface; you’re seeing it emerge from beneath it.

From Digital Design to Screen Print: Bringing AI Artwork to Life

The artwork began as an AI-generated concept. We chose it not for novelty, but for challenge: could a machine-made design be transformed into something real?

The answer lies in the print. While AI supplied the idea, every decision that made it work — from refining the artwork to separating layers, mixing inks and gloss placement, all came down to human craftsmanship. The result is a piece that shifts and glows under different lighting conditions, using chemistry to engage the senses.

In a world filled with flat digital imagery, prints like this invite touch, curiosity and connection. It’s proof that technology can inspire, but only craftsmanship brings it to life.

Want to create something similar?

Speak to our team to discuss design placement, garment suitability and artwork setup for your next project.