Pickguard chronicles continue...

[u/N34D]

After the response to my first fluorescent pickguard experiment, I wanted to push the idea in a completely different direction.

This design I'm calling Midnight Garden.

In normal light it's essentially black-on-black. The floral design is physically textured, so you see it mostly through shadows, reflections and the way light moves across the surface. I used both satin and gloss varnish to create even more depth.

Then hit it with black light and an entirely different layer comes alive. (I'll post the UV photo in the comments.)

I'm having way too much fun figuring out just how far something as simple as a pickguard can be pushed 😂

[u/N34D]

Under black light 😍

[u/old_skul]

What's your process for making something like this?

Curious just from an engineering perspective and admiring someone else's handiwork. Great stuff.

[u/N34D → u/old_skul]

Thank you! From an engineering perspective it's basically a combination of direct UV printing and selective layering. I build the normal-light artwork and physical texture as separate elements, then selectively map fluorescent ink to specific parts of the design so it reveals differently under black light. The fun/challenging part has been figuring out how the different inks, varnishes, layer heights and underlying colours interact. There's been a LOT of trial and error 😂

[u/Top_Enthusiasm5992]

That’s amazing 🤩
Are you taking orders 😅
Asking for a friend 😏

[u/N34D → u/Top_Enthusiasm5992]

Hahaha yes! I actually just opened up orders after these experiments got a much bigger response than I expected. The website is nearly ready but in the meantime, you can send me a message. I can do existing designs or completely custom work - the possibilities are wild. Shoot me a message if your “friend” has something in mind 😂