Star Gaze FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
WARNING!
Do not read this section if you enjoy magic. It never pays to know too much about the illusions. If you want to see the stars, don't ask how they get there or your vision may be distorted.
What it is:
Star Gaze is a process applied to a room of your choice that creates a permanent, realistic, astronomically accurate simulation of a starry night sky in a darkened room. You get to choose the day and time represented.
What it is NOT:
Stars painted on the ceiling. When the room is dark, there IS no ceiling
How long will it last?
The duration is entirely dependent on your environment. The darker the room, the longer you will see the stars. This is a physiological effect of your eyes even more than a feature of the stars. Under normal conditions the glow may last for several hours after the lights go out. Since you are usually in bed at this time, chances are good that you will fade long before the stars do.
The effect may be repeated every night for decades. No kidding! People have come back to us after 15 years just to say "Hi" and "Thanks! It's still working."
How does it work?
The product soaks up light in the room. When the lights go out, all your furniture, decorations, artwork and wall treatments disappear and our stars come out.
How much does it cost?
You might think owning the universe would be expensive, but it's not. It actually costs less than most of the other treatments in the room. It's a lot less than a professional paint job. Costs vary with the size and height of the room, though, so call us for an estimate. We'll make sure you get the best deal we can offer. The Stellar Installer will measure the room and make any adjustments to the estimate before beginning the installation.
What is it made of?
Since it is a process, it is made mostly of talent and technique. There is some material involved, but it is the application that makes the magic.
What material?
A photo-luminescent material in a special binder becomes a permanent part of the ceiling and walls. The material is freshly mixed for each application as it has a limited shelf life. Once applied, it is permanent, non-toxic (yes, non-radioactive, too), washable and will last for decades.
What is the chemical makeup of the material applied to the walls?
You just won't quit, will you? A blend of compounds produces the long lasting glow found in the Star Gaze product. Still, some things need to be kept secret, but I'm assured it is non-radioactive, non-toxic, used in children's toys and generally benign. However, it is somewhat unstable when mixed with certain solvents and left over time which is why we mix it fresh for each application. Once dry or set, it will last longer than the wall surfaces to which it is applied.
Will it look ugly on my walls in the daytime?
Star Gaze is normally undetectable on any light colored surface in normal light. Whites, off whites, pastels of all colors, smooth or textured surfaces show little or no evidence of this remarkable effect until the lights go out. A dark colored accent wall might show some hint of the process in daylight. If there is a chance of that happening, our installers will not apply stars to those surfaces. Even if all the walls are dark, though, and we only install the stars on a light colored ceiling, the effect is still remarkable. It looks like a fantastic skylight.
How do I get rid of it if I don't want it anymore?
People never tire of the stars, but if you really need to get rid of it, wallpaper or two coats of good quality paint will completely obscure the Star Gaze product. If you were forced to paint or paper over your stars and you want them back, just call us for a fresh new universe.
What is your competition?
There is no valid competition....... Of course there will always be imitators working in the "shadows", most without business licenses and/or insurance, even some who falsely claim to be "originators"..... but no one has the experience and expertise to truly compete with us.
What about that glow-in-the-dark paint or those stick on stars?
The difference is astronomical. If you want to see something close, go outside on a clear, dark moonless night during a power failure.
Seriously, the luminous substance in most off-the-shelf products lasts for just a few minutes and loses its brilliance over time. The stick up dots or stars are big and cartoonish. It's just not that easy to make something astronomically accurate, either. Our artists with their tools can accomplish the task in a few hours when it might take a novice literally days to achieve a lessor result. Besides, the magic loses a lot of its luster if you know too much about the illusion. Just let us do the work, then lay back and enjoy it.
Is it really astronomically accurate?
Since most of the universe remains unexplored and is really too far away to worry about, the illusion is accurate from the prime viewing location to the 5th magnitude of stars. It is nearly a planetarium quality experience. Major constellations are easily identifiable. Minor stars are, frankly, random. Such is the nature of the universe.
