I am giving four stars because once you unwrap from the plastic wrap, there is a slight, unpleasant smell. You can see the mat does not lie flat but the directions state that in 23 days, it will settle down. You can see the picture in both sunlight and shade. I do like the deep, dark gray color of the mat. It is a little smaller than I thought it would be but there are multiple sizes to choose from. Aside from the slight smell, it is a very good mat. It is not thin and has a backing underneath that will keep it from moving.