Blackout
Blackout fabrics stop light from penetrating through the material, creating privacy when needed. They offer a neutral white to the outside, regardless of the interior color selected. Many color choices and textures are available, making interior coordination easy. Some perimeter light bleed should be expected during the day.
Light Filtering
Translucent fabrics reduce heat and UV rays, but allow diffused light in, providing a soft glow when they are closed. If privacy isn’t critical, Light Filtering fabrics offer many more decorative choices than woven screens, while also giving many of the same benefits. They differ from Screens in that they don’t offer a clear view, but do provide limited privacy. Candle the fabrics at your windows both during the day and especially after dark to confirm privacy is adequate.
Sunscreen
Transparent screen fabrics filter incoming light, reducing heat gain, glare and harmful UV rays. Endless combinations of color and openness factors are available to fine tune your needs at each window. They do not offer privacy, however, so please take that into account when selecting shade material.