These blackout curtains block out the light, but still look great! Click the image above for details.
Blackout materials are most commonly used in rooms that require darkness for special purposes. Commonly used places are scientific labs, laser labs, photography labs etc where ambient light may hamper the experimentation and photo development activities. Blackout material is available in different forms like poster boards, blackout curtains, rubberized fabrics, self adhesive papers, black aluminum foils, masking tapes and black screens. Most commonly the materials are matte finished, such that they absorb the maximum amount of light falling on them. Back in the day, I used to do some home photo developing (before digital photography became commonplace). One of the big challenges was finding a way to keep things dark. I used heavy duty black landscaping plastic, but it was not the most practical solution. It also would not look very good if you wanted to black out an area of your home that needs to look good in the daylight.
The most popular rubberized fabrics are the most easy to apply. Using a pair of scissors, one can easily mark and cut out the required size. One may avail the option ordering online according to ones specific size requirements. These carbon enriched materials ensure 100% light absorption and come fitted with Velcro strips or other hook arrangements. They can be easily attached to walls, window frames or door frames and can be dismantled easily. When not in use, the sheet can be neatly rolled and clipped. A double layer is advisable if the application is highly sensitive.
Poster boards are made out of dense foam layer placed between two layers of plastic coated black cardboard. Application of this material is where construction of light tight boxes is required. The tapes are implemented in packing the corners of these boxes. Black aluminum foils are the best suited for masking small light leaks and get rid of reflections. The material is flexible and lightweight, and is one of the easiest to apply. Aluminum screens are used to shield optical experiments from unwanted lights.
To apply blackout material, one may need proper fasteners which usually come along with products from certain companies. In other cases, they need to be purchased separately.
Online purchase of blackout materials is a very easy task. Various websites offer great deals at discounted prices. One can easily browse for various products online and select the product that suits their requirements. Payment options are sometimes flexible and generally hassle free, and a home or office delivery option is usually available.
