How Does Scrim Fabric Work?

14 Apr.,2025

 

Making Magic with Scrim Projections - ShowTex

This article is part of our series: projection screen buyer guides.

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There’s nothing more impressive than an image that suddenly appears out of thin air, but achieving the perfect floating image or virtual object can be a huge challenge.

In order to choose the perfect material for your situation and budget, it is important to understand the different parameters that determine the quality of your projection and the special effect required.

  • Colour of the scrim

  • Transparency of the scrim

  • Lighting

  • Projector

  • Colours of the projected content

  • Position of the audience

  • It’s all about balance

  • Ask advice

Colour of the scrim

In general, the best light reflection values are achieved with a lighter-coloured projection surface or scrim, resulting in a high-quality image. A darker scrim on the other hand reflects less of the projected light but enhances contrast values, is less prone to ambient lighting and will therefore be perceived as more transparent.

If transparency is key for your setup, it is better to choose a darker scrim and combine it with a projector that has a higher ANSI lumen output. This ensures the best possible result for your application.

Transparency of the scrim

Overall, we can assume that scrims with a larger mesh are more transparent but reflect less of the projected light than scrims with a tight mesh.

When choosing the size of the mesh, you must determine whether it is the transparency of the screen or the sharpness and definition of the projected image that is the most important to you.

If the object or performers behind the scrim must be clearly visible, then a larger mesh is the way to go. If the projected image should be very sharp and objects or performers behind the screen can be silhouettes, then a smaller mesh size and/or thicker mesh material is applicable.

Lighting

The most important factor to create magic with a scrim is lighting. It goes without saying that controlling all light is therefore key. Always take into account the ambient lights you cannot control, such as house lights and emergency lights, for they can ruin the effect.

Scrims both reflect and transmit light. When the scrim is only front- or side lit at a very steep angle, it will appear opaque if everything behind it stays unlit. A scrim will become almost transparent if the scene behind it is lit, while the scrim itself remains unlit. A combination of both lighting (or projecting onto) the scrim and lighting the scene behind it can create a foggy 3D scene. The more the area behind the scrim becomes lighter, the more it will “bleed through” and appear.

Projector

Obviously, the quality and brightness of the projector have a major effect on the projected image, but the best result also depends on its position towards the scrim.

When projecting straight onto a scrim, a big part of the light of the projector will shine right through the screen and light up the area behind it. This will produce a high-quality image but it is also the worst setup for making the scrim appear opaque, unless a blackout drape is installed right behind it. Rear projection is not advised for the same reason, as this will blind the audience. This is typically done for effect only.

Depending on the lens type, projectors are usually placed in a sharp angle at the bottom or top of the scrim. This way, the projected light that shines through the surface is either directed to the floor or to the ceiling behind the screen, allowing the scrim itself to appear opaque.

Depending on the lens choice , the projector will be placed further (regular lens) or closer (short throw lens / ultra-short throw / mirror) to the projection surface.

The best arrangement for creating hologram projections with a gauze screen is to place the projector at a sharp angle, up- or downwards, and use a short or ultra-short throw lens.

Colours of the projected content

The colours of the projected content are always affected by the colours of the scrim itself. Lighter scrims have less effect on image colouring than darker scrims. Therefore, the colours of the content might have to be calibrated based on the choice of scrim and its respective colour.

Position of the audience

The position of the audience determines their viewing angle.

A scrim with a flat gain ratio diffuses light more evenly in all directions, which is great for seating placed at a wide viewing angle on the screen. Spectators will experience a similar image quality regardless of their angle of view.

A screen with a peak gain ratio is more suitable for setups with a narrow viewing angle, as the image quality increases towards those seated in the centre, but drops towards those seated at the outside.

It’s all about balance

To obtain the best result, all parameters should be carefully balanced.

When looking for a powerful projection image, you either choose a strong projector, a lighter scrim, a very tight mesh structure or a combination of these parameters.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Scrim Fabric.

When transparency is the most important factor, carefully avoid lighting up the area behind the scrim by using directional light onto a dark scrim or a projection surface with an open structure. This open structure can be achieved by a scrim with a larger mesh size or by a very thin and delicate gauzy fabric with a tiny mesh structure.

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Scrim (material) - Wikipedia

Woven material used in theatre and construction

A scrim is a woven material, either of fine or coarse material.

Light gauzy material

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A scrim is a very light textile made from fiber based materials, such as yarn.

Since scrim is lightweight and translucent (allowing light to pass through), it is quite often used for making curtains. It is also used for bookbinding and upholstery.

Scrims have seen extensive use in theater.[citation needed] It is used in theater for special effects. A very common term typically used for these purposes is called sharks tooth scrim. Weaved scrim is called its name because the weave resembles a set of triangles that resemble a shark's teeth with openings similar in size to a window screen. However, in theater, a scrim can refer to any such thin screen and is made of a wide variety of materials.

The most common use of scrim is the 'reveal effect', in which an actor or scene is made to appear or disappear by using the scrim and appropriate lighting. Other common effects include sharp silhouettes, backlit from behind the scrim, or other shadow effects (shrinking and growing a shadow).[1]

The bobbinet/bobbinette is a type of scrim that has a hexagonal hole shape and comes in a variety of hole sizes. It is used for a number of lighting effects in the film and theater industries.

Scrim is also used in clothing, usually covering the face or head. This allows the wearer to look out while preventing others from seeing in. This may also be combined with camouflage to completely hide a person, such as a sniper,[2] hunter[3][better source needed], or wildlife photographer. The term "helmet scrim" refers to the practice of adorning a helmet with scrim and/or other fabrics to make its shape less obvious;[4][5] the practice of adding scrim to a helmet is often done as much for reasons of perceived status as it is for reasons of actually improving camouflage.[6][7] British and other forces have also made constant use of issued or privately purchased scrim fabric as a sort of improvised scarf that can be quickly converted into a face veil or similar.[8][9][10]

A scrim was an integral part of the Beijing Olympic Stadium in Beijing. It was the screen running around the top of the stadium during the opening ceremonies on which all kinds of scenes were projected. Li Ning ran around it just before the cauldron lighting for Summer Olympics.

A scrim (also called a screen) is used as an acoustically transparent covering for a loudspeaker to protect the diaphragm and dust cap, or as an air filter element to protect the voice coil and other components of the transducer.

A scrim can be used on the back of a perforated (acoustically transparent) movie screen to reduce the amount of light shining through it.

A scrim can be used as a base layer for automotive loop pile and cut pile carpeting.

Applications to stage lighting

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Scrims both reflect and transmit light. This means that if a light from a front-of-house position is shone at a scrim, then both the scrim and everything behind it will be lit. This can lead to a variety of interesting effects:

  • A scrim will appear entirely opaque if everything behind it is unlit and the scrim itself is grazed by light from the sides or from above.
  • A scrim will appear nearly transparent if a scene behind it is lit, but there is no light on the scrim.
  • A dreamy or foggy look can be achieved by lighting a scene entirely behind a scrim.
  • If a light with a gobo is aimed at a scrim, the image will appear on the scrim, but also any objects behind the scrim will be lit by the pattern as well.[1]

In general, anything that is lit will be seen on both sides of a scrim. Scrims do not absorb light. Scrim can also be used in theater in combination with a cyclorama or backdrop. The idea is similar to the other uses. When the drop is lit (or images or video are rear-projected onto the back of the drop), the images or colors projected are visible. However, when the drop is not lit, the images or colors will disappear. A scrim can also help dull the image, creating a greater sense of depth.

Another effect is caused by layering two scrims, or even by placing a mirror behind a scrim and lighting it: the familiar moire effect. This can often cause audience disorientation.[citation needed]

Reinforcement material

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The technique of using scrim as a reinforcement occurs commonly in the manufacture of glass-fiber or carbon-fiber composites. Scrim layers may cover the exterior surface of the carbon-fiber laminate for an improved protective surface. Jute scrim can reinforce plaster in sculpture when casting or working directly in plaster.[11]

A similar usage of the term is found in sailcloth manufacture, where scrim is a strong loose weave of fibers laminated into the cloth to provide extra strength and stability to sails.[12]

In carpentry, scrim is a very heavy, coarsely-woven fabric (similar to hessian or to coarse canvas) which is stretched over interior boards to provide support for wallpaper and to add extra rigidity. This method of construction, widely used in older houses, is often referred to as "Scrim and sarking", the sarking being the board.

Scrim is also an item that utilizes plies of tissue reinforced with a layer of nylon (much like a fishing line or heavy-duty mono-filament) or cotton thread. The layer of scrim is not counted in the ply count.

Scrim is a glass fiber (previously burlap) open-mesh tape used to cover joints in plasterboard/wall board before plastering. It prevents a crack from appearing in the plaster finish at a later date. The roll of tape may be plain or adhesive-coated to facilitate its installation.[11]

Scrim was handed out during World War II to tape windows, so that they should not cause hazardous shrapnel in case of bomb blasts.[13]

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References

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  • Kersmaekers, Ivo (): Gauzes in Theatre. Their use through the ages. In: Die Vierte Wand. Organ der Initiative TheaterMuseum Berlin. 009/, pp. 146–151 (online at the Internet Archive)