We Can Answer Your Scrim Questions

Everybody has questions and we love to get you answers. Here's where we try and answer your questions.

By the way--Your suggestions for future articles are welcome.


How to & How Do I Get That Effect?

• How to achieve scrim effects. For set designers, lighting designers, exhibit designers and photographers.
• How to Make a Nutcracker Tree Grow? For Nutcracker Designers.
• How can I paint a scrim myself? For set designers, architects, museum designers and exhibit designers.
• Can I have a scrim printed? How does printing compare to painting scrims? For set designers, lighting designers, architects, museum designers and exhibit designers.
• How do you project on Scrim? Is it a good projection screen for front or rear projection? For set designers, lighting designers, architects, museum designers and exhibit designers.
• What sort of effects can we get in a church or non-theater setting? For churches, architects.
• To bring a picture to life. How to make a haunted portrait.
• How to make a simple DIY Marching Band Prop Stand.

How Do I Rig Scrims?

• No Fly Space solutions for hanging scrims Explains what people can do in spaces that cannot fly(move a scrim vertically).
• How can I make a Tumbler Style Roll Drop? For set designers, lighting designers, architects, museum designers, churches and exhibit designers.
• How can I make an Oleo, Olio or Roll Drop? For set designers, lighting designers, architects, museum designers, churches and exhibit designers.
• What is the history of the terms: Oleo, Olio or Roll Drop? For set designers, architects, museum designers, churches and exhibit designers.

What is a Scrim? Types of Scrim? Types of Backdrop?

• What types of scrim are there? For set designers, lighting designers, exhibit designers and photographers.
• What types of theatrical backdrops are there?.For set designers, lighting designers, architects, museum designers and exhibit designers.

Case Studies and Examples

• Newfields Art Museum , example showing use in a museum
• John Battle High School Marching Band uses scrims to win competitions

Videos




Quick Tip Animations

Easy, Quick Answers to How Scrims Work

Show Me the Reveal Effect:

Reveal effect shows a person or setting appearing magically with a light change. This effect is commonly used on stage, but can be used in churches and museums and retail.



Tell Me How to Get the Reveal Effect:

The reveal effect is accomplished with a simple light change. Essentially you light what you want to see (while being careful to not light what you don't want to see). Light the guy behind the scrim to see him--but don't light the scrim. Light the scrim to make the guy disappear--but make sure light is off the guy.

What Colors Are There? How to Choose a Color?

There are fourteen published colors and 2 unplublished colors (MidNite Blue and Camel). Most stage applications use one of the Grays (Pearl, Medium or Dark Gray). The best way to choose a color is to think of what you want it to appear like or represent for the scene downstage of the scrim. Pearl Gray is the most versatile, because when used as a background under white light (no gelling) it could be a sky, a mist, a wall or nothingness.

Can I Hang Chameleon™ as a Wall? a Wall with a Corner? or as a Pillar?

You don't have to hang scrim as a flat plane, or full stage width--you can get creative. You can even cut holes/ windows in it. Chameleon™ can have sharp bends, windows, or smooth wave wall transitions. You can even define retail spaces like offices and restaurants with it. And try printed Chameleon to put art on your walls.

Can I Hang Chameleon™ as a Ceiling?

Chameleon™ makes a great ceiling. It can drape, or hold flat (it doesn't stretch). It's very lightweight which makes hanging it easy. Most people hang it from a pipe on one side to a pipe on the other side of the room. Retail spaces like offices and restaurants love it. And try hanging it as a wave ceiling (just bend the pipes to a wave shape, and Chameleon ™ will follow that shape). And you can project on it as shown in the picture from the Greensboro Science Museum.

What 9 Sharkstooth Scrim Problems Does Chameleon ™ Solve?

Do you hate sharkstooth and the problems it creates, but love the look? Chameleon™ scrims solve lots of traditional scrim issues..