Does Fabric Colour Affect Opacity?

When purchasing partially transparent fabric window coverings designed to allow light and vision to pass through, it can be tempting to look at the percentage of UV that the fabric allows to pass through and assume that vision will operate on the same percentage system. This is true to some extent, as a higher percentage fabric of the same colour will allow more vision to pass through as well, but it ignores the important role that fabric colour plays in determining how much of a view you will get through a particular fabric.

Somewhat counterintuitively, dark colours are easier to see through than light colours at the same UV percentage. Choosing dark colours is thus the best way to preserve your view without losing the benefits of UV protection and light control, while choosing light colours is the best way to ensure privacy and reflect heat.

While fabric colour may seem like a purely aesthetic choice, the colour of solar shades and similar window treatments plays a significant role in determining which benefits they are best able to provide.