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Guide index

Introduction
1. Light transmission (Tv)
2. Choose based on light
3. Blackout Collection
4. Filter Collection
5. Sheer Collection
6. Fabric-bracket pairing
7. Technical comparison

Reading time ~15 min

Guide to choosing the fabric for indoor roller shades

Everything you need to choose the right fabric: from collections to technical comparisons, all the way to colour pairings.

Introduction

In brief

Choosing the right fabric means choosing how much light to let in. Even before colour, the key factor guiding the choice is light transmission (Tv%): depending on the value, the room will be completely dark, filtered, or bright.

Fabric samples for indoor roller shades Maanta

The fabrics for indoor roller shades are not chosen for their colour: they are chosen for how much light you want to let in. The same room, with the same furnishings, changes completely depending on the fabric.

Maanta offers 8 fabrics divided into 3 collections, each designed for a specific light and privacy requirement. This guide helps you identify the right one in just a few steps.

You will understand what the Tv% value means and why it is the figure that really matters
You will see the differences between the 3 collections: Blackout, Filter, Sheer
You will be able to compare all technical fabrics in a single table
You will find recommended colour pairings with Maanta brackets

Collection	Light transmission (Tv)	Available fabrics	Who it is right for
Blackout	0%	Blend Blackout, Canvas Blackout	Bedroom, home cinema, shift workers
Filter	6-44%	Earth Collection, Horizon Collection	Office, living room, rooms with uncomfortable direct light
Sheer	15-49%	Diamond, Fine Line, Brush, Satin	Kitchen, living room, those who want full light with discreet shading

1. Understanding the Tv value (light transmission)

In brief

The Tv% is the only number that matters when choosing a fabric. It indicates how much light passes through the fabric: zero means total darkness, high values mean light that is almost unchanged. Everything else — colour, texture, weight — comes after.

The Tv (visual transmittance) value indicates the percentage of light that passes through the fabric. It is the technical figure that distinguishes one fabric from another, regardless of colour or texture.

Tv 0% = no light — completely dark environment
Tv 6-20% = very low light, semi-darkened spaces
Tv 20-44% = diffused light, glare eliminated
Tv >44% = light shading, light almost unchanged

Tv does not depend solely on the material: it also varies according to the fabric colour. A white fabric of the same model has a higher Tv than the dark grey version, even if the structure is identical.

What this means in practice: if you have a bedroom and want to sleep with the street lights outside blocked out, you need Tv 0%. If you have an office with a screen and want to eliminate glare while still maintaining daylight, a fabric with Tv 6-20% is the right choice.

Light transmission Tv scale for roller shade fabrics

2. Choose based on your light requirement

In brief

Don't start with colour: start with your requirement. Total darkness, diffused light or full light are three scenarios that call for different fabrics. Identifying your scenario allows you to immediately rule out two collections out of three.

Before comparing individual fabrics, identify your main requirement. Choose the scenario that best describes you:

You want complete darkness

Bedroom, home cinema, newborns, shift workers. No light should enter even during the day.

Blackout Collection — Tv 0%

Office with diffused light and filter shade

You want diffused light without glare

Office, screen workstation, west-facing living room. Daylight yes, direct rays no.

Filter Collection — Tv 6-44%

You want full light with discreet shading

Kitchen, living room, always bright spaces. Just a screen from view, nothing more.

Sheer Collection — Tv 15-49%

Not sure? Order free samples: receive the fabrics at home to compare texture and light in your room before deciding.

Order free samples

3. Blackout Collection: total darkness guaranteed

In brief

Tv 0% means zero light, even in the height of summer. The choice between Blend and Canvas is a matter of weight and texture: blackout performance is identical.

The Blackout Collection includes two fabrics: both guarantee Tv 0%, but with different physical characteristics. The choice depends on the environment and aesthetics.

Blend Blackout

Weight: 385 g/m²
Thickness: 0.56 mm
Solar reflectance: 75%
100% Polyester • 5 colours

Structured texture, matte appearance. The heaviest in the collection: high thermal performance.

Canvas Blackout

Weight: 340 g/m²
Thickness: 0.44 mm
Solar reflectance: 74%
100% Polyester • 3 colours

Softer hand, lighter weight. Same Tv 0% performance as the Blend.

Solar reflectance 74-75%: both fabrics not only block visible light, but also repel a significant portion of solar heat. Useful in south- or west-facing rooms in summer. UV transmittance: 0% on both.

↓ Compare all fabrics and match the colour to the bracket

4. Filter Collection: diffused light, without glare

In brief

The right choice when you don't want complete darkness but want to eliminate direct sunlight. Privacy guaranteed during the day. Typical uses: offices with screens, west-facing living rooms, children's rooms.

Filter fabrics don't block light: they transform it into diffused light. They eliminate glare from direct rays and maintain daytime privacy, while keeping the room bright.

Earth Collection

Tv: 6-16% (strong filtration)
Weight: 195 g/m²
90% Polyester / 10% Cotton • 3 colours
Solar reflectance: 37-49%

The only fabric with cotton in the blend: natural hand feel. Intense filtration, room well attenuated even in full daylight.

Horizon Collection

Tv: 19-44% (light-to-medium filtration)
Weight: 170 g/m²
100% Polyester • 4 colours
Solar reflectance: 23-50%

Lighter and more transparent than Earth. The Tv variability depends on colour: darker shades filter more.

Colour and Tv in Filter fabrics: the Tv range (e.g. 19-44% for Horizon) covers the entire colour range. If you want maximum filtration, choose the darkest colour in the collection. If you want more brightness, choose the lightest.

Already have an idea? Order free samples to check how the light behaves in your space before configuring.

Order samples

↓ Compare all fabrics and match the colour to the bracket

5. Sheer Collection: full light, discreet presence

In brief

Four fabrics for those who don't want to give up light but want to avoid being seen from outside. The difference between the 4 fabrics lies in weight, texture and Tv variability by colour.

Sheer fabrics do not alter the amount of light that enters: the room remains as bright as without a shade. The main function is shielding from outside view and reducing glare from raking light.

Diamond Collection

Tv 20-32% • 220 g/m² • 2 colours

The heaviest in the collection. Compact structure, discreet shielding with excellent aesthetic finish.

Fine Line Collection

Tv 15-30% • 195 g/m² • 4 colours

Thin stripe effect. Among the Sheer fabrics, the lowest Tv: slightly greater filtration. Wider colour choice.

Brush Collection

Tv 22-46% • 160 g/m² • 3 colours

The lightest in the collection. High Tv variability depending on colour. Soft, contemporary appearance.

Satin Collection

Tv 45-49% • 140 g/m² • 4 colours

The highest Tv in the range: almost transparent. Pure aesthetic shielding. Ideal for rooms that need to remain very bright.

Have you chosen the right fabric? Configure your roller shade now by selecting the collection, colour and size.

Configure your shade

↓ Compare all fabrics and match the colour to the bracket

6. Match the fabric to the bracket colour

In brief

The fabric colour and the bracket colour are seen together every day. Use the selector below to check the available combinations before configuring.

Find the right match

Choose the bracket colour and the fabric: see instantly how they match, collection by collection.

7. Full technical comparison

In brief

All 8 fabrics compared on every parameter: Tv, weight, thickness, composition, solar reflectance and UV. A quick overview for those who want to check the data before choosing.

All technical values for the 8 Maanta fabrics in a single table. Useful for comparing weight, thickness, Tv, composition and solar data before deciding.

	Blend Blackout	Canvas Blackout	Earth	Horizon	Diamond	Fine Line	Brush	Satin
Category	Blackout	Blackout	Filter	Filter	Sheer	Sheer	Sheer	Sheer
Tv - Transmittance	0%	0%	6-16%	19-44%	20-32%	15-30%	22-46%	45-49%
Weight (g/m²)	385	340	195	170	220	195	160	140
Thickness (mm)	0.56	0.44	0.49	0.32	0.70	0.69	0.43	0.48
Composition	100% Poly	100% Poly	90/10 Poly/Cotton	100% Poly	100% Poly	100% Poly	100% Poly	100% Poly
Colour fastness	min. 4-5	min. 4-5	min. 4-5	min. 5-6	min. 4-5	min. 4-5	min. 4-5	min. 4-5
Solar reflectance	75%	74%	37-49%	23-50%	27-38%	34-40%	23-52%	34-44%
UV transmittance	0%	0%	6-7%	9-19%	21-27%	12-19%	22-29%	26-31%
Available colours	5	3	3	4	2	4	3	4

* The Tv value varies depending on the fabric colour. The ranges indicated cover the full colour range available for each model.

Ready to choose? Order samples or configure your shade right away.

Order samples Configure your shade

Guide index

Guide to choosing the fabric for indoor roller shades

You want complete darkness

You want diffused light without glare

You want full light with discreet shading

Blend Blackout

Canvas Blackout

Earth Collection

Horizon Collection

Diamond Collection

Fine Line Collection

Brush Collection

Satin Collection

Find the right match

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