Curtains have long been a popular choice for homeowners wanting to add privacy and control light coming into the room. They do a great job of blocking sunlight, and the fabric options tend to be among the best when it comes to adding heating efficiency by helping to prevent heat transfer from your window.

But there are certain window shapes where curtains don’t work well at all, and in those cases shutters are the only practical solution. For example, with many UK properties having unique feature windows like triangular gable ends, there’s often no physical way to install a track for a curtain.

Shutter Curtains: Enhancing Security and Safety in Commercial Spaces

The traditional type of focal-plane shutter in 35 mm film cameras uses two shutter curtains, made of opaque rubberized cloth, which run horizontally across the frame aperture. When the shutter is cocked the first curtain opens from right to left, and then after a set amount of time the second curtain closes the aperture, leaving a slit that exposes the sensor for the duration of the exposure.

Faster shutter speeds are achieved by having the second curtain close a little bit before the first one has cleared the sensor, which creates a narrower slit that travels horizontally across the image area; the longer the shutter speed, the narrower the slit must be.

Curtains also typically include large amounts of fabric, which is a perfect place for microscopic allergens to become trapped, causing discomfort for allergy sufferers. As a result, it’s advisable for those suffering from allergies to choose shutters instead of curtains.