Sharkstooth vs. Poly Stretch Stage Scrims: Which to Order
the reveal or the sculpted surface.

Published October 22, 2026. Last updated October 22, 2026.

What is the difference between a sharkstooth scrim and a poly stretch scrim?

The difference between a sharkstooth scrim and a poly stretch scrim is what each one does with light. A sharkstooth scrim is an open-weave scenic net: lit from the front, it looks like a solid painted or printed surface, and when the stage behind it is lit, it turns see-through. A poly stretch scrim is a tensioned stretch fabric that gives light and projection a smooth surface, and it can be pulled into curves and sculpted shapes.

In practice, sharkstooth is a storytelling tool. Directors and lighting designers use it for transformations, flashbacks and appearances that happen without a blackout. Poly stretch is a surface tool. Production designers use it to catch projected video, carry color washes and create shapes that a flat drop cannot make.

Customized Stage Scrims builds both to order: the sharkstooth scrim as a flown drop finished for a batten, and the FR poly stretch scrim sized to the frame, pipe or tension points it will be pulled across.

Which stage scrim is better for a reveal, and which is better for projection?

For a reveal, order a sharkstooth scrim; for projection, order a poly stretch scrim. The table below compares the two custom stage scrims on the jobs buyers ask about most often.

If the show needs both effects, many productions order one of each. A downstage sharkstooth handles the reveals, and an upstage poly stretch panel takes projection and washes. When a production needs a dedicated projection screen rather than a stretch surface, the rear-projection scrim is the third option to compare.

How do rigging and hanging differ between the two scrim styles?

A sharkstooth scrim hangs like a traditional drop, while a poly stretch scrim is held in tension. That single difference shapes how each is measured, finished and installed.

A sharkstooth scrim is flown from a batten, usually with webbing and grommets or ties at the top and a pocket at the bottom for a pipe that keeps the net flat and square. Because the open weave can sag or ripple if it is under-weighted, the bottom finish matters as much as the top. The site’s guide to top and bottom finishes covers those choices in detail.

A poly stretch scrim is attached at its edges and pulled taut, either over a frame, between pipes or to tie points at the top and bottom. Stretch fabric is forgiving on shape, which is why designers use it for curves, fins, cones and other sculpted forms. It also means the order should describe the frame or tension points, not only the stage opening.

• Sharkstooth: give the batten width, trim height and how much the scrim should overlap the masking.
• Poly stretch: give the frame or pipe dimensions and how the fabric will be tensioned.

Can both scrim styles be printed with custom artwork or a logo?

Yes, both sharkstooth and poly stretch stage scrims can be printed with custom artwork, a logo or a show title. The two styles simply print with a different character, so the artwork should suit the fabric.

On a sharkstooth scrim, printed scenery is designed to be seen from the house at stage distance and lit from the front. Bold shapes, strong contrast and generous lettering hold up best on the open weave, and the image vanishes on cue when the stage behind is lit. A sharkstooth scrim printed with a forest, a city skyline or a family portrait is the classic way to stage a memory or a dream.

On a poly stretch scrim, the smooth stretched surface takes a cleaner, more continuous image. That suits brand walls, sponsor backdrops and graphic shapes for corporate stages and concerts. Because the fabric is stretched, Customized Stage Scrims sizes the artwork to the tensioned shape so logos and lettering stay in proportion once the panel is installed.

Either way, the free mockup within 24 hours shows the artwork placed on the actual scrim, and revisions are unlimited until the design is right.

Which scrim should a theater, church or event company order first?

A theater that stages plays, musicals or ballet should usually order a sharkstooth scrim first, because the reveal is the effect no other drape can deliver. A church, concert venue or corporate event company that relies on projection and lighting should usually start with a poly stretch scrim, because it gives every projector and wash a clean surface.

The deciding question is simple: do you need the audience to see through the fabric at some point in the show? If yes, the answer is sharkstooth. If the fabric only ever needs to catch light, video or color, poly stretch is the better fit.

Venues with mixed programming often end up with both. A school auditorium may hang a sharkstooth scrim for drama productions and a poly stretch panel for assemblies and concerts. A house of worship may use sharkstooth for seasonal pageants and poly stretch for weekly lyrics and graphics. Because the minimum order is 12 pieces mixed across styles, both can be ordered together with black void drapes for masking.

How do you order a sharkstooth or poly stretch scrim from Customized Stage Scrims?

Ordering either style of custom stage scrim starts with the quote form and ends with a scrim built to your measurements in about 2 weeks.

1. Request a quote with the style or styles you are considering, the stage or frame measurements, and how the scrim will be hung or tensioned.
2. Share artwork or describe the look, whether that is printed scenery, a logo, a solid color or plain fabric.
3. Review the free mockup within 24 hours, with unlimited revisions until the design and specs are right.
4. Approve and pay only once you are happy, then production runs about 2 weeks, with express shipping available for tight dates.

If you are unsure which style to choose, say so in the quote request. Customized Stage Scrims will recommend sharkstooth, poly stretch or a combination based on your stage, lighting plan and projection setup. The how it works page walks through each step.

What affects the cost of a sharkstooth or poly stretch scrim?

The cost of a custom stage scrim depends on its size, its fabric, whether it is printed, how it is finished for rigging, and whether flame-retardant fabric is required. Sharkstooth and poly stretch differ mainly in how they are finished: a sharkstooth drop needs top and bottom hardware for a batten, while a poly stretch piece needs edges built for tensioning or a fitted shape.

Printing full-face artwork, adding flame-retardant treatment and ordering very large or seamless pieces all influence the quote, as does the total quantity across styles. Customized Stage Scrims does not list fixed prices because every scrim is built to a specific stage. The fastest way to an accurate number is to send measurements, the intended style and any artwork through the custom quote form.