A foamed, opacifying element has a porous substrate composed of woven yarn strands composed of a thermoplastic polymer-coated multifilament core. It has a dry foamed composition on an opposing surface of the substrate, which includes: (a) 0.1-40 weight % of porous particles; (b) 10-80 weight %; (c) 0.2-50 weight % of one or more additives selected from the group consisting of dispersants, plasticizers, flame retardants, optical brighteners, thickeners, biocides, fungicides, tinting colorants, metal flakes, and inert inorganic or organic fillers; (d) less than 5 weight % of water; and (e) at least 0.002 weight % of an opacifying colorant different from all of the one or more additives of (c), which opacifying colorant absorbs electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of 380-800 nm. The elements have a light-blocking value (LBV) of at least 4 and can have a bending stiffness that is greater than 0.15 milliNewtons-meter.

A method for providing a foamed, opacifying element includes providing a foamable aqueous composition, aerating it to a foam density of 0.1-0.5 g/cm.sup.3, applying the foamed aqueous composition to a porous substrate, drying, and densifying the dried layer. Such foamable aqueous compositions have 0.05-15 weight % of porous particles; at least 20 weight % of a binder; at least 0.0001 weight % of additives (including a surfactant); water; and at least 0.001 weight % of an opacifying colorant. Each porous particle includes a continuous polymeric phase and discrete pores; a mode particle size of 2-50 m; and a porosity of 20-70 volume %. The continuous polymeric phase T.sub.g is >80 C. and has a polymer viscosity of 80-500 centipoises at an ethyl acetate shear rate of 100 sec.sup.1 at a concentration of 20 weight % at 25 C.

A foamed, opacifying element having a target light blocking value (LBV.sub.T) and a target porous substrate is prepared by determining the light blocking value (LBV.sub.S) of the target porous substrate; calculating the LBV.sub.T-S difference; choosing a foamable aqueous composition; determining a dry coating weight for the chosen foamable aqueous composition (when foamed); and using the dry coating weight to form the single dry opacifying layer as the only layer disposed on the target porous substrate, such that the single dry opacifying layer has light blocking value that is equal to LBV.sub.T-S, 10%. The chosen foamable aqueous composition comprises the essential components (a) through (e) described herein. The desired foamable aqueous composition can be chosen from a set of similar compositions to achieve the desired LBV.sub.T with the noted target porous substrate using suitable mathematical formula relating dry coating weight to light blocking value and a suitable data processor.

A method for providing a foamed, opacifying element includes providing a foamable aqueous compositions, aerating it to a foam density of 0.1-0.5 g/cm.sup.3, applying the foamed aqueous composition to a porous substrate, drying, and densifying the dried layer Such foamable aqueous compositions have 0.05-15 weight % of porous particles; at least 20 weight % of a binder; at least 0.0001 weight % of additives (including a surfactant); water; and at least 0.001 weight % of an opacifying colorant. Each porous particle includes a continuous polymeric phase and discrete pores; a mode particle size of 2-50 m; and a porosity of 20-70 volume %. The continuous polymeric phase T.sub.g is>80 C. and has a polymer viscosity of 80-500 centipoises at an ethyl acetate shear rate of 100 sec.sup.1 at a concentration of 20 weight % at 25 C.

Foamable aqueous compositions can be foamed and applied to porous substrates to make light-blocking dry opacifying elements. Such compositions have 0.05-15 weight % of porous particles; at least 20 weight % of a binder; at least 0.0001 weight % of additives (including a surfactant); water; and at least 0.001 weight % of an opacifying colorant. Each porous particle includes a continuous polymeric phase and discrete pores; a mode particle size of 2-50 m; and a porosity of 20-70 volume %. The continuous polymeric phase T.sub.g is >80 C. and has a polymer viscosity of 80-500 centipoises at an ethyl acetate shear rate of 100 sec.sup.1 at a concentration of 20 weight % at 25 C. The dry opacifying element light blocking value is at least 4 and has a luminous reflectance>40% as measured by the Y tristimulus value. The foamed aqueous composition has a foam density of 0.1-0.5 g/cm.sup.3.

Foamable aqueous compositions can be foamed and applied to porous substrates to make light-blocking dry opacifying elements. Such compositions have 0.05-15 weight % of porous particles; at least 20 weight % of a binder; at least 0.0001 weight % of additives (including a surfactant); water; and at least 0.001 weight % of an opacifying colorant. Each porous particle includes a continuous polymeric phase and discrete pores; a mode particle size of 2-50 m; and a porosity of 20-70 volume %. The continuous polymeric phase T.sub.g is >80 C. and has a polymer viscosity of 80-500 centipoises at an ethyl acetate shear rate of 100 sec.sup.1 at a concentration of 20 weight % at 25 C. The dry opacifying element light blocking value is at least 4 and has a luminous reflectance >40% as measured by the color space Y tristimulus value. The foamed aqueous composition has a foam density of 0.1-0.5 g/cm.sup.3.

A screen includes a mesh substrate having an openness of greater than 30% when viewed at 0 incidence, the mesh substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface, the first major surface including a first coating, the first major surface having a first reflectance value, wherein the first reflectance value has an average value of greater than about 10% as measured by an EN410 standard and a diffuse reflection profile at all viewing angles from 89 to 89, excluding an angle of direct illumination as measured by a scattering distribution function technique using a Goniometer, wherein the diffuse reflection profile provides a reduction in view through the mesh substrate when viewed from 89 to 89.

A sunshade includes a support frame and a canopy connected to the support frame and including a light-transmissible fabric sheet of undyed yarns that has opposite inner and outer surfaces, an ink layer formed on one of the inner and outer surfaces of the light-transmissible fabric sheet using dye-sublimation printing techniques, and an opaque enamel coating coated on the other of the inner and outer surfaces of the light-transmissible fabric sheet The undyed yarns are woven and cross one another to form fabric pores thereamong. The opaque enamel coating fills the fabric pores. A method of preparing a canopy is disclosed.