Rosco TV White Sample
Professional Camera White for Cycloramas & Studios
Rosco TV White is a specialised super-matte paint for cycloramas, infinity walls, studios and scenic backgrounds that need to appear as a clean, controllable white under production lighting and on camera.
About Your Sample
Your sample has been decanted by Creative Film & Theatre Solutions from genuine Rosco TV White stock. It allows you to test the colour, finish, adhesion and camera response before purchasing a full-size container.
Apply the sample to a properly prepared, representative section of your wall or cyclorama. Allow it to dry completely, then test the area using the lighting and camera settings intended for the final production space.
Sample containers are supplied for product evaluation and differ from Rosco's original retail packaging.
What is Rosco TV White?
TV White is not intended to be the brightest-looking decorative white. It is a specialised camera white formulated for controlled reflectance under film, television, broadcast and theatrical lighting.
This is designed to provide a usable white reference for video white balancing while helping production teams control glare, hotspots and overexposed highlights.
Its super-matte finish helps produce an even background that can be lit white, shaded with smooth gradients or transformed using coloured light.
Why It May Not Look Like Ordinary White Paint
This is intentional. Very bright decorative whites can reflect excessive light, create glare and cause parts of a background to clip or overexpose on camera.
TV White is formulated to perform under lighting and through the camera, rather than simply looking as bright as possible to the naked eye.
Evaluate your sample after it has dried and under the actual production lighting. Its final camera appearance will be influenced by lighting position, intensity, colour temperature, exposure, lens and camera settings.
Where TV White is Used
Cycloramas
Suitable for white cycloramas and curved sweeps where smooth, even illumination is required.
Film & Television Studios
Creates a controllable white background for filmed and televised productions.
Broadcast Studios
Suitable for news, interview, multi-camera and studio production environments.
Infinity Walls
Provides a uniform super-matte surface for photography, video and product production spaces.
Theatre Cycloramas
Useful where lighting designers need smooth white fields, gradients and colour washes.
Photography Backdrops
Suitable for permanent painted backgrounds requiring controlled, consistent exposure.
Why Production Professionals Use TV White
Approximately 60% reflectance provides a practical white reference without the extreme brightness of some decorative whites.
Helps reduce unwanted reflections, glare and uneven bright spots.
Designed for backgrounds where the lighting must transition evenly across the surface.
Formulated for film, broadcast and video environments rather than general decorative painting.
May be applied by brush, roller or suitable spray equipment.
Uses water as its solvent and cleans up with soap and water.
Preparing Your Surface
Surface preparation is especially important on a cyclorama. Strong, directional lighting can reveal repairs, roller marks, uneven texture and variations in the base coat.
Look for cracks, holes, loose coatings, visible joins, dents and other imperfections that may become visible under cyc lighting.
Complete the appropriate repairs for your substrate, then sand the repaired areas to create a smooth and consistent surface.
Make sure the area is clean, dry and free from dust, dirt, grease and loose material.
Rosco specifies Rosco Tough Prime for porous surfaces, except fabrics. Tough Prime White provides a consistent white base beneath TV White.
New raw plaster should first receive a commercial primer or sealer intended for new plaster, followed by Tough Prime as the final preparation coat.
Uneven primer colour, repairs or patchiness may remain visible once the surface is illuminated.
Test the substrate, primer, TV White, lighting and camera together before committing to the complete studio or cyclorama.
How to Apply TV White
Before applying
Stir TV White thoroughly before use. Do not shake.
Mixing should continue until the colour and consistency are completely uniform throughout the container.
Brush
Use a good-quality brush and apply thin, even coats using overlapping strokes while maintaining a wet edge.
Roller
Apply consistently with a good-quality roller. Change roller direction regularly to minimise visible patterns and streaks.
Spray
TV White may be applied using suitable spray equipment. Follow the equipment manufacturer's setup requirements and read the SDS before spraying.
Recommended application method
Apply TV White in thin, even and uniform coats. Use overlapping strokes and maintain a wet edge to reduce visible lap marks and changes in texture.
Avoid attempting to achieve complete coverage with one heavy coat. Allow each coat to dry before assessing whether another coat is required.
Large cycloramas should be painted using a consistent technique, equipment and application direction across the complete surface.
Can TV White be diluted?
TV White should normally be used straight from the container.
Where necessary for application viscosity, it may be diluted with up to approximately 10% clean water.
Adding water can reduce hiding power and may make uniform coverage more difficult. Add only what is required and test the adjusted paint before applying it across the complete surface.
How many coats are required?
The number of coats will depend on the colour and consistency of the prepared base, the substrate, application method and the standard of finish required.
Apply enough thin, uniform coats to produce a consistent surface without visible patchiness, roller patterns or variations in colour.
Assess the dried surface under the intended lighting rather than relying only on how it looks while wet.
Application temperature and conditions
Do not apply when the surface or air temperature is below 10°C.
Temperature, humidity, airflow, surface porosity and coating thickness will affect drying and recoating times.
Coverage
Estimating paint for a cyclorama
Measure the complete painted surface, including the rear wall, side returns and curved sweep. Multiply the width and height of each area, then add the areas together.
Allow for the number of coats required, the condition of the base, overspray or roller loss, repairs and future touch-ups.
Contact CFATS with your dimensions if you need help estimating the quantity required.
Drying & Recoating
At an average temperature of 24°C, the published guidance is:
Allow each coat to dry before assessing colour and uniformity. TV White can appear different while wet, and the final result should be evaluated after drying under the intended lighting.
Testing Your Sample on Camera
Looking white to the eye is not enough to properly evaluate TV White. Test the dried sample using your production setup.
Position and set the luminaires as closely as possible to the planned studio arrangement.
Use the colour temperature and lighting sources expected during production.
Check the surface through the intended camera, lens and monitoring workflow.
Look for clipping, glare, hotspots, visible roller texture, repairs and uneven illumination.
If the cyc will be lit with colour, test the intended colours and gradients before approving the complete system.
TV White or a Brighter Scenic White?
Choose the paint according to how the finished surface needs to perform.
Rosco TV White
- Approximately 60% reflectance
- Super-matte finish
- Designed for camera and lighting control
- Ideal for cycloramas and studios
- May look slightly neutral to the eye
Off Broadway White White
- Visually brighter white appearance
- Flat scenic-paint finish
- Better suited where white-to-the-eye is the priority
- Useful for scenery, flats and general scenic work
- Not specifically calibrated as TV White
Clean-Up
Clean with soap and water
Clean brushes, rollers, spray equipment and suitable tools promptly after use with soap and water.
Do not allow TV White to dry inside application equipment. Follow the spray-equipment manufacturer's cleaning instructions where applicable.
Contain and clean spills promptly while following the current Safety Data Sheet.
Storing Your Sample
Close the container securely after use and store it upright in a suitable location away from children.
Protect TV White from freezing.
Because the sample has been decanted from Rosco's original packaging, it is intended for evaluation rather than long-term storage. Keep the lid and rim clean so the container can reseal correctly.
Important Information
Read Before Use
- Test the complete substrate, primer and paint system first.
- Evaluate the dried finish under the intended lighting and camera.
- Do not apply below 10°C surface or air temperature.
- Protect the product from freezing.
- Use adequate ventilation.
- Avoid prolonged skin contact.
- Avoid breathing spray or airborne mist.
- Do not ingest.
- Keep out of reach of children.
- Read the current Rosco product information and SDS before use.
This page provides practical introductory guidance. It does not replace Rosco's current product documentation or Safety Data Sheet.
Safety Data Sheet
Please read the current Safety Data Sheet and product instructions before using Rosco TV White.
This button links to Rosco's maintained product resource. Confirm that the current document is appropriate for your region and application.
Need Help with Your Studio or Cyclorama?
Not sure whether TV White is the correct paint for your project, which primer to use or how much paint you need?
Creative Film & Theatre Solutions is Rosco's agent and distributor for Australia and New Zealand. Contact us before proceeding if you need help planning your paint system.
Exclusive Agents of Rosco Australia & New Zealand
5A Sefton Road, Thornleigh NSW 2120
P: 02 9906 6262
Related Products & Guides
Happy with your camera test?
Your sample is approximately enough to test 1 m². When you are ready to paint the complete cyclorama or studio, purchase full-size Rosco TV White.
SHOP ROSCO TV WHITE →All technical data, recommendations and service are accurate to the best of our knowledge. Rosco assumes no responsibility for results obtained or damage incurred from use since method of application and use are beyond our control.