Duratrans

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A duratrans is an element used in television news set design. Duratrans are most often used to create the backgrounds that appear behind news presenters or anchors. The term is short for "durable transparency."

Duratrans are also used on theater set design.

Duratrans are normally several feet long and high. In most cases, duratrans are wider than they are tall. The duratrans image is printed or painted on a semi-transparent material such as plastic canvas or a plastic sheet. This is then stretched perpendicular to the floor over an opening in the set's wall designed for this purpose. Duratrans are usually lit from behind using lights mounted perpendicular to the floor in the space between the set and studio wall, making the background well-lit and with the appearance of depth.

Duratrans can be hand-painted, but are frequently created by printing computer-generated graphics or photographs onto the material using large-format printers.

The images featured on duratrans used on television news sets vary widely, but often include:

• Photograph of the station's city skyline
• Greenery or landscape scenes
• Station logos
• Computer-generated images of a control room or newsroom
• Simulated set elements such as a computer generated image of a monitor wall
• Photograph of a control room or newsroom
• Abstract background designs

Some sets are designed with duratrans that are mounted on tracks or rigging that allow them to be quickly slid out of the way. This allows the background to be quickly changed for different times of the day or shows. For example, some stations have several duratrans that feature photographs of the city skyline with different lighting. For example, the duratrans used for morning news broadcasts will feature the city at sunrise, the noon news shows will feature broad daylight and evening news shows use a nightscape. This is adventageous because a station can change the appearance of its set without the expense of building additional sets.

Movable duratrans are usually stretched over a frame, which is then attached to the movable rigging or tracks. These tracks can carry the duratrans either vertically or horizontally. Unused duratrans are stored to the side or above the set when not in use, depending on this configuration. The rear lighting is normally stationary and does not move.

Duratrans A common element used in tradeshow exhibits to display messaging in a backlit format. Duratrans material is manufactured by Kodak and is a comprised of a translucent plastic base and photographic emulsion.

While Duratrans refers to a specific photographic process and product, it has become a general reference to any backlit imagery whether produced photographically or by other digital process such as inkjet printing.