Duvetyne is a twill fabric with a velvet-like nap on one side. It may be woven from cotton, wool, or—in rare cases, mainly in the early 20th century—silk. Duvetyne has a matte finish and its high opacity makes it ideal for blocking light.
Although it is most commonly used in the motion picture industry, early sources list duvetyne as a common fabric for dresses, suits, and coats.[1][2][3][4] By the 1930s, however, it was widely noted for its use in constructing theatrical cycloramas[5][6] and theater curtains.
In modern times, fire-retardant black duvetyne is commonly used for curtains, for scenery, and to control light spill. Many commercial lighting flags are made from duvetyne.[7][8] When used in film applications, especially in the eastern United States, duvetyne is also known as "commando cloth".[9][10][11]
In the first season of the original Star Trek television series, the exterior shots of "space" were created by gluing glitter onto black duvetyne.[12]