Theatre Backdrop Paint
Rosco backdrop & scenic paint · Australia & New Zealand
Theatre backdrop paint
Rosco Supersaturated and Off Broadway are the water-based scenic paints scenic artists use for painted drops, cloths, flats and sets. Here is which one to use for what, the colours to start with, and how working studios use them.
Which paint for which job
Supersaturated for cloths, Off Broadway for hard scenery
Both are Rosco water-based acrylic scenic paints. They can be mixed together and applied by brush, roller or sprayer. The difference is pigment load and where the paint ends up.
Supersaturated
- High pigment load: dilute up to 4:1 with water for opaque work
- Up to 15:1 for translucent glazes and toning
- Suits goods that fold or roll: muslin drops, scrims, projection screens, dance floors
- Add Rosco Clear Acrylic Glaze when heavily diluted to keep adhesion and flexibility
Off Broadway
- Built for thick, opaque coats: straight from the can or up to 1:1 with water
- Dries flat with a flexible binder
- Suits hard scenery, metals, rigid plastics and murals
- 27 artists' colours plus 5 metallics
Comparison based on Supersaturated vs. Off Broadway Paint – A Comparison, Rosco Spectrum. Images: Rosco.
Backdrop colours
Supersaturated: the backdrop palette
Earth tones and deep blues do most of the work on a painted drop. Start with these, then add from the full range of 32. Prices are for the 0.95 L size; larger sizes are on each product page.
Supersaturated Yellow Ochre (5982)
High-pigment concentrate for drops, washes and glazes.
Supersaturated Burnt Sienna (5987)
High-pigment concentrate for drops, washes and glazes.
Supersaturated Burnt Umber (5985)
High-pigment concentrate for drops, washes and glazes.
Supersaturated Ultramarine Blue (5968)
High-pigment concentrate for drops, washes and glazes.
Supersaturated Prussian Blue (5990)
High-pigment concentrate for drops, washes and glazes.
Supersaturated Emerald Green (5972)
High-pigment concentrate for drops, washes and glazes.
Supersaturated Magenta (5975)
High-pigment concentrate for drops, washes and glazes.
Supersaturated Velour Black (6003)
High-pigment concentrate for drops, washes and glazes.
Flats and hard scenery
Off Broadway: opaque colour for sets
Flat, opaque scenic paint for flats, hard scenery and murals. Use it straight from the can or thinned with water. Prices are for the 0.95 L size.
Off Broadway White (5350)
Opaque, flat scenic paint for flats and hard scenery.
Off Broadway Black (5352)
Opaque, flat scenic paint for flats and hard scenery.
Off Broadway Yellow Ochre (5353)
Opaque, flat scenic paint for flats and hard scenery.
Off Broadway Burnt Sienna (5356)
Opaque, flat scenic paint for flats and hard scenery.
Off Broadway Burnt Umber (5354)
Opaque, flat scenic paint for flats and hard scenery.
Off Broadway Ultramarine Blue (5359)
Opaque, flat scenic paint for flats and hard scenery.
Off Broadway Sky Blue (5372)
Opaque, flat scenic paint for flats and hard scenery.
Off Broadway Emerald Green (5364)
Opaque, flat scenic paint for flats and hard scenery.
Prime and protect
Prime the cloth, protect the finish
Tough Prime White primes canvas, muslin and flats before colour goes on. Clear Acrylic Glaze keeps heavily diluted paint adhering and seals the finished drop.
Tough Prime White (6050)
Scenic primer and sealer for canvas, muslin, flats and set surfaces.
Clear Acrylic Flat (5581)
Clear coat and medium in flat. Add to diluted paint or seal a finished drop.
Clear Acrylic Gloss (5580)
Clear coat and medium in gloss for sheen and protection.
From working studios
How scenic artists use it
Case studies from Rosco Spectrum, Rosco's own publication for scenic artists.
DAP Studio, UK
Students paint pantomime cloths with Supersat
Students at scenic artist James Rowse's DAP Studio painted pantomime cloths designed by Alexander McPherson using Rosco Supersaturated paint.
They thinned the paint to a translucent consistency and built colour up in layers. This kept each coat thin so the cloth would not crease. Colours were tested on the cloth edges first.
Read the full story on Rosco Spectrum →Images: Rosco / DAP Studio. Source: Scenic Art Students Transform Panto Cloths with Rosco Supersat Paints, Rosco.
PropDrop, UK
Textured photography backdrops
Set designer and scenic artist Charlie Stuart-Grumbar paints textured backdrops for photography and commercial work with Rosco Supersaturated.
Boards are filled, sanded and sealed. A tinted base goes down first, then layers of matte glaze, water and Supersaturated, sometimes with sand or sawdust for texture. Her favourite colour is Raw Umber.
Read the full story on Rosco Spectrum →Images: Rosco / PropDrop. Source: Sophisticated Photography Backdrops Created With Painted Textures, Rosco.
Scenic shop advice
Moving a shop from house paint to scenic paint
Charge scenic artist Steph Charaska explains why Off Broadway covers bright colours in fewer coats than house paint and dries ultra-flat with a flexible binder.
Her suggested starter range: Van Dyke Brown, Paynes Gray, Raw Umber, Burnt Umber, Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna, Golden Yellow and Chrome Oxide Green.
Read the full story on Rosco Spectrum →Image: Rosco / Steph Charaska. Source: Transitioning Your Shop From House Paint To Rosco Off Broadway Scenic Paints, Rosco.
Specs at a glance
Coverage and sizes
| Supersaturated | Off Broadway | |
|---|---|---|
| Colours | 32 artists' colours | 27 artists' colours + 5 metallics |
| Dilution | At least 1:1 with water or Clear Acrylic Glaze | Straight from the can, or thinned with water |
| Coverage | About 28 m² per 3.79 L at 3:1 | About 28 m² per 3.79 L |
| Finish | Flat | Flat |
| Dry time | Touch-dry 30–45 min at 24°C; recoat in 1–2 h | See product page |
Specs from Rosco: Supersaturated Roscopaint and Off Broadway. Coverage depends on surface, tool and film thickness. Test first.
More reading: Supersaturated guide · Off Broadway guide · Scenic paint selection guide · Scenic texture & coatings
Painting a drop? Ask us first.
Tell us the cloth size, the look and the deadline. We will work out the colours and quantities, and supply trade accounts for theatres, schools, studios and hire companies.
Case-study images and project information courtesy of Rosco, with each source linked above. Rosco, Off Broadway and Supersaturated are Rosco trademarks. CFATS is the exclusive Rosco distributor for Australia and New Zealand.