Image contrast suffers when stray light reaches the focal plane. Even the best flat black paint reflects about 5% of the light that strikes it, and more when viewed at high angles of incidence.
In 1997, Protostar was the first to develop a low-pile, ultra-black, flocked surface for lining telescope tubes which effectively absorbs well over 99% of visible light, and is effective at all angles of incidence. Unlike decorative grades of flocking, Protostar light trap material doesn't shed on your optics. The improvement in field contrast is most noticeable when you look at a bright planets or the Moon.
Features:
 Offered as self-adhesive material and on a plastic substrate
Absorbs over 99% of visible light (see graph).
Effective even at high angles of incidence.
Engineered to be a light trap (not a decorative flocking).
Made from moisture-proof synthetic materials.
Protostar light trap is a versatile material, and other non-telescopic applications include:
Home theaters (black-out screen surrounds)
Room darkening
Spectrographs
Box cameras and kaleidoscopes.
Constructing video production backgrounds (or "black walls")
Making light trap boxes
Art and science fair projectss
Flocked light trap optical properties:
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Avg. visible reflectivity @ 0º incidence angle
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<0.4%
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Avg. visible reflectivity @ 80º incidence angle
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<0.7%
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Spectral reflectivity curve
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See graph 
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