Abstract: A window shade system including a flexible shading member having multiple, sequentially connected shading elements, at least one of the shading elements having a tint factor of between five and fifty percent inclusive; at least one of the shading elements having a tint factor between fifty-one and ninety-five percent inclusive; and first and second reel assemblies, each reel assembly being attachable to a structure adjacent a window, the first reel assembly having a first rotatable reel shaft secured to a first end of the shading member, the second reel assembly having a second rotatable reel shaft secured to a second end of the shading member, the first and second reel assemblies working in a complimentary fashion such that when one reel shaft is rotating in a take-off direction the other reel shaft is rotating in a take-up direction.