Combining power efficiency, reliability, and customization flexibility, optical shutter and rotary solenoid device pairings provide blocking, unblocking, and modulation of beams of natural or UV light in various applications. Spring and bi-stable formats are available for shutters and rotary solenoids, and both clockwise and counterclockwise rotations are available with rotation angles of up to 60° (spring solenoids) and 75° (bi-stable solenoids). Various operating voltages, angles of rotation, direction of rotation, shutter sizes, and shapes are available and can be customized.