Backdrop Suggestions?

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WhiteLight

Senior Member
As i've been setting up my studio (Still waiting for the triggers :( ), am in the process of getting a backdrop.
i have suggested Savage White Seamless to some people here, but the situation for me is a little different.

One roll of white seamless costs around $110 here!!!
The dealer says if i buy 4 rolls, he'll give me each for $75
It's still waaay too expensive for my liking.. specially considering am just getting started & that the paper rolls ain't permanent.

Thinking about white Vinyls..which again is not 'cheap', costs around $70 each... but the positive is that it's permanent.

Thoughts?
 
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WayneF

Senior Member
Try a white bed sheet (or bleached white muslin material from the fabric store). To make it be white instead of gray, we have to light it anyway, and the point (for white) is to light it to slightly overexpose it, so that it burns out all wrinkles - any and all variances are clipped slightly at 255 (slightly is enough). Bed sheet works fine.

However, white and black backgrounds are novelities, we get tired of them for every time use.
 
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pedroj

Senior Member
I have 2 muslin backdrops one black one white 6x3 meters....I find with the black one if I place the subject 2 to 3 meters from it with the lights high and wide the wrinkles are not a problem...The white I usually shoot a light on it
 
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WayneF

Senior Member
WhiteLight said:
Thanks Wayne.
any particular material to look out for?
Click to expand...

The local fabric stores here have tons of beached white muslin, various thicknesses and widths, and not expensive, relatively. It is popular for the studio purpose.

Muslin does wrinkle, and storing it folded is bad news, so many photographers just wad it up in a big ball and stuff in it a sack. It still wrinkles, but many random irregular wrinkles then, which distance and wide aperture could hide. Folded makes big bold obvious straight seams as wrinkles. Either way, we really need a fabric steamer to remove them, and then folded becomes a little simpler. Rolling it on a rod is probably better, I never tried that.

The seamless paper is not very expensive, but the shipping cost becomes prohibitive.

The muslin is much more durable, and we can also do things like dye it, or tie-dye it, or paint it, etc. It comes in white, or black, or an unbleached sort of straw color. Look into muslin, it is the obvious choice.
 
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