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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Backgrounds?
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Showing posts 1 - 10 of 10, (reverse)
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04/28/2009 10:47:52 PM · #1
How do you get a background so black and rich like in this photo?

04/28/2009 10:48:20 PM · #2
IreneM you have done an awesome job with this one.
04/28/2009 10:56:23 PM · #3
I would also like to know :)

Whenever I tried, it shows close to gray or dark brown :)
04/28/2009 11:09:12 PM · #4
I too would like to know....inquiring minds...
04/28/2009 11:15:23 PM · #5
Just make sure no light hits the background, or make sure that your shutter is fast enough to kill any ambient light hitting the background.

ETA: Also, read the Strobist Lighting Introduction.

And in photoshop, use the colour sampler tool to check that your background is pure black.

Message edited by author 2009-04-28 23:16:53.
04/28/2009 11:17:19 PM · #6
I am going to guess that is an actual black backdrop or posterboard, minimal lighting on the backdrop, and then using levels in photoshop to make it true black. Thats how I did it on:
and

Thats just my thoughts on it. Hopefully Irene will give you guys some insite.

Message edited by author 2009-04-28 23:20:15.
04/29/2009 01:23:49 AM · #7
Get some black velvet for your backdrop. It absorbs very well. The lighting overall is pretty crappy on this but it shows how easy it is to do.
All that I used is a yard of quality black velvet from the fabric store. The "figure" is literally sitting right on it, on top of a chair. The velvet is draped in such a manner that it creates a curve in the background, so the light hits all of it at an angle.
04/29/2009 06:24:55 AM · #8
Originally posted by spiritualspatula:

Get some black velvet for your backdrop. It absorbs very well. The lighting overall is pretty crappy on this but it shows how easy it is to do.
All that I used is a yard of quality black velvet from the fabric store. The "figure" is literally sitting right on it, on top of a chair. The velvet is draped in such a manner that it creates a curve in the background, so the light hits all of it at an angle.

Exactly! Use a black background and watch your lighting.
04/29/2009 06:44:33 AM · #9
If you shoot in natural light, just keep the black velvet backdrop a few feet away, and make sure that no direct light falls on the backdrop.


Message edited by author 2009-04-29 06:44:52.
04/29/2009 08:29:55 AM · #10
If the amount of light on the BG is 3 stops (or more) below the amount of light on the subject the BG will be black.
Conversely, if the BG is 3 stops brighter than the subject then it will be white.

Black cloth (velvet, felt) will help tremendously in making the BG turn out black.

This is a very early entry of mine, but it's hot lights and the black is a black T-shirt turned inside out


The BG here is a piece of fake black fur fabric with a pattern in it to catch the light just a little bit, but very little light in on the BG. There is light on her shirt which is also black so it shows up.
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