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06/19/2003 03:00:17 PM · #1 |
A local fabric store is having a sale so I thought it would be a good time to pick up some for use as a drop cloth. I was thinking of getting some white fabric as well as some black (or very dark blue).
My question(s): What kind of fabric would you recommend? Does the fabric matter when it comes to light/dark backdrops?
Message edited by author 2003-06-19 15:00:29. |
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06/19/2003 03:03:23 PM · #2 |
Just check they don't reflect light. You don't want shine.
:) Good luck.
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06/19/2003 03:04:57 PM · #3 |
be careful with black felt. i bought some and it seems to have some white it it which showed up a white specs in my photos.
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06/19/2003 03:11:32 PM · #4 |
| If they have cotton velvet or "velveteen" is what I use. It's non reflective but it's a bear to remove lint from. I also tried black felt but it had a lot of shine to it. I wouldn't want a fabric that wrinkles a lot either. I think a wrinkled backdrop looks very tacky. |
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06/19/2003 03:30:13 PM · #5 |
for white fabric or off white try to get muslin, it is very easy to use, its biggest pitfall is it wrinkles a lot but it does make fantastic backdrops and also works well for the floor.
Make sure you get tightly woven fabrics so that you don't have problems with light shining through. Cottons and polyesters make great backdrops cause if you have the edges of it serged on a sewing machince you can throw in the wash when they look a little dirty and be back up and going in 2 hours time with clean backdrops.
I have a few backdrops that are 3 1/2 yards of muslin I had the edges serged so they don't fray out and had hooks put in the top so I can do a head to floor shots. I haven't had a chance to try them out yet but I have some senior portraits I am doing next month so I am sure I will be trying them out then. But I had mine designed just like a friend of mines who does pageant and modeling portfolios for a living...figure his backdrops work for him they can work for me too.
Message edited by author 2003-06-19 15:31:20. |
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06/19/2003 03:37:15 PM · #6 |
| I think velvet will do the job |
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06/19/2003 07:00:46 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by eikidigi:
I think velvet will do the job |
I have a velvet backdrop, you just have to be very careful of lint, every little bit shows in the photo, especially on closeups. |
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06/19/2003 07:19:09 PM · #8 |
when i do something that needs that big of a background, like people shots, i use one of three flat queen size sheets black, dark blue or white. basic cotton is good for me since i have animals that like to shed!:)
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06/19/2003 09:46:14 PM · #9 |
You may also want to pick up a remnant of some gauzy or lacy fabric specifically TO shine the light through, either as a diffuser/colorant or to create a pattern.
Clothespins (or those hangers with the two spring clips on them) are useful for temporary hanging if you don't want to affix hooks or rings to the fabric. |
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06/19/2003 10:02:43 PM · #10 |
| I forgot to mention earlier Wal Mart is a fantastic place to pick up material for backdrops they sale the ends of bolts when they get down to less than 10 yards they sale it for $2/yard and then when it gets down below 5 yards they sale it for $1/yard. |
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06/20/2003 07:20:34 AM · #11 |
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
Originally posted by eikidigi:
I think velvet will do the job |
I have a velvet backdrop, you just have to be very careful of lint, every little bit shows in the photo, especially on closeups. |
If we are talking about backdrops - especially white ones - for portraiture, I wouldn't worry much about lint.
1) it will be out of focus, because of the distance between the subject and the backdrop
2) you can aim an extra flash at the backdrop and burn it out completely, for pure-white backgrounds
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