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09/10/2006 05:41:18 PM · #1 |
Where does everyone get these shiny white backgrounds that reflect the subject a little bit - I see them used a lot for product/stock photography but occasionally for portraits where the person lies down on it or whatnot.
Where do you get it? Home Depot and Lowes only have clear acrylic/plexiglass. Michaels has nothing really.
I bought clear acrylic and white foam board and I'm going to put the acrylic on top of the foamboard...but surely this isn't what everyone does?
Someone advise please.
Message edited by author 2006-09-10 17:42:08. |
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09/10/2006 05:42:41 PM · #2 |
| I dont know either but I'm also very interested in finding out. need to watch this thread. thanks for asking. I keep forgetting to. |
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09/10/2006 05:44:19 PM · #3 |
what about buying the clear and painting the back?
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09/10/2006 05:45:36 PM · #4 |
| I assume they are painting one side of the acrylic to match background or having a longer background and placing the acrylic over it |
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09/10/2006 05:48:54 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by oOWonderBreadOo:
what about buying the clear and painting the back? |
Hmm...if that is what they do then I guess I will try it - can someone advise? |
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09/10/2006 05:51:51 PM · #6 |
| A while ago I read a thread on a different forum, I forget which, that was linked from a thread here. In it photographers were showing their studios. One of them did stunning full body model shots with the reflection that you're looking for. He used a very large sheet of plexiglass, and his background was very long and came down all the way under it. I have photos, but they're on my other computer back at home and I live in a different city now. Sorry. :( |
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09/10/2006 07:52:26 PM · #7 |
This guy on e-bay sells a lot of different plexi. I've bought some gloss black from him as well as some other colors that I've not gotten around to useing yet.
This is a sell of white that he has on e-bay right now:
//cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330026381060
Here is another place:
//www.delviesplastics.com/ACRYLIC%20SHEET.htm
You can also find suppliers by doing a google search on White Acrylic or White plexiglass. Lots of listings come up.
Mike
Message edited by author 2006-09-10 22:41:06.
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09/10/2006 08:04:16 PM · #8 |
I used to buy plexi for arcade video game screen covers. We used a company called Cadillac Plastics (Denver) to get it and custom cut too. Kinda like your average glass company but plastics instead. They had all kindsof things from plexi world that you could buy through them.
Look in your local phone book for a plastics distributer/company.....
edit: I really should proofread once in a while!
Message edited by author 2006-09-10 20:04:42. |
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09/10/2006 08:11:36 PM · #9 |
how big ?
i use stuff from home depot but in their lighting section
2x4 ft thin & fragile but good enough for small stuff. .. |
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09/10/2006 09:07:10 PM · #10 |
You can buy just about any type of plastic material from places like United States Plastic Corporation or Modern Plastics.
A sheet of 1/8" Clear Lexan® Polycarbonate Sheeting would work great, but there are other types and brands of clear plastic sheet, like Lucite, Plexiglas, Polycast, etc..
It will probably cost a bit more per square foot, but you should be able to buy clear plastic sheeting from your local glass store. Most glass stores usually stock 1/8" and 1/4" thick Lexan or Lucite, in 4' x 8' sheets, and will cut it to any size you want.
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09/10/2006 09:11:28 PM · #11 |
You don't paint the plexiglas. Of course I find this out after i paint some...
You put the clear plexi over whatever color you want, and the plexi is shiny and clear so it reflects and the BG is the color you want.
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09/10/2006 10:39:29 PM · #12 |
can we see an example of a shot that used this? I'm curious.
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09/10/2006 11:37:41 PM · #13 |
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09/11/2006 12:00:34 AM · #14 |
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09/11/2006 12:46:02 AM · #15 |
Yup, it's just clear plexi. Bring your background paper out and put the plexi over it for the reflection. Lot of cool effects you can do with it.
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09/11/2006 01:11:54 AM · #16 |
Once upon a time, KevinRiggs also posted his studio setup once he built it. I remember, because I read it, and had it bookmarked for a while, cause I wanted to do something similar. Since I bought a house, plans have changed... but wish I still had his bookmarked.
I've had good luck with paper under the glass in the past for projects. |
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09/11/2006 03:43:16 AM · #17 |
I seldom photograph the area in which I work but today I was checking the tethered connection and just happened to have the 1Ds with the 17-40 in my hand rather than sitting pointing at the wall when I clicked the button in the software and grabbed this image.
My studio space is pretty limited (something like 15' x 25' with a 10x10' alcove) so I have to be very careful of lines especially reflecting light from the edges of the BG paper on the plexi.
In a shot like the thumb I've put the paper over the plastic to keep from introducing the shiny reflection as I wanted to build a little shadow into that image.
I purchased 1/4" clear plexiglass and simply lay it over the BG color paper of choice for a shoot. The color will shine through the plexi. Best bet for buying the stuff is your local glass shop. Find out who sells glass in your area, give 'em a call and ask for a sheet of 1/4" plexiglass. It should cost you between $100-200. It's a PITA to get home unless they'll cut it for you, though, as it normally comes in 4x8' sheets (barely fits in the van with all seats folded down).
It becomes marred easily, too. I've used this same sheet for a few years but you have to buff out the marks sometimes (you'd be surprised what a pair of stillettos will do to it).
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09/11/2006 03:45:25 AM · #18 |
P.S. - the angle of the lights and the camera angle both can affect the refelction in the photo.
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