what materials do you often use for... ?

10/03/2005 09:45:56 PM · #1

what materials do you often use for plain white or black backgrounds?
how's the setup and lighting? pics of setups would be very helpful... thanks!

Elemmennope

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

10/03/2005 10:01:31 PM · #2

In my extremely amateur low-budget way, I've done two shots with black grounds. Both times I used a navy blue fleece jacket behind the subject, and shot in pitch dark in a bathroom that has no windows. Light was done with a transilluminator in the tulip shot (the bright light the eye doc shines in your eyes to check pupil function) and a tea light candle in the lotus picture.

Tuckersmom

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1

10/03/2005 10:04:29 PM · #3

I'm low budget too so I bought a yard of black velvet for $19.99 and have used that A LOT. I only use natural light outside and the velvet works pretty well. It does pick up lots of fuzz though. Here are 2 examples:

10/03/2005 10:13:37 PM · #4

nice samples!!! its quite interesting that turquoise919 shoots in the dark while Tuckersmom use natural light outside... well the good thing is i'm into low budget too! lol

10/03/2005 10:18:11 PM · #5

I use typing or computer paper.

10/03/2005 10:20:41 PM · #6

Originally posted by faidoi:

I use typing or computer paper.

Message edited by author 2005-10-03 22:21:54.

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

10/03/2005 10:27:27 PM · #7

Originally posted by faidoi:

Originally posted by faidoi:
I use typing or computer paper.

alright! but do you guys know how to lighten the shadows?

Tuckersmom

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1

10/03/2005 10:27:27 PM · #8

Also, for white I have this plastic serving tray that is really white, I just flip it over and use that, examples:

awpollard

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

10/03/2005 10:28:02 PM · #9

This one is just put up for fun in a different thread (and the way I shoot small/medium subjects)

Is done with a goofy setup I did at work.

Lighting is a 2' x 3' tracing table with 4 flourescents behind white plexiglass turned on its side (Marketing people were throwing it out)

Then I placed (4) white 2' x 3' foam core boards as back, side, top and bottom with the tracing table lights as the left side. This leaves the front open for me to shot in at a subject placed in the box. The reflected light off the top, bottom and opposite side give plenty of light in the box. Also the top foam core board keeps unwanted relections off shinny objects.

Tuckersmom

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1

10/03/2005 10:28:45 PM · #10

For the shadows I set the white point in curves or levels, that usually works pretty well. For the film, I liked the shadow and left it. For some others I'll clone out what's left after the curves.

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

10/03/2005 10:30:42 PM · #11

Light table like awpollard said is the best way to get rid of those shadows.

You can light underneath a piece of glass or plexi, even an empty fishtank and place the object on something white.

awpollard

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

10/03/2005 10:30:54 PM · #12

Wow...I guess I showed this little beauty before I found the setup in my port...

I use levels and Contrast to take care of shadows.

10/03/2005 10:33:14 PM · #13

Originally posted by Tuckersmom:

For the shadows I set the white point in curves or levels, that usually works pretty well. For the film, I liked the shadow and left it. For some others I'll clone out what's left after the curves.

That's what I pretty much did here. The other was just invert on PS which can be done in camera with some point and shooters.

art-inept

Olympus C-5060WZ

Canon EF 35mm f/2.0

10/03/2005 10:49:29 PM · #14

Originally posted by faidoi:

Originally posted by Tuckersmom:
For the shadows I set the white point in curves or levels, that usually works pretty well. For the film, I liked the shadow and left it. For some others I'll clone out what's left after the curves.

That's what I pretty much did here. The other was just invert on PS which can be done in camera with some point and shooters.

so this is how the pancake shot was made...

10/03/2005 10:51:19 PM · #15

Originally posted by art-inept:

Originally posted by faidoi:

Originally posted by Tuckersmom:
For the shadows I set the white point in curves or levels, that usually works pretty well. For the film, I liked the shadow and left it. For some others I'll clone out what's left after the curves.

That's what I pretty much did here. The other was just invert on PS which can be done in camera with some point and shooters.

so this is how the pancake shot was made...

Oops, forgot to mention that I selected and masked the label to leave it the same as the original ;)