Backdrops - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

02/16/2004 07:28:12 PM · #1

Hi, today I built my "studio" and I need some advice on affordable backdrops. Heres a picture of the dimensions below.

tfaust

Canon EOS 80D

02/16/2004 07:32:16 PM · #2

Wow, I wish my garage was that clean! :-)

I don't know about affordable, but B&H Photo sells backdrops. I'm hoping to see some of the other suggestions.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

02/16/2004 08:01:53 PM · #3

I think im gonna try bed sheets. Are there any reasons that I dont know about why I shouldnt use bedsheets, or anyother kind of sheets.?

Konador

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

02/16/2004 08:05:14 PM · #4

The creases are a pain :P

soup

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

02/16/2004 08:05:32 PM · #5

looks like it may too short for stand up people shots.
just over 5 feet tall...

deafwolf

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG APO IF for Canon

02/16/2004 08:08:13 PM · #6

That looks much easier to use. I've been using my light stands with photo clips holding the backdrop. I have a full backdrop setup but it's a pain to get out and set up since the side of the garage I shoot in normally has a car. Did you glue it or leave it where you can disassemble it?

no disassemble number 5.

Message edited by author 2004-02-16 20:08:31.

02/16/2004 08:19:04 PM · #7

I hit those pipes in pretty good, although if I wanted to dissassemle it, I probably could. Also, the garage isnt a problem, its south florida, so temperature isnt an issue. Maybe once in a while, itll get too humid. As for the height, Ill have people sit on a little stool. I also made 3.5 foot light stands (2) to clip lights onto. If sheets have issues with wrinkles, what if I have the person sit further away from the sheet and use a really large aperature?

tatu54

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

02/16/2004 08:29:58 PM · #8

My Bg's and Bd's are close-out cloth from where ever I can find them. Usually Wal-Mart. I have paid as little as seventy cents a yard for some. Usually ninety-nine cents a yard.

Dyes, bleach and cloth paint can personalize them for you.

When I get them the first thing I do is wash and dry them. I wad them up in a tight ball and put them in a bag for storage. This also removes the fold crease but makes interesting patterns.

If you are budgeted for cash, then this is an inexpensive to vary the background.

Dale

Message edited by author 2004-02-16 20:32:24.

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

02/16/2004 08:30:51 PM · #9

so thats basically the same as bed sheets?

Nukkta

Nikon D100

02/16/2004 08:44:07 PM · #10

HI, I alway buy muslin at walmart, I can get a 10x12 for like 25.00. Then I get No sew glue and make the hole for the rod. Then I dye it with rit color, I works great. Here is one i made...

but blue gives me lots of trouble with the digi cam.

tolovemoon

Canon EOS Rebel SL1

02/16/2004 08:46:15 PM · #11

I recently bought felt for backdrops $3.00 a yard, no creases or wrinkles my only worry is the black holding lint, or them standing up to washing. I have other fabric found at yardsales some I despise cause of wrinkles, so I am looking for now is something not fabric but more like screens or poster board that are durable and can be rolled up without leaving creases in them.....

02/16/2004 08:51:31 PM · #12

Originally posted by Nukkta:

HI, I alway buy muslin at walmart, I can get a 10x12 for like 25.00. Then I get No sew glue and make the hole for the rod. Then I dye it with rit color, I works great. Here is one i made...

but blue gives me lots of trouble with the digi cam.

muslin at walmart... always has to be bought 12x10? Can I buy it like 6x5?

lmason

Nikon Coolpix 990

02/16/2004 09:20:56 PM · #13

I use a printing company that has a large format digital printer
60x96" It is low resolution but i have even taken some background images and had them printed in that size. since the background is beyond the D.O.F. for portraits the low resolution does not have to be an issue a matt finish on the paper prevents reflection
works for me.

Message edited by author 2004-02-22 07:59:40.

Glen King

Nikon Coolpix 3100

02/16/2004 09:23:21 PM · #14

I've used several things for backdrops. I have several black king size flat sheets. I've been known to clamp them on fences, pin them to walls, and drape them over chairs. I also have some curtain panels (lace, mesh, net, etc) to overlay other parts of a background.

02/16/2004 09:25:11 PM · #15

Originally posted by Glen King:

so which do you think is the best?

stormi007

Minolta DiMAGE 7i

02/16/2004 09:30:23 PM · #16

There's always the option of buying some bright green or blue fabric and then using digital backgrounds. I've had some success stories with those. They're fun to play with anyway.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

02/16/2004 09:33:36 PM · #17

nah, my brother had his hockey teams pictures done like that, and all the players faces, and jerseys had bright green reflections on them.

Glen King

Nikon Coolpix 3100

02/16/2004 09:40:12 PM · #18

Originally posted by hsteg:

Originally posted by Glen King:
I've used several things for backdrops. I have several black king size flat sheets. I've been known to clamp them on fences, pin them to walls, and drape them over chairs. I also have some curtain panels (lace, mesh, net, etc) to overlay other parts of a background.

so which do you think is the best?

I prefer the black sheets. They hang well, the color is even enough that lighting is not problematic. The main trouble with them is that some items simply don't show up against the dark background. I've been considering getting some white sheets to use the same way. By the way, I don't wash these very often, and when I do, I do them all to keep the colors consistently faded.

photoqwest

Canon EOS-D60

02/16/2004 09:47:39 PM · #19

If you want good professional backgrounds for a decent price check out www.backdropoutlet.com They always have great deals on props, wardrobe, and backgrounds. www.keh.com is a good source for things to and they are usually cheaper than B&H.

RHoldenSr

Canon EOS-5D

02/16/2004 09:58:01 PM · #20

Why did you choose 52"?

The standard background paper rolls I buy at the local pro shop are 53" x 36'.

The only good part about the paper rolls is you can cut it off if it gets dirty are wrinkled.

I buy them for about $20.00 a roll.

I would have mounted flanges to the ceiling and hung it from the ceiling.

Originally posted by hsteg:

Hi, today I built my "studio" and I need some advice on affordable backdrops. Heres a picture of the dimensions below.

jpochard

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

02/16/2004 10:34:57 PM · #21

How about Ebay? I saw some on there that looked nice, but I've not purchased any yet.

Sonifo

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

02/16/2004 11:42:55 PM · #22

Buy some clamps at your local hardware store and clamp the sheets to the pvc pipe. It takes the wrinkles out and you don't have to iron. I have a 2 big pvc pipe backdrop holer that I can put up in a sec and take down in a sec. Works great.

Originally posted by hsteg:

I think im gonna try bed sheets. Are there any reasons that I dont know about why I shouldnt use bedsheets, or anyother kind of sheets.?

inspzil

Olympus E-510

Sigma 50-500mm f/4.0-6.3 EX APO RF HSM for Olympus

02/17/2004 04:16:51 AM · #23

I use the a PVC backdrop holder too with clamps. I buy the cloth usually at Walmart. I've mostly bought the $1 or $2 a yard cloth, but I have bought some more expensive ones and probably will continue to do so. The fleeces and flannels work well because you can pull the wrinkles right out of them. So I look for things that are stretchy. Even yucky polyester works pretty well. Most of them have creases or wrinkles in there somewhere that I don't want, but I've become pretty proficient cloning those out, which isn't good for DPC, but in the real world, its become a helpful skill. The only thing about getting cloth is make sure you only buy from the widest bolts, because of the 52" width. Most material doesn't come that wide, or at least not where I've been buying it.

Good Luck - Bob

Message edited by author 2004-02-17 04:18:15.

PaulMdx

Canon EOS-1D