Cheap black backdrop

[pickle788]

Hi Michael here I have taken a real liking to photography in the last year after buying my first dslr (should have got one years ago) and want to do portraits of my kids. What's a good fabric I can pick up from spotlight that won't reflect light? And help would be great thanks!

 

[ColeGauthier]

You know, I went down the same route as you with fabric and I shouldn't have but I did because of my lack of knowledge at the time. Use seamless paper, they come in different colors and you can cut them down to the size you need, they are wrinkle free and when they become torn or dirty you can cut the paper off.

Something like this: Savage Seamless Background Paper 1-12 B&H Photo Video

Note: Don't get anything that says Arctic white since it's more of a blue tint then pure white. - Wrong section of the forum..

 

[cgipson1]

Fabric has a major issue with wrinkles.. at least Muslin does (which is really popular as a cheap fabric background). It is a PITA! Go with paper, like Cole suggested.... much less trouble.

 

[pickle788]

Cheers guys

 

[Big Mike]

Seamless paper (or vinyl) can be great, but if you want a black backdrop it may be tough....at least if you want full body shots where we see what they are standing on (because if you have light on your subject, it will also be on the backdrop where they are standing...and that will likely make it look grey, not black etc.).

If you just want head shot type photos, then a nice material for a black backdrop would be black velvet, few fabrics absorb as much light. It's expensive, but a synthetic option would be cheaper.

But actually, if you can control your lighting, you don't need a black material to get a black background. The key is that you keep light off the background and make sure that a lot more light is on your subject. In this way, you can photography a white background to come out black in the photo. And if you put enough light onto a black background...you can photograph it to look white in the photo.

 

[DiskoJoe]

Go with the white seamless.

 

[Buckster]

The thing I like most about my 10x20 black muslin is that it was a one-time cost. It's also BIG. For wrinkles, I use black gaffer's tape and clamps to stretch it, then steam out any wrinkles that still show. I also use it as far back from my subject(s) as I can, and underexpose it enough that wrinkles don't have a chance to show up in the photo. I tend to just leave it up like that all the time, unless I really have to move it for some reason.

 

[michaelneal]

you also can just fill in the black in Photoshop if any wrinkles and such show on the background

 

[gsgary]

Get some velvet off the market one of the best materials

 

[2WheelPhoto]

I just stash an old sheet in the lightstand bag for when i'm not in the studio

 

[kundalini]

But actually, if you can control your lighting, you don't need a black material to get a black background. The key is that you keep light off the background and make sure that a lot more light is on your subject. In this way, you can photography a white background to come out black in the photo. And if you put enough light onto a black background...you can photograph it to look white in the photo.

I agree with Big Mike. You can get a black background with any background in the frame if you get the distance of the subject and position of the lights correct. I was ~8' from an open window and covered it with a blue blanket to knock down the ambient light for this shot.

I have a collapsible background that is a mottled light grey on one side and a medium grey on the other. It is easy enough to get black, grey or white background colors. Add some gels and you can get the colors of the rainbow.

Green
Red

 

[pickle788]

I agree with Big Mike. You can get a black background with any background in the frame if you get the distance of the subject and position of the lights correct. I was ~8' from an open window and covered it with a blue blanket to knock down the ambient light for this shot.

I have a collapsible background that is a mottled light grey on one side and a medium grey on the other. It is easy enough to get black, grey or white background colors. Add some gels and you can get the colors of the rainbow.

Green
Red

What light setup do you have in this shot oh and thanks for the info by the way your shot look great

 

[kundalini]

What light setup do you have in this shot oh and thanks for the info by the way your shot look great

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...w-key-lighting-self-portrait.html#post2474292