Backdrop Type and Size ??

lifeinfocus

I intend on setting up a hhttp://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/588575-REG/Backdrop_Alley_BAR24CHRGRY_Reversible_Muslin_Backdrop_10.htmlome studio soon.

I found a backdrop I like Photoflex - Pro-Duty Backdrop Support Kit
B&H# PHPDBDSK Mfr# DP-SHDBGSPKT

But I am undecided on one backdrop to start with. What do you think of this one: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/602831-REG/Backdrop_Alley_BAPH24BLK_BAPH24BLK_Premium_Heavyweight_Solid.html

Backdrop Alley BAPH24BLK Premium Heavyweight Solid Muslin (10 x 24', Black)

I also note cotton ones by savage that are two sided colors - gray and light gray for instance.

I may set up onsite at times, but mostly at my home studio.

Thanks
Phil

Art Scott

I would go with a light muslin or cotton in either black or med. dark grey ... ... ... this way if you decide to use digital backgrounds these wouold be pretty easy to remove...and these colors do not reflect the light back onto subject like other colors will....also blk and med dark grey can be colored by using back lights and gels...so you can have a humongous array of colorful backgrounds with less space and money involved. 10x24 is a great size and i would not get any 2 sided ones... jmho

lifeinfocus

Art Scott wrote: »

I would go with a light muslin or cotton in either black or med. dark grey ... ... ... this way if you decide to use digital backgrounds these would be pretty easy to remove...and these colors do not reflect the light back onto subject like other colors will....also blk and med dark grey can be colored by using back lights and gels...so you can have a humongous array of colorful backgrounds with less space and money involved. 10x24 is a great size and i would not get any 2 sided ones... jmho

Excellent and timely info. as I was considering two sided ones.

Thanks much,
Phil

lifeinfocus

Art Scott wrote: »

I would go with a light muslin or cotton in either black or med. dark grey ... ... ... this way if you decide to use digital backgrounds these would be pretty easy to remove...and these colors do not reflect the light back onto subject like other colors will....also blk and med dark grey can be colored by using back lights and gels...so you can have a humongous array of colorful backgrounds with less space and money involved. 10x24 is a great size and i would not get any 2 sided ones... jmho

Art, do you have a specific brand in mind?

And could you explain what you meant by "if you decide to use digital backgrounds these would be pretty easy to remove"?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/742339-REG/Savage_CL12_1020_Infinity_Lint_Free_Pro.html is the one that looks interesting to me as far ability to keep clean and winkle free. Is it the right color though? I called the company and lady thought it to be medium gray.

Thanks again,
Phil

Art Scott

lifeinfocus wrote: »

Art, do you have a specific brand in mind?

And could you explain what you meant by "if you decide to use digital backgrounds these would be pretty easy to remove"?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/742339-REG/Savage_CL12_1020_Infinity_Lint_Free_Pro.html is the one that looks interesting to me as far ability to keep clean and winkle free. Is it the right color though? I called the company and lady thought it to be medium gray.

Thanks again,
Phil

digital backgrounds.....yes...with digital bkgrnds you need a solid color bkgrnd to remove it easily...at one time it was thought it had to be green or blue...however you can remove any bkgrnd but it can be a real pain....solid colors or near solids work best....I have used blk in the past as long as my client were dressed in something not of a dark color ... and blk can work say if your client is dressed in a brighter color but has dark hair that is puffy (think late 80's big hair, which seems to be making a come back) which can make it easier to clean up the hair if needed....grey being a neutral color also can work well and if need be it can be colored to change it way from the clients grey suit, lets say...so splash some magenta on the backdrop (or blue or green etc etc) and it may take 2 or even 3 hits of removal but it is still fast...the reason I prefer to work with these colors is they do not reflect light, they tend to grab and hold it which makes the colors show up a lot better: This is a shot of a very old business card
http://www.artscottfotografie.com/photos/212619424_QvV2B-O.jpg
but it shows a colored background...originally it was a really dark THUNDER GREY which I splashed one of the orange gels across, it did reflect back onto her hair but that was intended..the bkgrnd lights were less than 2 feet from the bkgrnd and she was only a couple of feet in front of the lights but due to the brightness I could easily take the magic wand or lasso tool and remove it pretty quickly ... ... and using gels to color your bkgrnds gives you an almost infinite amount of bkgrnds to let your clients choose from...

This one is just about the correct color, for a med drk grey...however I only have one bkgrnd that I paid over $35 for and it is a hand painted rose...the rest I scoured over ebay, amazon and dozens of other sites until I found deals on muslin that light could pour thru from the backside if I wanted it too and I have been using them for several yrs now....when they arrive they will be folded and crammed in a box of large envelope ... ... ... so they will be creased like crazy... if you plan of leaving them hang then you will need to carefully steam iron them and may even need to steam them after hanging to just get them just the way you want them...personally I leave some wrinkles in them but no creases... ... ...

hope this helps...

lifeinfocus

Art Scott wrote: »

digital backgrounds.....yes...with digital bkgrnds you need a solid color bkgrnd to remove it easily...at one time it was thought it had to be green or blue...however you can remove any bkgrnd but it can be a real pain....solid colors or near solids work best....I have used blk in the past as long as my client were dressed in something not of a dark color ... and blk can work say if your client is dressed in a brighter color but has dark hair that is puffy (think late 80's big hair, which seems to be making a come back) which can make it easier to clean up the hair if needed....grey being a neutral color also can work well and if need be it can be colored to change it way from the clients grey suit, lets say...so splash some magenta on the backdrop (or blue or green etc etc) and it may take 2 or even 3 hits of removal but it is still fast...the reason I prefer to work with these colors is they do not reflect light, they tend to grab and hold it which makes the colors show up a lot better: This is a shot of a very old business card
http://www.artscottfotografie.com/photos/212619424_QvV2B-O.jpg
but it shows a colored background...originally it was a really dark THUNDER GREY which I splashed one of the orange gels across, it did reflect back onto her hair but that was intended..the bkgrnd lights were less than 2 feet from the bkgrnd and she was only a couple of feet in front of the lights but due to the brightness I could easily take the magic wand or lasso tool and remove it pretty quickly ... ... and using gels to color your bkgrnds gives you an almost infinite amount of bkgrnds to let your clients choose from...

This one is just about the correct color, for a med drk grey...however I only have one bkgrnd that I paid over $35 for and it is a hand painted rose...the rest I scoured over ebay, amazon and dozens of other sites until I found deals on muslin that light could pour thru from the backside if I wanted it too and I have been using them for several yrs now....when they arrive they will be folded and crammed in a box of large envelope ... ... ... so they will be creased like crazy... if you plan of leaving them hang then you will need to carefully steam iron them and may even need to steam them after hanging to just get them just the way you want them...personally I leave some wrinkles in them but no creases... ... ...

hope this helps...

Big help. Sorry for late response as I have been working on a few church projects.

Take care,
Phil

lifeinfocus

Youtube on Using Grey Background
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDGn4VzEOlU

Quick video on how to use grey background to get black, white or any other color background.

Art Scott

lifeinfocus wrote: »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDGn4VzEOlU

Quick video on how to use grey background to get black, white or any other color background.

very good tute... and works as well with studio lights also... clapthumb

jziegler

I ordered this set through Amazon.com about a months ago:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002ZHKMWM/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00

It's the first I've used a background, and I did a session with my wife on Sunday, and it worked well. The 10x20 was a good size, although we had it partially folded over on the floor because the room we worked in wasn't big enough for the whole thing. I'm planning to order some smaller backgrounds so I don't need to use the whole length of the crossbar all of the time.

I used both the white and the black, and overall liked the black better.

lifeinfocus

jziegler wrote: »

I ordered this set through Amazon.com about a months ago:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002ZHKMWM/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00

It's the first I've used a background, and I did a session with my wife on Sunday, and it worked well. The 10x20 was a good size, although we had it partially folded over on the floor because the room we worked in wasn't big enough for the whole thing. I'm planning to order some smaller backgrounds so I don't need to use the whole length of the crossbar all of the time.

I used both the white and the black, and overall liked the black better.

Thanks for your reply. I ordered the gray background and have been testing various setups according to the tutorial a few posts up. Fun to be able to set the background with just lighting.

Art Scott

lifeinfocus wrote: »

Thanks for your reply. I ordered the gray background and have been testing various setups according to the tutorial a few posts up. Fun to be able to set the background with just lighting.

It saves a ton of money also... ... ... in backdrops, backdrop systems and lets you really match backdrop colors to clients clothes ... ... and it can be fun mixing and matching colors....