Building a Studio: Backdrops
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**Damon** · 10-21-2009 06:33 PM

Anyone have any good experiences with fabric bought from places like JoAnn's?

I'm setting up a full size (full body) studio and I need to figure out what to use for a backdrop. I want it to be a bright white, seamless, and cheap.

I'm thinking a heavyweight cotton, and maybe a 6'x20' sheet? Anyone have any suggestions? Heading to the fabric store tonight...

**danm** · 10-21-2009 06:39 PM

you'll want it wider than 6'. i cant say yay or nay on material though

**Damon** · 10-23-2009 01:31 PM

yeah. I guess I need more of a square 20x20' of material. I found a flannel that I think would hold up well... but this might be one of those things where the real thing isn't too bad of an option.....

**thomps6s** · 10-23-2009 01:39 PM

Why not get a 9' roll of White seamless paper? No wrinkles and it looks great.

**Damon** · 10-23-2009 01:47 PM

Yeah I should look into paper. Would there be any stores non photo related that would carry something like that? a search pulls up all photo stores.

I need this for a shoot by... last night.

**thomps6s** · 10-23-2009 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by Damon

Yeah I should look into paper. Would there be any stores non photo related that would carry something like that? a search pulls up all photo stores.

I need this for a shoot by... last night.

None that I am aware of. You have no photo stores by you?

**CIM_Photography** · 10-23-2009 01:51 PM

9' paper?

Good luck getting that locally. How the **** would you even transport that, much less ship it?

**thomps6s** · 10-23-2009 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by CIM_Photography

9' paper?

Good luck getting that locally. How the **** would you even transport that, much less ship it?

Many camera shops stock it actually.

I found some locally, but I got aggravated when the store wouldn't call me back and then I found some in Minneapolis, but the gas there and back would have been more than the shipping from BH, so I paid around $57 shipped from BH for a 9' roll of white seamless.

**jacobsen1** · 10-23-2009 02:00 PM

yep, order it from B&H and just be amazed at how big 9' really is when the box shows up.

**Damon** · 10-23-2009 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by thomps6s

None that I am aware of. You have no photo stores by you?

Small one - more of a processing/printing lab though.

**CIM_Photography** · 10-23-2009 02:03 PM

I understand the paper is used so there's no texture or wierd patterns showing up, but is the model usually standing on it, or do you use a different drop for the floor? What's the lifespan look like on something like this?

**thomps6s** · 10-23-2009 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by CIM_Photography

I understand the paper is used so there's no texture or wierd patterns showing up, but is the model usually standing on it, or do you use a different drop for the floor? What's the lifespan look like on something like this?

They stand on it, people usually buy white tile board to set on the paper when it is on the floor so the paper doesn't get marked up. You get 36' of paper, so it should last a while.

The best tutorial on White seamless EVER. http://www.zarias.com/?p=71

**thomps6s** · 10-23-2009 02:30 PM

In the meantime go to a fabric store and get a huge bolt of whatver white fabric looks good to you.
Or go to Sherwin Williams or another paint store and buy a huge white canvas painters cloth.

**jacobsen1** · 10-23-2009 02:46 PM

yeah, I've used king sized flat sheets before. But you have to work out the seem on the floor/wall if you can see it in camera.

**jm2e** · 03-12-2010 01:22 AM

What about using thick drapes/curtains?

**thomps6s** · 03-12-2010 11:06 AM

Go to a paint store, ask if you can inspect the painters canvases before you buy. Find one without a seam, buy it, then go to a hardware store and ask for any "Mistakes" at the paint mixing station. Paint/sponge/etc.. the canvas and make your own backdrop.

**Devildog** · 03-12-2010 11:17 AM

would the texture of the fabric make a weird shadow/tinting effect on the cloth itself?

Noob, here. bear with me. haha

**thomps6s** · 03-12-2010 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by Devildog

would the texture of the fabric make a weird shadow/tinting effect on the cloth itself?

Noob, here. bear with me. haha

It's a pretty popular way to make DIY backdrops.

Todd over at www.AdamsonStudios.com has made a couple and gets great results.

**Devildog** · 03-12-2010 11:39 AM

I did'nt really elaborate my question well. What I was really thinking is if you would still be able to pull of a seamless look without the very smooth surface of paper?

Should've been more specific..........................or actually work at the office and not mess around on the interwebz.

**thomps6s** · 03-12-2010 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by Devildog

I did'nt really elaborate my question well. What I was really thinking is if you would still be able to pull of a seamless look without the very smooth surface of paper?

Should've been more specific..........................or actually work at the office and not mess around on the interwebz.

Depends on your subject's distance to the backdrop and the aperture you shoot at. You would need to have the fabric wrinkle free, but really you probably coouldn't mimic the look of paper.

**JERM** · 03-12-2010 11:44 AM

I went to a local thrift store and bought some used king-size sheets. It cost like five bucks total.

**Devildog** · 03-12-2010 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by JERM

I went to a local thrift store and bought some used king-size sheets. It cost like five bucks total.

hmmm, that's good idea. Cheap almost to the point of being disposable.

**JERM** · 03-12-2010 11:58 AM

Hit it hard with a background light and any wrinkles or texture should get blown out, leaving you with a pure white background.

**Devildog** · 03-12-2010 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by JERM

Hit it hard with a background light and any wrinkles or texture should get blown out, leaving you with a pure white background.

Yeah, I was thinking that.

I'm just curious about making it work for video.

I'm thinking if I hit it with enough BG light to blow out the wrinkles and texture, even with slight movement, I'll have enough light on it to weld with.

**thomps6s** · 03-12-2010 12:11 PM

Paper backdrops are relatively inexpensive especially if you can get them locally.

**Devildog** · 03-12-2010 12:14 PM

I was wanting to try it moreso with video. I'm concerned that with a model (models) moving around on it it would tear.

**Devildog** · 03-12-2010 12:15 PM

OHHHHH, I have an idea. If you took a canvas or cotton sheet and soaked it in watered down bright white epoxy then stretched it out to dry.

The epoxy would give a smoother surface and make it a little stiffer to keep out wrinkles and add tear resistance.

**thomps6s** · 03-12-2010 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by Devildog

I was wanting to try it moreso with video. I'm concerned that with a model (models) moving around on it it would tear.

Tape the front of it down or even better get a couple 4x8 sheets of white tile board for the models to stand on. It looks great and is durable.
http://www.zarias.com/?p=71

**JERM** · 03-12-2010 12:38 PM

Nice link!

**Devildog** · 03-12-2010 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by JERM

Nice link!

OUTFRIGGINSTANDING link!!!!!

Gonna be studying that closely in a little bit. That's exactly what I need to put together. Hopefully I can find a way to blow out the seems between the board/cloth and board/board. I'll need a space bigger than 4x8

**Kilonad** · 03-12-2010 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

yep, order it from B&H and just be amazed at how big 9" really is when the box shows up.

by changing ' to ", this can be turned into a wonderful dick-in-a-box reference.

**Kilonad** · 03-12-2010 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by thomps6s

Tape the front of it down or even better get a couple 4x8 sheets of white tile board for the models to stand on. It looks great and is durable.
http://www.zarias.com/?p=71

I keep forgetting about his site. Every time I revisit it, it blows me away, because it's clear and concise, and the results speak for themselves. He also brings up very good points like different lenses performing differently against a white seamless backdrop. It's completely true, and that alone frequently drives my lens choice when working with white backgrounds in a studio.

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