Background: Paper Or Muslin?

<p>I used to use white and black fabrics as background. I plan to have a few formal backgrounds and try to figure out what I shall get: paper or muslin. What are the pros and cons of these two types of background materials?</p>

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<p>Paper - Pro: nice smooth surface, no wrinkles if you don't crush the roll<br>

Con: may be difficult to transport a six to ten foot long roll</p>

<p>Muslin - Pro: easy to transport and handle<br>

Con: shows a lot of wrinkles unless steamed or ironed</p>

<p>Con, shipping is expensive for roll paper.<br>

Con, paper is consumable, once used, it is garbage.</p>

<p>Pro, you can dye white muslin any color you want, or paint it cheaply.<br>

Pro, you can wash muslin.<br>

Pro, you can just tape muslin up to a wall or ceiling. No holder required.</p>

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<p>Con, shipping is expensive for roll paper.</p>

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<p>A 35yd, 140" roll of seamless from B&H to my door would cost $136 for shipping. A 10x20 muslin would cost $138.</p>

<p>Go paper every time - unless you have an assistant whom you hate and enjoy ordering to iron 200 square feet of muslin! If you have a dedicated studio area, an infinity cove will save the need for costly paper rolls (and you can still drive your assistant nuts by getting him/her to paint it!).</p>

<p>Thanks everyone for your input.<br /> I am wondering whether the muslin wrinkle problem can be solved with lighting technique or not which, of course, is restricted to only white and black colours, or perhaps grey. For a black muslin background/back drop, I shall have as little light as possible on it. And for a white muslin, doing the opposite, I shall have two steps more light on the background. Here is a photo I made in my living room with a piece of black fabric on a lightstand. <img src=" alt="sample" /> (<a href=" >http://www.flickr.com/photos/26423920@N00/5293387167/in/photostream/lightbox/</a>)There were many wrinkles on the fabric and you can't tell any of them.</p>

<p>The wrinkle problem also can be solved with a large aperture. This approach is applicable for any colour muslin backdrops.</p>

Bill,

 

I buy 10x20 White muslins from Amazon for about $30 with free prime shipping.

And I dye them the color I want for about $5.

 

A roll of Adorama paper 108" is $45 and about $20 to ship ground.

 

 

 

Wei Wei,

 

I want the wrinkles of muslin, but I will soften them up a little bit with LR. And it's easy to remove them totally with LR if

you want to.