Different types of backdrop

Hi,<br>

<br>

There are many different types of backdrops,<br>

1)Is muslin a type of cloth?<br>

2)Is paper also use for backdrop?<br>

3)Are there any other material use as backdrop?<br>

4)What are the effects different material can produce?<br>

<br>

I was told that black velvets are use to achieve a completely

black<br> background.<br>

<br>

been taught that grey backdrop is easier to manipulate (changing

the<br> colour of the backgrop...etc)<br>

<br>

What other backdrop techniques are there?<br>

Is there any resource to get more information on backdrop?<br>

<br>

Thanks,<br>

Jon

Jon,

 

In my commercial studio I use many different types of backgrounds. Some of them are:

 

Painted canvas

 

Painted Muslin

 

Painted flats ie: 4x8 luan wood framed by 1/3 studs

 

Fake brick, textured and painted wood

 

Painted and stuccoed flats

 

Wall-papered flats with molding and trim

 

French doors

 

4x8' formica for table-top sweeps available in many colors and textures

 

Painted studio walls for large backgrounds

 

Fine-art papers for small still-life sets including papyrus, handmade papers etc.

 

Seamless paper available in many colors and widths

 

Flats with windows and even a flat with a fake fireplace built in

 

Large roll of linoleum painted on the smooth reverse side for large cyc

 

It's true that a dark grey, flat painted wall is easier to gel with color or white light than a white or black wall. One of the walls in my studio is painted a dark to medium grey for that purpose.

Hi Jon, <br>

1) Yes, Muslin is cotton.<br>

2) Yes, for example here is seamless paper in 9 ft. x 100 ft. rolls...http://www.phototechinc.com/seam.htm<br>

3) Sure, you can use anything as a backdrop!<br>

4) Not sure what you mean by effects, other than different materials will interact with light in different ways...to absorb the light, or colour the light, or reflect the light, and on and on...

<br><br>

Black velvet is good at absorbing light to get a black background...but remember that you can get a black background with a white wall if there is little or no light falling on it...<br><br>

I think the important thing here is that all the backdrop is really doing is replacing the background in your image with something else...and that something else can be pretty much anything you like and look like whatever you'd like it to look like ! Time, money and your imagination would be the limits of what you could achieve...

Take a look at www.lastolite.com - they have a whole range of backgrounds and tother studio accessories that you can look at to see what's available.

Thank you all!!!