Home made book end reflectors

Hi-

 

Has anyone in the Forum ever fabricated their own book end

reflectors? Irving Penn famously used a set of 4x8 hinged white book

end reflectors. It appears that book end reflectors can be really

useful in a studio. Someone recommended using 4x8 sheets of poly

(very light/inexpensive). I would like to do this but I'm trying to

figure out what type of hinge tape will work on poly...also....I

would like to paint one side of the reflector white and one side

black so I will need material that will accept paint (hinge tape and

poly have to accept paint). Does anyone have any advice? Has anyone

ever done this? If someone has experience with this or a better

idea, it might save me some time, sweat, and money. Thanks for the

help.

I've made one with a foam core like stuff (paper-foam-paper sandwich) and used grey duct tape as the hinge. I didn't worry about painting the hinge. I just assume it's not something that will last for years. I've also read gaffer's tape is better, but I didn't have any at the time. I sprayed the black side with a black flocking spray from a hobby store, although any flat black will probably work. I've got a pretty small work space, so 4 ft wide was a bit much and I ended up slicing them down to 3x8.

 

Oddly enough, in a small area, I tend to use the black side about as much as the white.

What is "poly?" Duct tape works on everything, that's it's terrible virtue.

 

What DID Penn actually use?

 

I've used foamcore/duct tape...never thought to paint it...makes sense.

 

I'd prefer something more substantial and less flexible (but less hassle than frames with canvas)...I'm constantly improvising temporary solutions!

 

Gaffer tape is different from duct tape only or primarily in that it removes easily without doing damage to surfaces...film crews use it to attach things to other peoples's furniture and walls...

'What is "poly?"'

 

Poly = polyboard = polystyrene board.

 

Which probably = 'foamcore'

 

What are 'book end reflectors'?

I have two reflectors: Both of them are from Office Depot, 2'X3' foam core. They are white on one side and a neutral gray on the other. I use one in the natural state. I used the other with gold and silver metallic wrapping paper held by gaffers tape. They work great! That would work for yours too. I would use gaffers tape for the hinge, and any flat black paint will work. Thanks for the Idea too.

http://alcancompositesusa.com/product_detail.html?uid=gd40c8c3818a3bf

 

You may want to look at Sintra. Most sign shops can get it. Shipping is expensive for 4x8 sheets. Most plastics distributers stock some of the 10 colors. The material has plastic sheets with a color matched foam core. More stable than normal foam core.

I buy a few 4x8' , half inch foam core boards then chop them up.

 

My primary reflector is 2 pieces of hinged 2x6' board which I can

stack a few lights in and make a large bounced source if I want...

or just place as a standard reflector

 

White gaff tape is great thing.

 

The scrap board (2x4' pieces) can be used as smaller reflectors

and flags.

 

Look for non-glossy foam core. It's slightly more expensive, but

good stuff.

 

For a tape, Gaffers tape might not hold the paint too well... but

you could probably find a linen tape that would work nicely.

 

One idea I toyed with, but never built, was makeing a few large

piano style hinges, that could be inserted into, or bracketed to

the foam core. If you make a 1/2 inch bracket, you can put a 1/4

inch piece of white on one side, and a black one on the other,

and just replace them as needed. Flexible sizing... and cheap

replacement.

 

Easy breakdown for travel too.

Is there a very light white fabric that isn't translucent, that could be stretched over stretcher-bar (like oil painting) type frames?

 

Or something crushable and reflective that could be stretched over bolted-together frames, the whole thing easily dismantled for small car portability?

Thanks for all the great comments. I ended up buying 4 sheets of 4x8 "gator board" from a company called TriDee. The gatorboard has a black side and a black core and a white side. The sheets are about an inch thick. I am going to try white duct tape on the white side to hinge (with the black core, the crease on the black side should disappear). If the duct tape does not work, I will try some linen tape. I will post results and a photo of the set up when I get it done.