portable background set

[ChrisNardone]

I have started looking for a portable background. Has anyone found a good solution. Is there any kit that has 1 or 2 side walls in addition to the background wall? I'd like to be able to set up in a room corner and be closed off. The first application of this will be a school halloween party, setting up in the cafeteria.

[Longwatcher]

My portable studio uses some cloth backdrops suspended from gas pipes forming the support. a bit heavy, but it will fit in my car can be made up to 12ft high and up to 15 ft wide although it is usually 8x12ft. very sturdy for the most part, one with side walls would be even more stable then my setup. The only place you will have any problems with back drop is going over the joints.

Although not specifically designed as such, easy to get at local hardware store, very flexable, easy to find replacement/expansion pieces.

As to the backdrops I have one painted one, the rest are just interesting cloth I bought at local fabric store. I tend to like either the black backdrop I have or the painted one. The smaller pieces were sown together to form a larger backdrop and the seam usually does not show up in the pictures. I usually use safety pins to hold them up on the support pipes.

Just a suggestion for a portable backdrop.

[robertwgross]

I have the fatal character flaw of being a do-it-yourselfer.

I wanted to build a backdrop setup, so I figured that there were four major components:
(A) two upright supports
(B) one horizontal crossbar
(C) the black or gray backdrop fabric

For item (A), I went to the auto parts store that sold quartz halogen worklights on a five-foot steel tripod stand. They are cheap. I used the tripod stand and set the quartz halogen lamp heads aside for future use (the color is warm). I extended the tripod height with some threaded steel rods, so now they go up to about eight feet high.

For item (B), I used an eight-foot piece of aluminum C-channel metal. It is sold in different thicknesses, so I picked one based on supporting the weight of the backdrop fabric. I drilled holes in the ends so that it fits over the extended tripod tops.

For item (C), I found two types of fabric. One is a black felt-like fabric, and it was at the professional department at a photo store. Another is a mottled-gray muslin, and it was at a normal fabric shop. Most of the time, these things can be found only up to about a 60" or 72" width. But some might substitute something the size of a king bed sheet.

---Bob Gross---

[iwatkins]

I do very little portrait work like this and when I do it is usually outdoors.

I simply put together a simple frame using alluminium tent poles but use parachute cloth as the material. It doesn't block light coming through so I use it both as a backdrop and also as a diffuser for when in bright sunlight.

The frames are the most difficult to make but keep your eyes open around hardware places, camping equipment etc. for materials you can use. I think I made my whole frame and material for around 15 pounds sterling.

Frames can also be made (I've seen it done) using waste water pipes (1.5 or 2 inch diameter) plus a few 90 degree bends and joiners.

Cheers

Ian

[Dans_D60]

A few years back I did purchase the JTL portable background setup and it works fine. Inexpensive and very fast to setup and use. http://www.jtlcorp.com/stands/1.html But, as I move more work into my home “garage” studio, the portable backdrop system was too limited. I really wanted to have a system where I could select from several different backgrounds and not be required to dismantle and reassemble the backdrop stands. Also, the portable background setup has necessary wide support stands that take up a lot of space. After reviewing several multiple backdrop systems for the “professional” market, I decide a self-built system was more inline with my budget. I found aluminum fence pipes the best solution for me. They come in 16-foot lengths, light for the size, and inexpensive, and can be purchased at Home Depot. I currently have six of these background holders and can roll up/down a background in a few minutes. Most backgrounds are colored paper that can be purchased for $35 in 12 yard rolls from B&H. I also have traditional muslin backdrops and a few specialty scenes on canvas. It has proven to work as good as the $1000+ professional systems but not motorized.

Here is what the final project looks like. Total cost less than $100 to build:
http://www.pettusphoto.com/studio/garage02.jpg


Dan
http://www.pettusphoto.com

[deztoys]

I use a couple light stands from JandK group on ebay ($37 each) a series of 3/4 length black aluminum tubing from IMS (Industrial Metal Supply). The tubes are connected by using a 5/8 dowel stuck in the ends. it works perfect. I stuck the dowel about 6 inches into the end and left about the same sticking out for the connecting 3/4 tube.

The JandK group light stands have a multi angle head (horiz right and left or vertical. The hole is exactly 5/8ths of an inch. So the dowel that is sticking out of the 3/4 inch tube fits perfectly. The cross bar is completely modular. I have several lengths premade to allow a span from 6-14 feet.

All this stuff packs in a musicians mic stand bag (made for 3 mic stands).

Total cost was about $90. Since everything is aluminum (even the 5/8 dowel) the weight is decent compared to steel pipes.

I also tried doing a similar thing with PVC pipe and found it to be bulky and flimsy.

This setup looks very professional as well (all flat black surfaces)

Let me know if you are interested in more details, I can takes some photos and send them if needed.

Scott

[ChrisNardone]

Encouraging to see so many do-it-yourselfers. That was my initial plan. Thanks for some great ideas.

[jimmyd]

check out this company's products for backdrops and other stuff:

http://www.amvona.com/shop/

I purchased Amvona's Dynatran Pro Series tripod/monopod. It's a very unique design and I have to say I love it! I bought it on Ebay. This tripod exceeded my expectations. I was concerned that, while it looked good in the pictures, it was going to be cheaply constructed. Not the case.

Here's the link for a Dynatran tripod now listed on Ebay. Check it out if you're interested.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2955080289&category=30094