First backdrop question

[chuckvanhalen]

Any advice for a first backdrop? What's a good colour to start with? Thanks for the tips...

[doidinho]

I'm looking into a first backdrop too. From my research a darker Grey tone seems like a good starter BG for seamless. Supposedly you can back your subject up a bit and get it black, nuke it with light and get it fairly light, and it shows nice deep colors if you use gels. If you search there is a thread in here somewhere where someone shows how versatile Grey is by showing how it looks gelled with a bunch of different colors.

[Jim G]

I got white as my first backdrop and I'm quite pleased with it - you can make it grey or even black with enough lighting on the subject. I'm intending on picking up a black eventually.

You can also easily make the white different colours using gels... whack a strobe on either side, a red gel and voila, red backdrop.

[Miami78]

I got white for my first as well...black will be next, then maybe some fancy ones!

[doidinho]

Here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=415671&highlight=gel+background+curtis) is the link. As others have mentioned white is good as well; however, you will not be able to get it black and if you gel the colors will not get near as much saturation as you get with Grey.

[Sports_Dude]

I ended up with 3 backdrops with my first kit: white, black and black/brown. I've only used the white so far and it's been about 6 months.

[ChubbyTiger]

Here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=415671&highlight=gel+background+curtis) is the link. As others have mentioned white is good as well; however, you will not be able to get it black and if you gel the colors will not get near as much saturation as you get with Grey.

I looked at his pictures (in your linked thread). Do you know why a dark gray backdrop colors so well? I would have thought that white would work much better, though it definitely doesn't appear to.

[Rudi]

Here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=415671&highlight=gel+background+curtis) is the link. As others have mentioned white is good as well; however, you will not be able to get it black and if you gel the colors will not get near as much saturation as you get with Grey.

You can get a white background to show up black. All you need is enough difference in exposure between the subject and the background! This usually means a little distance between the subject and the background, and preventing light from spilling onto the background.

[Fellipe de Paula]

This usually means a little distance between the subject and the background, and preventing light from spilling onto the background.

Usually how many feet between the backdrop and the subject?

[doidinho]

You can get a white background to show up black. All you need is enough difference in exposure between the subject and the background! This usually means a little distance between the subject and the background, and preventing light from spilling onto the background.


Are you suggesting that this is practical or just stating that it is possible even though its totally impractical for most situations?

[James P]

I'd get a white one to start. I have a black one and it can be a challenge to separate subjects with dark hair from the background.

[GyRob]

another vote for white it makes the shot and most colors cleaner looking .
Rob.

[Rudi]

Are you suggesting that this is practical or just stating that it is possible even though its totally impractical for most situations?

Depending on the size of you studio, it could be very practical. Think about it: Even with the subject standing just in front of a white background and no light spill prevention, the background is already a shade of grey. It doesn't take much to turn it black! A little more distance, modifiers that keep light off the background, and more light on the subject. That's it!

[Wilt]

Usually how many feet between the backdrop and the subject?

It all depends upon how far from light to subject! (and it depends upon inherent brightness of the background)

Treat distances like f/stops...

If light-to-subject is 2', an 18% gray backdrop needs to be about 5' (light-to-backdrop distance) to be totally black (-2.5EV)

If light-to-subject is 2.8', an 18% gray backdrop needs to be about 7' (light-to-backdrop distance) to be totally black (-2.5EV)

If light-to-subject is 4', an 18% gray backdrop needs to be about 10' (light-to-backdrop distance) to be totally black (-2.5EV)

If light-to-subject is 5.6', an 18% gray backdrop needs to be about 14' (light-to-backdrop distance) to be totally black (-2.5EV)

If light-to-subject is 8', an 18% gray backdrop needs to be about 20' (light-to-backdrop distance) to be totally black (-2.5EV)

[idahofarmer]

Are you suggesting that this is practical or just stating that it is possible even though its totally impractical for most situations?

I have to disagree that it is totally or even a little bit impractical. Here is a link that shows some great examples of the results you can get using a white background. I just linked to the black with white background, but the whole article is very well done about the type of setup needed to get great results when shooting on white.

http://www.zarias.com/?p=101

[Rudi]

It all depends upon how far from light to subject! (and it depends upon inherent brightness of the background)

Treat distances like f/stops...

If light-to-subject is 2', an 18% gray backdrop needs to be about 5' (light-to-backdrop distance) to be totally black (-2.5EV)

If light-to-subject is 2.8', an 18% gray backdrop needs to be about 7' (light-to-backdrop distance) to be totally black (-2.5EV)

If light-to-subject is 4', an 18% gray backdrop needs to be about 10' (light-to-backdrop distance) to be totally black (-2.5EV)

If light-to-subject is 5.6', an 18% gray backdrop needs to be about 14' (light-to-backdrop distance) to be totally black (-2.5EV)

If light-to-subject is 8', an 18% gray backdrop needs to be about 20' (light-to-backdrop distance) to be totally black (-2.5EV)

Yep, and that assumes that the background is lit by the same light as the subject! Now put some modifiers on that prevent light spill onto the background, and close the blinds, and things get a lot better all of a sudden. :)

[Gentleman Villain]

Any advice for a first backdrop? What's a good colour to start with? Thanks for the tips...

Hello - I just checked out your website and noticed that you are photographing a lot of traditional style portraits.

My first thought is that you might make $$$ with a nice painted canvas from possibly studio dynamics... http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=search&A=search&Q=&ci=0&sb=ps&sq=desc&sortDrop=Relevance&ac=&bsi=&bhs=t&shs=canvas+background&ci=6463&at=Size_5x7%27&basicSubmit=Submit+Query

Personally, I really like black, white, fashion gray type of paper backdrops for commercial or fashiony type of photography. But I really like painted canvas best for traditional style portraiture. Maybe something conservative like "Hamilton"? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/223267-REG/Studio_Dynamics_57LHAMI_5x7_Canvas_Background_LSM. html or maybe wellington? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/51967-REG/Studio_Dynamics_57LWELL_Canvas_Background_LSM_.htm l

Just depends on your goals. Canvas would be my first choice for making money with the traditional style portraiture (it's the bread and butter of the industry)....just a few thoughts...good luck with whatever you decide.

[Wilt]

Yep, and that assumes that the background is lit by the same light as the subject! Now put some modifiers on that prevent light spill onto the background, and close the blinds, and things get a lot better all of a sudden. :)


...the problem being that most amateurs position their subject much too close to the background (2-3' away), thereby creating problems of light spilling onto the background and leaving it too bright.

[PhotosGuy]

Varying effect of gels on white and black backgrounds (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=162431)

Same white background - different looks (http://www.zarias.com/?p=70)

More of his white seamless tutorials (http://www.zarias.com/?cat=13)

White Seamless Tutorial :: Part 1 :: Gear & Space (http://www.zarias.com/?p=71)