Backdrop color/design for a beginner?

[nicksan]

So this week I bought the Genesis 200 2 light kit and Cybersnycs.

I am most likely going to buy the Impact 10 x 12 backdrop stand ($99) from B&H today after work.

So all that is left now is the backdrop and perhaps a reflector.

So my question is, what would be the best "general purpose" backdrop? I'll eventually stock up on different ones when I get better with using the lighting gear, but for now, I want to settle with one. I don't have any preference as to solid or patterned. However I'd like to keep the cost to a minimum...like $50-$60.

As for Paper vs. Muslin, as much as I would like to get Paper, since the area where I will be setting things up is carpeted, I think I better go with Muslin or something that can stand up to subjects on the carpet.

As for reflector, I'd also like to keep it around $50-$60. What's a good all-purpose reflector?

Wow...this is just as difficult as choosing lenses!:lol::D:o

Thanks!!!
Nick

[TMR Design]

Hi Nick,

If you are only going to have one backdrop and want it to be as universal as possible I'd have to say that something in the middle gray family is the way to go. You can render gray as any shade of gray, white or black and gray will allow you to use gels to color the background and give you enough saturation to get some nice rich colors.

White is great if you need white but it's much more difficult to get white to render as dark gray or a rich saturated red than it is by using gray. Black is great as well and black will give you the deepest saturated colors when using gels but it will also take a lot more work and tons of light to get it to a light gray or white.

If I was going to have 2 backdrops I would probably pick white and dark gray and then I could render them as any shade of white, gray or black and color them with gels.

I use a lot of seamless paper in my studio and I make things very easy for myself by having a roll of black, a roll of gray and a roll of white.

[nicksan]

I'll probably buy some rolls in the future since they aren't too expensive, but since I am settings things up in a carpeted room, I am thinking I should get a muslin.

A co-worker is going to bring in some fabric he's using as a background. (he mentioned fantasy cloth) I'm going to set things up and this should give me a good idea how things will look.

The person I am doing the paid shoot for has some specific ideas on what to use as backdrops. He also wants to have that "curtain" looks where the fabric is curled like a stage curtain. Is that going to give me issues with lighting?

In any event, looks like I can bring the backdrop stand which fits in one bag, some A clamps, then just hang up the fabric.

Have a week to experiment in my house with my guitars. Should give me a good indication as to what to expect!

[Celtic Tiger]

I don't know how big your space is or if you have a place to store them, but a good suggestion I saw here is to get a sheet or two of 1/2" plywood to put down on the carpet. You can then sweep a paper BG over that. If you want to take it another step you can buy white tile board and put it over the paper BG which is over the plywood. When you are done with the shoot you can stand plywood and tileboard on its end against a wall out of the way.

[nicksan]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I went to B&H after work and ended up buying the Impact backdrop stand, a 10x12 Muslin backdrop ($65...so cheap quality I know), and some A clamps. Also bought an umbrella flash mount.

I figure the Muslin is good for now since I don't have to worry about it on carpet. When I get things figured out, I will invest in more backdrops. (I am supposed to have my attic with 8 1/2' ceilings finished soon)

Looking forward to getting my strobes on Saturday so I can start playing around with all this!

[TMR Design]

Sounds good Nick. Keep us posted and lets see some images once you start shooting with the strobes.

[nicksan]

Looks like the Impact stand is too long even at 6'. The space is almost 7' across however I didn't calculate how the stand's legs spread out. So I am about a feet short.

I am going to keep the stand should I ever need to go on location, but for now, it looks like I will need to fabricate something out of PVC pipe.

I am looking at 5' of PVC piping. That should hold up well I think. Actually, I have to double sure to make sure they make paper that size too just in case.

Nice stand, and at $99 why not right? I still get to use the 2 stands that came with it. Tomorrow, I am driving to a Home Depot (5 minutes away), getting some PVC and start cutting and drilling. I've got the powertools for that!

:o
Sounds good Nick. Keep us posted and lets see some images once you start shooting with the strobes.

[nicksan]

Well, all that is a moot point.
Seems like one of the stand is defective. The top won't extend. It's stuck. This is going back. Maybe it's a sign...

[nicksan]

Decided on THIS (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/395974-REG/Savage_6203750_Background_Port_A_Stand_Travel_Case _.html).

It has a telescoping crossbar. Even comes with white seamless 53" paper to boot.

Perfect for my situation!

[bobbyz]

Decided on THIS (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/395974-REG/Savage_6203750_Background_Port_A_Stand_Travel_Case _.html).

It has a telescoping crossbar. Even comes with white seamless 53" paper to boot.

Perfect for my situation!

That is what I have. Like it so far but recently somehow the telescoping bar has got stuck and one section wouldn't come out. I haven't spent time to see what is wrong. Overll it is nice for the price.

Regarding muslins, I would look at good stuff from silverlake. I know it is more expensive but I have 2 of their drops for $150 each (10x20) and the quality is probably 10 times better than cheap stuff you buy from ebay and other place. They are hand painted thick stuff and with the patterns they use it looks so much better in real pictures.

I bouth this one for low key stuff.

http://www.silverlakephoto.com/images/pdf/Hickory.jpg

And this one when I need lighter bg.

http://www.silverlakephoto.com/images/pdf/All%20Natural.jpg

[nicksan]

Yeah, I've been running searches all night long and saw a couple of posts from you regarding the savage stands.

Well, I went to B&H before work, returned the impact, and checked out the savage porta-stand. The impact feels a little more solid. Not by much. But the overall it looks/feels sturdier. I really like the case that came with the impact. Real nice. I'd miss out on the free 53" seamless paper but that's like $20 a pop so no big loss.

So I decided to get the Impact stand again. Doh! But this time I asked the salesperson if they had an optional telescoping crossbar that I would be able to use with the Impact stand and they showed me a nice Manfrotto one. Really nice. It was $56. Not so bad. Considering the $10 I would have paid for the PVC and the DIY work, I figure the extra $40 was well worth it. It is extends from about 3'-4' to 10'. Typical Manfrotto quality too. Very solid.

This way I can extend the bar to fit. Should I need to go on location, I can use the 4 piece crossbars that came with the stand. I am really liking the bag it came with. At $99, it's a bargain. I tried to price it out piece meal (2 stands, Manfrotto crossbar, separate bag) and it came out more than the kit + Manfrotto bar so this was a no-brainer.

I'll put it together when I get home. My co-worker lent me some light weight fabric so I may do a quick test with that.

Supposed to also get the Cybersync in the mail today!

Tomorrow, I get my Calumet Genesis 200 2 light kit.

Lot's of practicing next week...gearing up for the shoot next Saturday.:D

As for the Muslins, those look great. I like the second one. Very nice.
I'll eventually look into getting more. But before that, I need to get my lighting skills in order...it's at ZERO at the moment!!!

That is what I have. Like it so far but recently somehow the telescoping bar has got stuck and one section wouldn't come out. I haven't spent time to see what is wrong. Overll it is nice for the price.

Regarding muslins, I would look at good stuff from silverlake. I know it is more expensive but I have 2 of their drops for $150 each (10x20) and the quality is probably 10 times better than cheap stuff you buy from ebay and other place. They are hand painted thick stuff and with the patterns they use it looks so much better in real pictures.

I bouth this one for low key stuff.

http://www.silverlakephoto.com/images/pdf/Hickory.jpg

And this one when I need lighter bg.

http://www.silverlakephoto.com/images/pdf/All%20Natural.jpg

[zagiace]

Hi Nick,

If you are only going to have one backdrop and want it to be as universal as possible I'd have to say that something in the middle gray family is the way to go. You can render gray as any shade of gray, white or black and gray will allow you to use gels to color the background and give you enough saturation to get some nice rich colors.
I totally agree with this.
For really portable shoots I picked up a
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/303003-REG/Botero_C00557__005_Collapsible_Background_5x7_.htm l
Botero #005 Collapsible Background (5x7') (Dark, Light Neutral Grey)


Its double sided, one side is a lighter shade of grey and the other a little darker. Its water proof and collapses to 24". I use gels to make this a very versatile background. Not too shabby for just over $60. It also came with a white muslin 5x6 sheet. I never use that but recently thinking about having some cheesey tie dye fun with it.

[bobbyz]

Nice to live close to B&H. I wish they had one on the west coast.

[nicksan]

Not nice for the wallet however.

I always end up buying more than I intended to...like this morning with the manfrotto crossbar. I wasn't even thinking about that when I walked in. All I was thinking about was the Savage Porta-stand.

My how easily my train of thought got derailed!

Well...the positive is that it ended up only costing me $50 more so not too much damage!

Nice to live close to B&H. I wish they had one on the west coast.

[nicksan]

I saw this when I was in B&H and it was pretty big. It's definitely a nice option however I find that the impact stands can be broken down very easily and it comes with a very nice bag with slots to put everything back. Nice and compact...well other than having to carry the actual backdrop separately...

I saw the larger collapsible one too...and that one is a monster. Pretty heavy too.

I don't anticipate having the problem of worrying about how to carry all this stuff because I am just getting started and this will be a home setup...though I have a paid shoot coming up a week from now.:lol: But nothing after that one...and I don't forsee any for a loooooong time.:(


I totally agree with this.
For really portable shoots I picked up a
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/303003-REG/Botero_C00557__005_Collapsible_Background_5x7_.htm l
Botero #005 Collapsible Background (5x7') (Dark, Light Neutral Grey)


Its double sided, one side is a lighter shade of grey and the other a little darker. Its water proof and collapses to 24". I use gels to make this a very versatile background. Not too shabby for just over $60. It also came with a white muslin 5x6 sheet. I never use that but recently thinking about having some cheesey tie dye fun with it.

[bobbyz]

If you looking for portable setup then I like Photek PeoplePopper. The material is much thicker than Botero.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/236173-REG/Photek_PEOPLEPOPPER_Kit_6x7_.html

They have only 1 stand, like this:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/images345x345/87464.jpg

[nicksan]

OK, so I set up the Impact Kit + Manfrotto Cross Bar and it's a perfect fit for the room. Very nice!

My CyberSyncs also came. Ahhhh...I feel liberated having the flash off the camera, though right now it's on a tripod with only a demb diffuser.

I borrowed some background material from my co-worker. I have no idea what I am doing and I have absolutely no volunteers (wife refuses!) so a teddy bear will have to do.

Just my 580EXII on tripod camera right.

Man....I've got lots to learn again.:(

http://nicksan.zenfolio.com/img/v4/p597209749-5.jpg