Care for Backdrops

[photo441]

Can anyone tell me how to care for the new Muslin Backdrop I just bought? It sems to be real stiff. Could I dry it with a fabric softner? Anyhow thanks for any advice....BTW I just bought the Digi Bee set up at Alien Bees, I got the two B800's. I can't wait.

[mjordan]

Is this a painted muslin? If so, the best way to soften it up is to use it. Walk on it, flex it, move it around, this will soften it pretty fast. I have bought 2 painted muslins and they were as stiff as cardboard when I first got them. After laying them out in the back yard for a couple of days (bringing them in before night time) to air out the paint smell, I waded them up and stretched them out a number of times then I hung them up on my background stand and used them. It didn't take long before I noticed that the half that was on the floor and being trod on was much softer and more flexible. So I turned them around and put the part that was up on the background stand down on the floor and it did the same to them. I'm told that the more you use them the softer they will get. I hate washing things like that, even if they do say it's ok, because you are going to get a little bit of shrinkage and it could wash some of the paint off.

If it is unpainted or un-dyed muslin, they shouldn't be that stiff, but I just throw mine in the washer. Watch out for the un-hemmed edges though. Washing and drying will start them to fray after a couple of times.

Mike

[mikesd]

I will put a brand new painted muslin in the dryer for about five to ten minutes just long enough to help get rid of the creases from being packed folded.The other thing I do is after hanging on my stand I will put some weight at the bottom to stretch the background for a couple of days. Other than that I agree with Mike's ideas.