is this normal? how can I fix this background paper?

It is perfectly normal.

When the seamless is on the roll it's perfectly smooth. I've never seen anything come off the roll that is less than perfect.

However, when you leave the paper unrolled and it's exposed to changing temperatures and the environment it will develop those buckles and wrinkles. If you let it hang loosely it's unavoidable. If you leave it rolled down to the floor with the sweep it will happen. If you let it hang without touching to floor and have clips or weights at the bottom then it keeps it pulled tight and it shouldn't happen.

If you're rendering it as pure white then it doesn't show up but anything less than pure white and you'll see it.

The way to avoid it (too late for the paper already affected) is to roll the paper back up when not in use.

As far as a fix goes.... not possible. You can either use the part that's affected for pure white shooting or cut it off and start with a fresh piece of seamless.

Most paper expands with increased moisture and shrinks with decreased moisture. Paper buckles when the moisture in the paper is different on one side vs the other.

You could leave the background paper hanging for a day or two and see if it flattens out after stabilizing in the environment. If the humidity in the environment is changing all the time, however, you may never get the paper to stabilize.

Pulling the light back to at least six feet or so from the background AND choosing a light source that's evenly illuminating the background should minimize the problem of seeing the uneven surface.

SkipD wrote in post #8432940
You could leave the background paper hanging for a day or two and see if it flattens out after stabilizing in the environment. If the humidity in the environment is changing all the time, however, you may never get the paper to stabilize.

I've tried that Skip. I think once the buckles appear you're doomed.

This is why you really have to roll the paper up tightly when not in use and not store it lying flat.

I seriously think that for anyone who needs a seamless background on a regular basis, the best thing to do is paint the wall a nice smooth black/white/grey, have a matching flat you can put on the floor and then make a small, moveable infinity curve that you can put in the right-angle between the floor and the ceiling to smooth the transition. I've found that I save so much time not using seamless now that it really feels like a chore on the rare occasions I have to get it out. Not to mention how it complicates positioning the lighting and the model.

Hermes wrote in post #8433009
This is why you really have to roll the paper up tightly when not in use and not store it lying flat.

I seriously think that for anyone who needs a seamless background on a regular basis, the best thing to do is paint the wall a nice smooth black/white/grey, have a matching flat you can put on the floor and then make a small, moveable infinity curve that you can put in the right-angle between the floor and the ceiling to smooth the transition. I've found that I save so much time not using seamless now that it really feels like a chore on the rare occasions I have to get it out. Not to mention how it complicates positioning the lighting and the model.

That would be ideal and I'd love to do just that. Man- if I only had room, money, and the smarts to pull it off

hawk911 wrote in post #8433615
That would be ideal and I'd love to do just that. Man- if I only had room, money, and the smarts to pull it off

^ +1 ^

hawk911 wrote in post #8433615
That would be ideal and I'd love to do just that. Man- if I only had room, money, and the smarts to pull it off

TMR Design wrote in post #8433885
^ +1 ^

Cowards

Hermes wrote in post #8433933
Cowards

OK, well I only need the space. I could pull off the money and smarts part.

Robert, stop by the house then. I have plenty of space

Good news, the distributor agreed to return the paper role, but not without telling me the usual line "I am the first person to make such complaint in the last 15 years".

I guess its good to develop friendly relations with vendors, otherwise I don't think they would have agreed to return it. Since I showed them my photography before and they liked it, especially the smooth tonal gradation in many backgrounds, I think they felt compelled to accept my complaint as genuine.

I asked them to show me where the paper was stored and as many of you have predicted, the paper roles were piled flat on the ground in a very hot and humid room. I pointed out the error in their storage method and they replied "wait till you see the HQ storage facility". They have over a hundred roles in storage, so sad.

Now I guess I have to ship at $150 per role from B&H.

abdul10000 wrote in post #8499444
Good news, the distributor agreed to return the paper role, but not without telling me the usual line "I am the first person to make such complaint in the last 15 years".

I guess its good to develop friendly relations with vendors, otherwise I don't think they would have agreed to return it. Since I showed them my photography before and they liked it, especially the smooth tonal gradation in many backgrounds, I think they felt compelled to accept my complaint as genuine.

I asked them to show me where the paper was stored and as many of you have predicted, the paper roles were piled flat on the ground in a very hot and humid room. I pointed out the error in their storage method and they replied "wait till you see the HQ storage facility". They have over a hundred roles in storage, so sad.

Now I guess I have to ship at $150 per role from B&H.

??? I buy 107" seamless from B&H all the time and have it delivered UPS Ground for $17.75 from NY to Cali. Why on earth would it cost $150 to ship from NY to Maine? Somethings not right.

shooterman wrote in post #8499816
??? I buy 107" seamless from B&H all the time and have it delivered UPS Ground for $17.75 from NY to Cali. Why on earth would it cost $150 to ship from NY to Maine? Somethings not right.

where did you read Maine in my post, international shipping to the ME region for such a big box is expensive.

abdul10000 wrote in post #8500134
where did you read Maine in my post, international shipping to the ME region for such a big box is expensive.

LOL, ME is the abbreviation for Maine also!

abdul10000 wrote in post #8500134
where did you read Maine in my post, international shipping to the ME region for such a big box is expensive.

Because of the international nature of this family of forums, it would be a good idea to put where you are into your personal profile so that other readers could know that. Many folks naturally, and often mistakenly, assume that folks are from their own home country.

Can I properly presume that the "ME region" means the Middle East region? ME is also the abbreviation for the state of Maine in the U.S.

The sample photos are shot with focus on the bg, and the light directly on the bg...what if you focus on something 8 feet in front of the bg...like in a real world photo shoot? And with lights positioned properly, That should make a difference.