Backdrops

Getting into the studio thing as a newbie. What do you folks recommend for backdrops? I bought one white muslin backdrop and, after pulling it out of the bag, thought I just spent $80 on the cheapest looking bed sheet I'd ever seen. The only difference was the folded end that I could put the rod through.

Is there something special about muslin? Should I just be going to a fabric store and buying felt? Bed sheets with clamps? Paper?

Please educate me.

Personal tasted I really like backgrounds from Silverlake.

Muslims are durable and come in many colors and patterns for a variety of looks, but they are more work sometimes in dealing with wrinkles, weight, etc. Many prefer white seamless paper for that pure white background (for full length) and collapsibles and others for 3/4 and head shots.

I hear you on the wrinkles!!!

sdipirro wrote in post #12311197
Muslims are durable and come in many colors and patterns for a variety of looks, but they are more work sometimes in dealing with wrinkles, weight, etc. Many prefer white seamless paper for that pure white background (for full length) and collapsibles and others for 3/4 and head shots.

LOL. I'm sorry mate, but please correct your spelling. While Muslims are diverse, I don't think the connotations on weight would be met with much hospitality

For white bg I will take seemless paper. For muslins I like silverlake also but kind of expensive.

Unless you've a full time studio space and can steam out the wrinkles and leave it up, Muslin is a real pain. If you can store 9' seamless paper upright in your space, I'd much rather have that.

^ Yup, seamless paper is the route to go.

for me at least.

I think I'll go the paper route in the future. I looked at silverlake and they are NICE - but yikes! Would be nice to get their system though. I bet I could just put some velcro up on my cross bar.

I got a backdrop kit with the same cheap, transparent muslins. Disappointing.
The black works OK for creating a pitch-black background, but I really have to work at it; it's transparent enough that things behind it can reflect through. The white is practically useless.

Then I got a roll of 53"-wide seamless white from Adorama and have been very pleased with it - except it's a bit too narrow to be really flexible.

Last weekend I picked up an extendable curtain rod from IKEA ($10.00) and clips to hold curtains to the rod ($3.00), and two 4-yard lengths of black fabric also from IKEA (total $32). After my wife does a quick seam up the middle, I'll have a nice black backdrop that's ten feet wide and twelve feet tall. All I have to do is drill some holes in the ends of my curtain rod so they fit on the top of my backdrop stands, and give the wife a foot rub in exchange for doing a little sewing, and I'll have a huge black backdrop for $45, not counting the stands I already have.

IKEA also had some patterned fabric that I think will make some nice backdrops. Vertical stripes, patterns of blocks, script, all sorts of stuff.
http://www.ikea.com …gories/range/10​374/10655/

How 'bout this one for a backdrop
http://www.ikea.com …catalog/product​s/40173372

Great way to do it. Take a bar and call it a sturdy curtain rod and it's $8. Take that same rod and call it photographic equipment? It becomes $80.

Same white background - different looks

Okay Frank, I give up. How did he do it?

nathancarter wrote in post #12312016
I got a backdrop kit with the same cheap, transparent muslins. Disappointing.
The black works OK for creating a pitch-black background, but I really have to work at it; it's transparent enough that things behind it can reflect through. The white is practically useless.

Then I got a roll of 53"-wide seamless white from Adorama and have been very pleased with it - except it's a bit too narrow to be really flexible.

Last weekend I picked up an extendable curtain rod from IKEA ($10.00) and clips to hold curtains to the rod ($3.00), and two 4-yard lengths of black fabric also from IKEA (total $32). After my wife does a quick seam up the middle, I'll have a nice black backdrop that's ten feet wide and twelve feet tall. All I have to do is drill some holes in the ends of my curtain rod so they fit on the top of my backdrop stands, and give the wife a foot rub in exchange for doing a little sewing, and I'll have a huge black backdrop for $45, not counting the stands I already have.

IKEA also had some patterned fabric that I think will make some nice backdrops. Vertical stripes, patterns of blocks, script, all sorts of stuff.
http://www.ikea.com …gories/range/10​374/10655/

How 'bout this one for a backdrop
http://www.ikea.com …catalog/product​s/40173372

This is the route I've decided to go for now. The muslin actually makes a good backing to keep the other fabrics from being transparent. I bought some black and a mottled print yesterday at a fabric store. Didn't realize IKEA sold fabric - much cheaper. Thanks!

mckinleypics wrote in post #12315533
Okay Frank, I give up. How did he do it?

space.