Collapsable Back Ground Colors

Greetings

I've not had experience with non solid color backgrounds.
I'm looking for a nice, wrinkle free collapsible gray background.
My Westcott Black/White Illuminator has been really nice.

I'm thinking of this:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …llapsible_Backg​round.html

Else I would go with this:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …L_LB67GB_Collap​sible.html

Any thoughts are appreciated.

I don't think there's an out-of-the-box answer to this. I've accumulated nearly 2 dozen Lastolites over the years they've been in business and every single one wrinkles. It seems to be an inevitable part of the storage process; a couple even have the wrinkles built-in at manufacture as a feature. A steamer (or wallpaper steam-stripper) may help you but I've never used one. I just drop the wrinkles out of focus with a decent subject/background seperation wherever possible. As an aside, the most boring job I ever set myself was to iron the wrinkles out of a 10x24ft calico background I made - I shall never be doing that again

An alternative, not quite as convenient though, is the usual cloth/lightstands/cros​spole set-up and clip the cloth to the uprights to draw out the wrinkles. Not as quick and easy though. The only other option I can think of off the top of my head is a roll of grey vinyl - but I'm guessing you have storage issues which prompted the "collapsible" bit of your query.

Can you not just use your existing backdrop and control the tone with lighting, if you just want grey?

Whortleberry

Thank you for your input, it is exactly what I'm looking for.

The westcot Illuminator that I have does not wrinkle, at least not noticeably, and that is a real plus.
With some of my location scenarios have to deal with tight places where my subject to background may be 1/2 to 3/4 of a meter. Another option is to deal with the wrinkles in post.

I've got a gray BG by Botero. After reading your post, I'll work with it some more and see if I can come up with a lighting combination that can ameliorate the wrinkles a bit.

Thanks again

windpig wrote in post #14713412
Greetings

I've not had experience with non solid color backgrounds.
I'm looking for a nice, wrinkle free collapsible gray background.
My Westcott Black/White Illuminator has been really nice.

I'm thinking of this:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …llapsible_Backg​round.html

Else I would go with this:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …L_LB67GB_Collap​sible.html

Any thoughts are appreciated.

windpig wrote in post #14715075
Whortleberry

Thank you for your input, it is exactly what I'm looking for.

The westcot Illuminator that I have does not wrinkle, at least not noticeably, and that is a real plus.
With some of my location scenarios have to deal with tight places where my subject to background may be 1/2 to 3/4 of a meter. Another option is to deal with the wrinkles in post.

I've got a gray BG by Botero. After reading your post, I'll work with it some more and see if I can come up with a lighting combination that can ameliorate the wrinkles a bit.

Thanks again

I feel like I'm missing something between what you said you wanted in the OP and the items you posted...

Looking back, I'm assuming maybe you are just looking for one that isn't a solid color... Is there anything about the Botero that you don't like?

I have one of these Calumet systems; http://www.calumetphot​o.com …rtable-background-systems

It works well and keeps the muslin pulled tight enough to minimize wrinkles. The extra background fabrics are reasonably priced. And it substantially bigger than the pop open variety.

I also have the pop open variety that work well for head shots. The ones I have I found at fotodiox.com.
They are substantially less expensive compared to the Westcott or Lastolite and work fine without wrinkles.

drvnbysound wrote in post #14715095
I feel like I'm missing something between what you said you wanted in the OP and the items you posted...

Looking back, I'm assuming maybe you are just looking for one that isn't a solid color... Is there anything about the Botero that you don't like?

The Westcott Illuminator that I have in Black/White does not wrinkle.
Westcott doesn't offer solid gray in this series, the Botero wrinkles.

I was looking at the Westcott mottled gray because it's in the Illuminator series, along with maybe adding a little variety.

I'm going to see if I can work with the Botero.

Thanks for posting.

dmward wrote in post #14715171
I have one of these Calumet systems; http://www.calumetphot​o.com …rtable-background-systems

It works well and keeps the muslin pulled tight enough to minimize wrinkles. The extra background fabrics are reasonably priced. And it substantially bigger than the pop open variety.

I also have the pop open variety that work well for head shots. The ones I have I found at fotodiox.com.
They are substantially less expensive compared to the Westcott or Lastolite and work fine without wrinkles.

Thanks for this link David. I had not considered this option, but I certainly will be checking it out.

windpig wrote in post #14716315
The Westcott Illuminator that I have in Black/White does not wrinkle.
Westcott doesn't offer solid gray in this series, the Botero wrinkles.

I was looking at the Westcott mottled gray because it's in the Illuminator series, along with maybe adding a little variety.

I'm going to see if I can work with the Botero.

Thanks for posting.

Interesting - I have a Botero and haven't had an issue with wrinkles... but I've only had it a few months (not sure if that makes a difference or not).

Personally, I am starting to look at the full Westcott backgrounds - I've heard discussion that they are very nice. The Botero fits my needs perfectly for headshots and couples but I need to get something for full length and/or groups/families.

drvnbysound wrote in post #14716695
Interesting - I have a Botero and haven't had an issue with wrinkles... but I've only had it a few months (not sure if that makes a difference or not).

Personally, I am starting to look at the full Westcott backgrounds - I've heard discussion that they are very nice. The Botero fits my needs perfectly for headshots and couples but I need to get something for full length and/or groups/families.

I've just spent a few ours evaluating and the Botero is out for what I'm trying to use it for. Subject 6ft from BG, F5, waist to head shot. Wrinkles. I think I'm going to give the Lastolite 5X6 or 6X7 a try. I'll be able to tell just by feeling the material.

Windpig: I based my original answer on the fact that you said "wrinkle free" and that is something which Lastolites can never realistically claim to be. However, by the nature of the spring circumference they do tend to be relatively smooth and shouldn't give too much trouble with 6ft separation and f/5. Of course, it depends on whether you flat-light the background or skim the lights in.

Good luck!

BackdropAlley 5x10s?
Had one a while back. Cheap, decent size, a few minutes in a dryer took the wrinkles out. Add a PVC frame for $10 and some clamps, all from a home improvement store.
Solid colors, though. Anything for full lengths will have wrinkles short of paper or linoleum. Again, solid colors and not portable.
I'm afraid full length portable backgrounds without wrinkles doesn't exist. I never understood the wrinkle aversion to begin with. Too bad Photek lost their manufacturer. The 8x12s are great and store in a bag. Tons of wrinkles but still looked "smooth" with a shallow DOF. Even the 6x7s gave enough room to move away to let DOF take care of the wrinkles.
Short of non portable paper, you have to live with wrinkles on location. Now a King size air mattress and sheets stretched over it are a different story. Small bag for portability, a few minutes in a dryer, cheap...............

Whortleberry

I with you on your evaluation. I was working flat light on both the Botero and the Westcott today, also skimmed with the Westcott. The Westcott is simply awesome. I'll post on opinion on the Lastolight when I get it.

Thanks again.

Hi Dave

I should have saved some of my test images from today with Botero. Simply bad.

Here is the Westcott with the focus 18" in front of the BG F11
these samples are about 6X4 feet of the BG showing
first image is skimmed background light with key at 45 degrees to subject
second is skimmed background light only

Put a subject in front of it, I wouldn't notice. Except for uneven lighting.
Dave.......

Dave

The images abouve are of the Westcott, I have no problem the Westcott.

Here's the Botero

That's more or less the wrinkle level of the Lastolites I have. It's folding them up for storage which creates the problem - but then who has room to leave them open.