Cheap backdrop solution? (how to hang one?)

First off is it totally ghetto if im going to use a white bedsheet as a backdrop to do some just for fun self portrait shots? Assuming its acceptable, lol, what would be a quick and easy way to hang it so it would be straight and hang correctly?

Just get some clamps from home depot or Lowes. Silverlake give you a set of 2 $.96 clamps to hang up their $300+ backdrops. They work fine.

This is what I use on backdrops, reflectors and anything else I need to hang
http://www.lowes.com …-52800-XC-14PC&lpage=none

Good ideas! I found a $3 clearance set of white sheets and some screwing hooks so Im going to attempt to hang it from the ceiling. I will give those clamps a try though if I could find something to clamp them too!

More than acceptable in my book. Staple it to the wall.....

Haha, Dave. Right now I have couple srews in the drywall, a 10' conduit hanging on them with coupld loops. Good things it's in the garage and nobody cares.

You can get over the door hooks from some stores and then hang a pipe, broom handle, anything that will fit over the hooks with the sheets attached to it. That was you are not damaging any walls, ceilings etc.

I just used two mug hooks into the ceiling and it served the purpose pretty well. The sheet just barely touches the floor so I think im going to maybe use something to hold it in place and make it a little more taunt. Its wrinkly but its so much easier to fix your background in PS when its one color!

i was just about to search for a similar thread, and here this one is on the front page. i bought a shower curtain rod at wal mart, so i could extend it between door frames or walls. i also picked up those exact clamps linked below but the for half the price. but i am still restricted to finding a spot where i use this set up and would rather have more of a support system. i was hoping the lowes link was going to include some cheap stands and a crossbar. does anyone know of a cheap solution for that type of setup?

DSMITH131 wrote in post #5111044
This is what I use on backdrops, reflectors and anything else I need to hang
http://www.lowes.com …-52800-XC-14PC&lpage=none

I'm sure any hardware store has wall hanging brakcets for rakes, etc that would extend a few inches past flush to the wall. Use that and a 10' piece of PVC, and use the shower curtain hanging clips to hang the sheet. You might have to cut some small holes (or use a paper hole puncher if it works) to put the holes in the sheet. Should be ghetto enough, and cheap.

thelightofsound wrote in post #5114305
i was just about to search for a similar thread, and here this one is on the front page. i bought a shower curtain rod at wal mart, so i could extend it between door frames or walls. i also picked up those exact clamps linked below but the for half the price. but i am still restricted to finding a spot where i use this set up and would rather have more of a support system. i was hoping the lowes link was going to include some cheap stands and a crossbar. does anyone know of a cheap solution for that type of setup?

I dont know what your idea of "cheap" is, but BHPHOTOvideo has a nice portable set of (2) lightstands, and a 3-4 piece crossbar that will go to 12 feet. The whole thing in a carry bag is like $90. I had one and used it for a lightweight portable system to augment my more heavy duty one.

The other option is to go get a 10' length of PVC pipe and just hang a string from the cieling in 2 places at the ends of it. That option will run about $11.

Keep in mind that you folks with the bedsheets can take it to a dry cleaner or seamstress and have them sew a long pocket at one end of it. Normally this costs about $6-$8... and it will end a few of the headaches. Maybe you try your luck on a friends sewing machine, and do it for free, who knows.

Good luck

Check out these stands...
http://www.amvona.com …ge&view=1&produ​ct_id=3058

not a bad price..

Brian

In my case, I dont have a 'free wall' to hang the sheet in front of, so I had to suspend it in the center of the room. With a king size sheet though, that thing nearly spans the width of the room so theres a lot of room to work with. I picked up three $6 black and decker lanterns to use as some cheap lights. Slapped some wax paper on em to diffuse the light and it made a nice cheapo setup.

I like the PVC suspended setup though, it could allow me to let the sheet hang on the floor a little for some sitting shots. I may pick up an extra white sheet to do that with though.

I've used painter's tape to hang my "background" (aka, queen sized sheets). Clean, quick, and portable

I got what is called a wet-sheet from a friend working in air-cargo. It's put between the pallet and the goods (that can sometimes be wet). It's just paper but it's heavy duty and it's slightly wavey so when out of focus it's got an ethereal feel to it.

I've three metal enforced holes so that I can hang it on the wall. Some day I might try to make it roll up and down for easier storage.