White Seamless Detail Showing

I've began exploring shooting white seamless (with lots of help from Zack's page). Anyway, my first attempts did not produce a completely uniform BG. I only have two strobes (AB800's), so one is on the BG and one on the subject. I metered the BG at F11-16 (depending on the area) and the subject at F8-9. The back of the subject was also at F9. Anyway, couple of newbie questions:

1) Should the BG be completely overexposed? (e.g., flashing on my camera when previewing the shot). I ended up with areas that were overexposed (no detail) but then dropped off to detail on the edges away from the flash side. Is this possible with just one strobe on the BG?
2) If I added a reflector on the strobe side, would this achieve a better result? or do I just need to bite the bullet and get another strobe?
3) After the seamless has sat a couple of days, it seems to have developed a "texture" to it (not ripples), but rather large grain. Probably not viewable when shooting, but should it be rolled up immediately after use?
4) Finally, when I meter, I use a Sekonic l-358. I meter the BG in a number of places triggered remotely with PW's. I have not been extending the white bubble thing outward, is this correct technique? Probably REALLY stupid question but I don't completely understand the instruction manual language.

TIA for any assistance.

I always go 1 1/2-2 stops up from subject on white seamless and always use 2 lights on B/D for F/L usually on 3/4 or half just one on B/D.

Heres a half shot I did for a client B/G light 2 stops up form main which was a soft box horz right over camera.

Heres F/L with two light on subject and two on the B/D. Shot on location.

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If you dont get it perfect Zack's website now has a video up about PS'ing it a little to get it all straight. Takes just a second and takes care of it. Basically just bring up levels and alt click and drag the right marker to the right and it will show what needs touch up and then you can dodge on hightlight and paint it out.

AS indicated above - when using the white seamless you want to be 1-1/2 to 2- stops brighter on the background. F8 to F16 is only 1 stop. Try opening up a little on the subject and get the light to F5.6 and see what a difference this makes. That should get you on your way.

when taking your measurements, you should have the white ball on the L-358 in the up or out position, and when you take your measurements, you should consider the numbers that are the closest together meaning your F9 and F11 as this indicated the smallest differences in available/measured light and you need to get to the 1.5 to 2 stop difference

Good luck - please post your next set


Steve

f/8 to f/16 is two full stops.

what the heck is F/L? B/D?

F/L = full length. B/D suspect a typo, meant to be B/G = background.

tim wrote in post #5874856
F/L = full length. B/D suspect a typo, meant to be B/G = background.

I think B/D = Backdrop

Background, backdrop I use both terms.