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Backdrops: paper vs muslin vs cotton
I'm looking to purchase a backdrop, which is best? Jul 28 08 03:55 pm Link Define "best." What is your budget? How much space do you have to donate to this? Is it a permanent location or do you need to be able to tear it down? Jul 28 08 04:03 pm Link Adding machine vs. calculator!  Jul 28 08 04:05 pm Link MusePhotography wrote: Best for what? Jul 28 08 04:07 pm Link Recently I've been photographing for t-shirt companies. I need something that will take the light well, but won't look flat. I have a pretty big space for it, so size is no issue and i'll hardly be breaking it down. Jul 28 08 04:09 pm Link money= $.01-1,000,000,000,000 no issues Jul 28 08 04:11 pm Link paper is really cheap and can be thrown out while cotton is expensive and you can re-use. all depends on your budget...i use cotton  Jul 28 08 04:12 pm Link If money wasn't an issue and space isn't an issue, I would build my own oversized softbox. Jul 28 08 04:13 pm Link Images by Yancy wrote: great idea! Jul 28 08 04:16 pm Link MusePhotography wrote: When I think of muslin, I think of portrait studios, school pictures, etc. I see it as being sort of outdated although there are a lot of guys still using it. If I shoot in studio, I use paper but I prefer the variety of colors, shades, textures, shapes and interest of location (outdoor) shooting! Jul 28 08 04:16 pm Link Paper is nice because it comes in lots of colors and it's smooth. It needs to be stored on it's end though, and it's a pain to move around. (If you store it on the floor, it'll develop a flat spot and will have a definite pattern next time you unroll it). Shipping on paper can be rough, so it's best to buy it locally if you can. Fabric backgrounds have more texture and can be pretty interesting if used correctly. Using the same ones over and over will get old quick though. Shipping is cheaper and storage is easier. What's "best" is really more about what kind of look you want. Jul 28 08 04:17 pm Link MusePhotography wrote: If you're near a textile district in a big city and you know someone who can sew, you can save a huge amount of money by buying cloth by the yard. Heavy weight Cotton Muslin is quite cheap. If you want a painted backdrop you'll have to do that yourself or shell out the rip-off prices outfits like Westcott charge. Jul 28 08 04:21 pm Link I like Paper the best. Muslin lasts forever but it is pain to use, unless the you have a huge studio and you can put the model far away from the BG. Jul 28 08 04:27 pm Link MusePhotography wrote: If I were shooting for t-shirt companies I'd likely go with a neutral paper. You can light the background with falloff for a gradient look to it, if you go with a gray. Muslins ten to look like... well muslins. Jul 28 08 04:33 pm Link I use Photek backgrounds -- don't wrinkle as easily as muslin. Jul 28 08 04:37 pm Link MusePhotography wrote: MusePhotography wrote: $1 Billion dollars? Jul 28 08 04:59 pm Link MusePhotography wrote: Since money is no object, why not build a cyc? You can paint it, and you can also still put up a cotton/muslin backdrop too. Jul 28 08 05:03 pm Link MusePhotography wrote: If money is not a problem, and you do not want all your t-shirt shoot backgrounds to look the same, get all three. I like, and use, all three types of backgrounds mentioned, and use them all regularly, depending on the look I am after. Jul 28 08 05:40 pm Link MusePhotography wrote: Yes. Jul 28 08 05:54 pm Link The best thing (if you can afford it) is a plaster cyclorama, you just need to paint it and you have seamless for ages. Second best is seamless paper, I use Savage. Seamless paper comes in different widths the smallest is 138 cms. wich is wide enough for sears-target catalogues or anything besides models with wide open arms a la Jesus, I recommend for this one a couple of autopoles, because the foot print of tripods can be problematic with a this small width. If you want more flexibility (groups, couples, jumps, diagonal lying models) you need the more wide ones and yes those are a bitch to transport. I highly recommend you some plexyglass and translucid acrylic boards for any width so the models step on them instead of your seamless, this avoids footprints (that you have to erase in PS) and makes the paper last longer, besides it looks cooler and helps bouncing light in the ankles and feet for a more even subject exposure. Jul 28 08 06:40 pm Link |
