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Author Topic: rollup white background  (Read 4324 times)

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« on: November 15, 2014, 20:38 »
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I need a white backdrop that I can light up with a strobe. I don't usually do people or portraits, so I'm not equipped for it.  But something has come up.

It needs to be at least 4 or 5 feet square, and something that a modest strobe light can push to pure white, so it should be a bit reflective I guess, a bed sheet won't cut it.  I see various paper and paper-like backdrops on Amazon but they all require a bulky floor stand to hold them up.  Ideally I'd like some sort of pull-down, roll-up screen I could hang from a ceiling without taking up floor space, of which I have little.

Dad's old slide projection screen from the 60s would do the job, but I no longer have it.


« Reply #1 on: November 15, 2014, 20:52 »
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If you live in the USA call B&H 1800.606.6969. They will have what you want. I own what your looking for, I just can't remember what they are called, otherwise I'd find it for you on their website. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

Edit: On second thought, if you don't usually shoot people, you might be better off just find a space that has a large empty white wall. Otherwise I think your mostly stuck using white paper that is either mounted to the wall with hooks that let you roll, or using the poles on the floor liked you talked about.
« Last Edit: November 15, 2014, 20:56 by charged »

Ed

« Reply #2 on: November 15, 2014, 20:55 »
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I live in the U.S. - I use poster paper you can buy at Hobby Lobby for about $12 per roll.  You can get it in all kinds of colors.

For backdrop stands, I use two light stands, two universal clamps, and a cross bar.

« Reply #3 on: November 15, 2014, 21:00 »
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I work in a crowded basement 'den' and just don't have any wall space.   That's why I'm looking for a free-standing or pulldown screen.  I expect to find other uses for it in the future, so I'll spend a few dollars, but don't need studio quality equipment.

« Reply #4 on: November 15, 2014, 21:58 »
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At most art supply stores you can buy foam core boards in various sizes.  I use 4 ft by 4 ft white foam core for a lot of stuff I do at home rather than haul around my stands and white paper rolls.

Of course foam core won't roll up but you can usually stash it in the back of a closet somewhere.  It's not particularly expensive anyway so you can just throw it away when you are done if you can't find a place to stash it.

« Reply #5 on: November 15, 2014, 22:06 »
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I use foam core although I can't find it in sizes that large.  In fact I couldn't even get a 4x4 piece in my car.  Sometimes I tape smaller pieces together but that gets unwieldy.  Really hoping to find a rollup solution.

cuppacoffee

« Reply #6 on: November 16, 2014, 00:33 »
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« Reply #7 on: November 16, 2014, 00:45 »
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Try checking out trade show displays.  They have a lot of back drops and banner displays.  Might get pricy for the ice you want but you may be able to negotiate better pricing since you don't want it printed.  Some to the banner stands are like a reverse film screen.  They have an arm extending up ad the screen pulls up from the floor.

Or if you can secure anything to the ceiling you could install a couple of large hooks and suspend a roll of paper on a pipe.

« Last Edit: November 16, 2014, 01:07 by tickstock »

« Reply #9 on: November 16, 2014, 01:32 »
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I have always used white Savage paper, but I have one of these in black and it just pops open and sits against a wall.  Fits in the back closet.  They also have them without the floor cloth.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/541213-REG/Impact_BGSC_W_816_Super_Collapsible_Background.html

If you don't have time to wait for shipping, I always hear of people buying lovely cheap white vinyl on a roll from Home Depot or similar type of store, but I've never found it!

« Reply #10 on: November 16, 2014, 12:17 »
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That collapsible background looks very handy but it's $100 -  4 times the cost of a roll of paper, so I may put some hooks in the ceiling.

update: I see other collapsible backgrounds on BH that are much cheaper.
« Last Edit: November 16, 2014, 12:25 by stockastic »

Ed

« Reply #11 on: November 16, 2014, 12:42 »
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I work in a crowded basement 'den' and just don't have any wall space.   That's why I'm looking for a free-standing or pulldown screen.  I expect to find other uses for it in the future, so I'll spend a few dollars, but don't need studio quality equipment.


The poster paper rolls at Hobby Lobby are only 4 feet wide.  If you don't have room for lightstands and you're working in a space that's 6 feet or less wide, then try hanging the roll of paper on a closet rod

http://www.amazon.com/John-Sterling-RP0020-48-72BRZ-Adjustable/dp/B00BLM3YSG/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1416159671&sr=8-6&keywords=closet+rod

Of course, you need to make sure the diameter of the poster paper core is larger than the thickness of the closet rod, but that could work.  Shower curtain rod could work as well.

« Reply #12 on: November 16, 2014, 15:01 »
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Some of the collapsible screens are translucent so they can be lit from behind.  I hadn't thought of that, and it seems like it could be a big advantage in terms of space.  If the strobe is in front, it has to be off to the side so as not to be in the frame.  And the subject has to be a sufficient distance in front of the strobe, which means the backdrop has to be extremely large.  But if I can put the strobe directly behind the screen, the subject can be up close to it in front and the screen can be small.   That would be very helpful.   I'm not sure, though, about getting a pure white background in this way.  Is it as simple as it sounds?

« Last Edit: November 16, 2014, 15:06 by stockastic »

« Reply #13 on: November 16, 2014, 15:12 »
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You could try one of these, they are ok.  I like using a simple roll of white paper though.  http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/478589-REG/Lastolite_LL_LB8867_HiLite_Chromakey_Background.html

« Reply #14 on: November 16, 2014, 15:50 »
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Some of the collapsible screens are translucent so they can be lit from behind.  I hadn't thought of that, and it seems like it could be a big advantage in terms of space.  If the strobe is in front, it has to be off to the side so as not to be in the frame.  And the subject has to be a sufficient distance in front of the strobe, which means the backdrop has to be extremely large.  But if I can put the strobe directly behind the screen, the subject can be up close to it in front and the screen can be small.   That would be very helpful.   I'm not sure, though, about getting a pure white background in this way.  Is it as simple as it sounds?

Aim the strobe at a white wall, or a white umbrella, or white foam core, or a silver reflector screen, and bounce it back towards the translucent collapsible screen.  This way it spreads equally and you'll have a pure white background (with the right camera settings).  If you work this way, your subject can be a lot closer to the backdrop.  I sometimes even put my subject against it.  I use the Lastolite Megalite, which works the same way.

« Reply #15 on: November 16, 2014, 16:07 »
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Yes I have a strobe, umbrella etc.  I just had some doubt that the translucent material would really show up as white.  Guess I'll try it.

That giant Lastolite box looks pretty neat, but it's expensive.
« Last Edit: November 16, 2014, 16:12 by stockastic »

« Reply #16 on: November 16, 2014, 20:44 »
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I have one of those Lastolite boxes and haven't used it in 6 or years.  Pain in the a$$ and when shooting models it is pretty short and you still have to light the floor or it's grey.

But.... it could substitute as the biggest baddest softbox ever.

Hmm.... think I need to put that Lastolite on Kijijji.

« Reply #17 on: November 16, 2014, 23:19 »
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If you want to mount it, try these mounted pulley systems:

http://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-Single-Roller-Support-Mounting-Background/dp/B004G13ZZQ/ref=pd_cp_p_2

I have a similar one with three hooks, so I can leave black, white, and another color rolled up and ready to use.


 

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