For many photographers backdrops are essential studio equipment. Learn how you too can use photographic backdrops.
Image by rubyblossom. via Flickr
Many professional studio photographers use photographic backdrops for indoor photography for anything from passport and visas pictures to family, fashion, and wedding sessions.
Photographic backdrops evolved from hand made oil painted canvas to digital backdrops that you can download for as little as $2 a piece or sometimes free. You can still purchase old fashioned hand painted scenic backdrops that will add the old fashion twist to your pictures, but there is an easier way to get the same effect with a simpler method – using chroma key backdrops.
There are three important factors that you need to consider when shopping for a chroma key background for photography:
- color (the chroma key backdrops come in two colors usually – green or blue. The green is more favorable to peoples skin, so therefore became more popular for portraits)
- material used (chroma key backdrops come on paper, canvas, muslin or special heavy duty fabrics such as for example diamond cloth. (diamond cloth is a sturdy, durable, muslin-like fabric that is both washer and dryer safe)
- size and portability (various sizes available here, depends on what you want to shoot)
Why is green better for our skin? Because green color neutralizes the redness and blemishes of the skin. Any makeup artist has a green concealer in his/her toolbox for that purpose
For Chroma key backdrops it’s essential that the fabric is wrinkle free (no crisps and shadows) to allow smooth keying out of the image in post production. So you might want to consider a polyester fabric that is not only non-wrinkle but also both washer and dryer safe. And something that is durable and will not fade with time.
Why does cloth quality matter? Muslin backgrounds are usually made from 50/50 polycotton (50% cotton and 50% polyester). Special durable fabrics such as diamond or platinum cloths consist more of polyester fibers, which makes the fabric wrinkle free.
Once you have your shots done against a chroma key photographic backdrop you can use many types of digital backdrops such as:
- Scenics photographic backdrops
- Indoor photographic backdrops
- Modern photographic backdrops
- Architecture photographic backdrops
- Garden photographic backdrops
- Nature photographic backdrops
- Floors and textures photographic backdrops
- Old Master photographic backdrops
- Hot spot photographic backdrops
- Abstract photographic backdrops
- European scenics photographic backdrops (taking about faking your holiday pictures)
So which background for photography is better, cloth or digital?
Well… that may greatly depend on your clients. You might have a difficult time explaining to an elderly person why you want to shoot his/her portrait against ugly green chroma key photographic backdrops.
So it may be a good idea to have a few cloth photographic backdrops in solid colors to begin with. You can get pretty inexpensive sets with cloth backgrounds and additionally a chroma key green screen for your creative ideas.
Image via Wikipedia
A chroma key green screen is also very portable – you can easily fold it (no rods needed) and carry with you to your client’s house, office or other indoor location.
What are your favorite photographic backdrops? Feel free to leave your comment below.
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This really answered my problem, thank you!
Photo backdrops can indeed enhance images a great deal. It’s a little tricky and challenging but with practice, patience and an artistic eye, you’ll be well on your way to turning simple photos into works of art.