p.1 #1 · Advice for purchase of Muslin Background Please
I am on a budget but I spend what I have to to get the right equipment.
I saved the money and bought a canon 60d, canon 24-70, canon 70-200...
I have a background setup but only have green chromakey muslin
I need 1 good muslin to get started taking portraits.
It looks like I will have to spend $600.00 to get a good one.
Do not laugh if what I just said is stupid!
I can only afford to get one right now, wish I could stay below 200.00.. and I think I need 10x20...
But what I get needs to be good for all around PORTRAIT photography, kids, adults, pets!
So, I am apprehensive about spending all that money and then finding out I was an idiot.. that I got the wrong thing, or did not need to spend so much.
p.1 #3 · Advice for purchase of Muslin Background Please
I would consider starting with a classic mottled grey backdrop. There should be several brands in that price range. A simple, grey backdrop looks great photographed as-is, or can be gelled to any color you choose. Also very easy to change the tone with different lighting and positioning of the subject in relation to the backdrop. Great place to start, then you can always add others when ready.
p.1 #7 · Advice for purchase of Muslin Background Please
Just so you know, Fantasy Cloth is not muslin. It's semi-translucent, and it works the same as muslin when lit from the front, but you can also light it from the back. It's very similar to the dust cover on the bottom of couches and bed boxsprings.
Silver lake is significantly higher quality that backdrop outlet. I've bought two things from BDoutlet and they are like the dollar store, technically they are what they say they are, but only just and no fun to use.
I have three backgrounds from Silverlake, and they are all well made. With one the look has never really worked for me, the other two are good. The best one I have is a mottled grey one I made myself. Took me forever, and I somehow didn't screw it up, and it is great now. The Silverlake muslins can be pretty thick and stiff at first, but if you scrunch it up over and over again it will soften and get pretty nice.
Regarding the silverlake BG you bought, no telling if you will like it or not, you just have to do your best guess, dive in and try it.
p.1 #10 · Advice for purchase of Muslin Background Please
I think I am going to try to learn how to make my own backgrounds.
I can afford 50.00 to make one.. but that one I bought for 300.00.. , well, I could have bought a 580 ex speedlight with a little more money..
Sure wish I had not bought it now.
But atleast I will have it.
Thanks to all who are commenting.. by the time I am old and grey.. I will have all I need I guess.
p.1 #11 · Advice for purchase of Muslin Background Please
RobertLynn wrote:
Silverlake is good, good stuff. I own a 10X20, and the only time it wasn't large enough was when I photographed,
Grandparents, 3 children with spouses, 6 Grandchildren.
14 people.
What I did was get them close, no worries, then cloned it in around them. Worked perfectly.
Well, if I were a mechanic , I would have the best tools.. snap-on or what ever is the best now..
Carpenter,, the best tools, I like Dewalt...
So, now that I am a photographer... I look for the best quality so I only have to purchase one time...
Each thing I buy is an investment... the way I look at it...
So, when I found siliverlake.. they present well as really good...
So, I went ahead and ordered.
I did not know the other place was not muslin.. but for that price, I guess I can use what I bought for some way.
I would like to have 2 backgrounds.. I did buy a black and a grey Kingsize Sheet, 20.00 each...
before I started posting here...
I just really wanted a good background...
I can't wait till it gets here..
A N T I C I P A T I O N!
p.1 #12 · Advice for purchase of Muslin Background Please
alohadave wrote:
Just so you know, Fantasy Cloth is not muslin. It's semi-translucent, and it works the same as muslin when lit from the front, but you can also light it from the back. It's very similar to the dust cover on the bottom of couches and bed boxsprings.
p.1 #13 · Advice for purchase of Muslin Background Please
I'm not going to get into suppliers, there's already lots of good links on that. My advice is if you're going to get a muslin, then invest in a good steamer especially if you're going to change backgrounds a lot or you go mobile. It'll help get the wrinkles out unless you're into wrinkles or you have a tight enough DOF to blur them out. Photoshop can help with that too, but that gets old real quick especially if you take a lot of portraits.
p.1 #14 · Advice for purchase of Muslin Background Please
HawaiianOnline wrote:
I'm not going to get into suppliers, there's already lots of good links on that. My advice is if you're going to get a muslin, then invest in a good steamer especially if you're going to change backgrounds a lot or you go mobile. It'll help get the wrinkles out unless you're into wrinkles or you have a tight enough DOF to blur them out. Photoshop can help with that too, but that gets old real quick especially if you take a lot of portraits.
Can you give a little example of a Steamer that I might want to purchase?
I am totally in the dark!
I know what a steamer is, but have never needed one.
p.1 #15 · Advice for purchase of Muslin Background Please
alaskalive wrote:
Can you give a little example of a Steamer that I might want to purchase?
I am totally in the dark!
I know what a steamer is, but have never needed one.
Thanks for your good point!
For muslins, you can take a look at the following distributors:
As for steamers, I bought a Jiffy J-4000 steamer for my wife a while back. It works well for muslins although the hose is a bit short sometimes. The tank capacity is great when you're dealing with a 10X20 muslin. You could use a steam iron, but be prepared to refill it often if you have big muslins. Take a look around, I haven't really looked at steamers for a while, so I'm not sure what is out there now. I like the Jiffy because that style of steamer is pretty easy to use on a muslin that's already mounted on a background support. An iron doesn't work to well in that case. It's useable if you can drape it on a floor and iron it out, but you might re-wrinkle the muslin when you mount it. I remember seeing a handheld unit on TV once (Steam Buddy I think). Small unit, but I think it could be used on a hanging muslin. They used it on a curtain in that informercial so it should work on a hanging muslin. Just be prepared to refill and let it reheat every now and then when working on a big muslin.
p.1 #16 · Advice for purchase of Muslin Background Please
I made a purchase from Backdrop Outlet and I'll provide a review of it when it comes in. I went the economy route in case it's not up to standard. We'll see if the old adage is true, you get what you pay for.
p.1 #17 · Advice for purchase of Muslin Background Please
Before you make a large investment in muslins, I suggest you do some market research. To me, that kind of background is representative of a very traditional type of portraiture. While there's nothing wrong with that type of portraiture, I'm wondering if that's the direction of the market trend.
When I was a professional back in the '70's and '80s, I did thousands of traditional portraits. From what I observe now, both on the internet and in friends' homes, there is more interest in environmental and lifestyle portraiture. Those who are buying the traditional portrait in front of a muslin background are going to chain studios, department stores or buying their church directory photos.
If your intent is to do traditional photography like the mom and pop studios of old, I'm wondering if that business model is still viable.
p.1 #18 · Advice for purchase of Muslin Background Please
I'm under that same belief and why I'm hesitant to spend buku bucks on a background. The one I purchased is for a specific session I'm doing. Anytime I use it after that is a bonus.
p.1 #19 · Advice for purchase of Muslin Background Please
I have found that aurabackdrops are the best backdrops for the price, www.aurabackdrops.com
I like silverlake as well but aurabackdrops has more selection.
Denny and backdrop outlet are too expensive for what you are getting.
