Portable high key backgrounds?

[Dennis_Vied]

Originally Posted by Tony_Gamble

I would like to find out what is available so I can buy a loose cloth background that I can suspend from a top horizontal bar which is turn is helf up by two stands. However, I'd want that horizontal bar to be telescopic, ideally so that it can be around ten feet wide, but collapse down to no more that three feet.

Have you seen such a system?
Tony
London SW6

Yeah. I have one. It's a Savage Port-a-Stand. Extends to 9 ft. and telescopes down to about 3 ft. Comes with a carry bag which holds the two stands and telescoping bar. The stands extend up to about 9 ft or so.

[Tony_Gamble]

Thanks Dennis,

Another catalogue to look at - and then find if they are imported into the UK.

Tony

[ChrisPerry]

I too use the savage stand and it works well. Bring lots of clips and you can stretch the BG material a bit to remove the large wrinkles. To hide the small ones I try to get the BG OOF either thru distance, F stop or amix of the two - but I'm using typical painted muslin that is prety heave and stays wrinkled unless you steam it.

Backlighting the BG would be a great thing. Also, some nylon materials won't wrinkle but I've no idea how wide you can get them as seams may be an issue.

[Dennis_Vied]

Yes, clips are a great idea. I have a couple. I use 9ft. seamless paper rolls, and sometimes the weight will cause it to unroll unless I clip it.

[Tony_Gamble]

" to remove the large wrinkles"

A tip I read last month was to scrumple your background into a tight ball.

The theory is that it makes the wrinkles small and less obvious to the camera.

I have yet to try it - I have to admit.

Tony

[BillyGarrett]

Tony,

Something for thought for your backgrounds. I developed a very simple solution for my backgrounds. I made a portable background support and hanger using some light stands. I went out and bought 2" PVC piping. Cut them in 3' sections, on each end I glued double female joints. At each end I drilled a 3/4" hole. This was so that when I put the sections together this is where the light stands would go into the piping. The reason I cut them in 3' sections is because I could take them apart and place them in my carring bag. And if I needed to make a 6' section or a longer I could just add or take away to match my background. The stands that I used on the ends are made by savage backgounds, and if the background was over 8' in length than I would use another stand to support the middle. To keep the backgrounds up I would use simple spring clamps.

If you want to make easy stands, I have done the same using 3" PVC piping. Just cut the size you need. For my support bar I spent less than $10 for two 12' Piping and the couplings. For the stands using 3" PVC I made 3 post that could be put together to go 10' high. Total cost for all supplies less than $30. All for less than $50.

For my high key backgrounds I went to a local curtain maker. here they made me a 18 x 10 light canvas type background. Easy to fold up and not crease, easy to hang without the weight. The background cost me $125.

Hope this helps.

[Tony_Gamble]

Thanks Billy,

Some good ideas there.

Tony

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