Unlimited Photography Education
11. Studio backgrounds
Backgrounds are the foundation on which we build our photographs. A background can make or break an image, so it’s crucial that you understand how to work with them.
There are a multitude of choices when it comes to backgrounds, both for studio photography and work on location. This photography class covers the main types of backgrounds and features a bonus clip on how to make your own.
This photography class also covers:
- Commonly used materials for backgrounds
- The most versatile background colors
- How to change your background colors using lighting modifiers
- Making your own photography background
- Portable backgrounds for location work
- Infinity coves
To learn how to make your own canvas background, watch our ‘Making a canvas backdrop‘ photography class.
NOTE: This photography class is available with English subtitles.
Comments
I’ve found canvas to be far superior to muslin in terms of it’s resistance to wrinkling even though it’s a bit heavier. Another great lesson.
okay I might be color blind but that grey might seem brown to me
Me to
agree with you Anthony. I love a mottled grey canvas (painted myself as well)
Hello, guys. I’ve never used one of these, but probably it would be a decent solution: https://www.light-blaster.com/
If you are looking to create a wide canvas backdrop theatre supply companies can be a good place to look and normally supply canvas in extra wide widths.
Is Hardboard Wood? What does MDF stand for? I love that infinity cove because, well, it looks like it goes on for infinity.
Hi Gina, hardboard is a bendy thin MDF, and MDF is ‘medium density fibreboard’ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium-density_fibreboard
Hi Karl , thanks for your great videos . I want to say that it exist colored papers background bigger , I am buyinf them at Calumet , 2,72m large .
Hi Camille, thank you for that information.
Hi Karl.. I do think the light meter has its use a much as it may not be the best tool for creative work. Where the shoe was introduced to show a different material would require that the light reading is done again for that specific subject in my opinion.
Hi Karl
Can you tell me what the size of the plasterboard is? I looked it up and it seems that it can be bought in a number of sizes.
Thanks
Tim
Karl, I love the fancy lever rolling background system you are using in the studio. I would like to get rid of the hanging chains and I do not really trust the electric drives so this looks like perfect solution.
However, I was not able to find anything like that on internet. Could you let me know who produces those?
Thanks a lot for your help.
Cheers, Tomas
Hi Thomas, this is a Colorama background system which is owned by Manfrotto. It may be under thier Lastolite brand now?
Hey Karl, you may want to move the 12-foot paper a bit to the right as it’s covering the emergency exit.
David