Best material for home studio backdrop?

[ajax_andy]

I have a few bits of kit that I use occasionally to take pics for friends, they consist of a couple of cheap light stands, a softbox, and umbrella, a couple of flashes, a white muslin backdrop and a stand.

I have a few issues with the backdrop as its 3m x 3m and takes about an hour to steam / iron. It also never stays crease free throughout the shoot, and especially the floor bit where the kids wriggle about and move around.

So I end up spending hours removing the backdrop and floor all together from the pics, which isn't ideal.

Is there a better way of doing things? I would imagine a paper backdrop wouldn't crease but would probably require replacing fairly often... however they are cheap and the cost of dry cleaning the 3m x 3m muslin sheet will probably not be cheap either!

So is there a better option than a muslin sheet? or am I just missing a really obvious trick of the trade that would avoid the issues I'm having?

[windrider86]

This may sound silly, but I crumple up my backdrops. Looks like they're made that way and looks better than a bunch of creases.
Someday, I might even have to have a permanent studio where I can just leave em up all the time and not worry about it

[homank76]

I've known studeo's where they have the paper your taling about. They buy it in huge roles and when they finish the shoot they tear it off and move to the next sheet.

[Biomech]

3m x 3m and takes about an hour to steam / iron.

OMG come and iron mine!

[Rentham]

I use paper. It isn't as cheap as you would think, but you don't always have to tear off the part you used. For white paper I can sometimes get 2 or 3 uses out of a particular section. For deep grey I can use a section almost indefinitely if I'm careful.

Paper comes with it's own set of problems. You have to store it upright and you can't use it on carpet unless you like holes punched in it. It is also relatively heavy and unwieldy.

[ajax_andy]

Originally Posted by Biomech

OMG come and iron mine!

Haha it's mainly the reason why I hardly ever use it... too much hassle. i dont even iron my clothes usually so to spend an hour doing this puts me off using it

[ajax_andy]

Originally Posted by Rentham

I use paper. It isn't as cheap as you would think, but you don't always have to tear off the part you used. For white paper I can sometimes get 2 or 3 uses out of a particular section. For deep grey I can use a section almost indefinitely if I'm careful.

Paper comes with it's own set of problems. You have to store it upright and you can't use it on carpet unless you like holes punched in it. It is also relatively heavy and unwieldy.

Where do you buy yours from if you dont mind me asking?

I wonder if its possible to buy huge rolls of extra thick paper from a stationary stockist and use that? Might be cheaper than buying a roll advertised as for photography?

I have laminate floors so there's no problem there. I've been tempted to just have a back drop and leave the floor exposed to see how that works, but not been brave enough to try it yet.

[CurlyCorry]

If you're setting up a room in your house and plan on leaving things in there, I have purchased curtain panels from a liquidation store. They are faux suede and because I hung them on the wall with pins, they never wrinkle and i don't have to iron them any more. I store them hanging on the wall. The good thing about the curtain panels too, is i can get multiple colors of backdrops for very very cheap. I paid like 12.00 for a pair of short curtains and 15.00/panel for long ones (6' x 4') If i take them out, i typically roll them up to minimize wrinkles.

Edit: I re-read your post and noticed you said you have a stand. Also, about the curtain panels, they have these large grommets on them at the top which makes them very easy to hang on curtain rods, stands, walls, etc.

[Rentham]

I try to buy mine locally, but the shops here don't always have the colors I need so I end up ordering from B&H at times. After shipping it is about $60 for 9' wide roll from B&H, and slightly cheaper locally.

I find that some paper seems to have a different thickness even from the same manufacturer. For instance, the white paper from the local vendor is thinner and very stiff. It is a bitch to unroll without creasing. The grey feels thicker and more pliable, making set up a breeze. May be my imagination.

[ajax_andy]

Originally Posted by CurlyCorry

If you're setting up a room in your house and plan on leaving things in there, I have purchased curtain panels from a liquidation store. They are faux suede and because I hung them on the wall with pins, they never wrinkle and i don't have to iron them any more. I store them hanging on the wall. The good thing about the curtain panels too, is i can get multiple colors of backdrops for very very cheap. I paid like 12.00 for a pair of short curtains and 15.00/panel for long ones (6' x 4') If i take them out, i typically roll them up to minimize wrinkles.

Edit: I re-read your post and noticed you said you have a stand. Also, about the curtain panels, they have these large grommets on them at the top which makes them very easy to hang on curtain rods, stands, walls, etc.

Yeah unfortunately i dont have the space to leave it set up, so its a case of folding it up and putting it away after use, then taking it out and ironing it again before the next shoot.