Backdrop Material: I am planning to do my first still life and want to use a black background that will stay deep black and not reflect the flash. Hoping I can buy some at a fabric...

coco1964 Loc: Winsted Mn

I am planning to do my first still life and want to use a black background that will stay deep black and not reflect the flash. Hoping I can buy some at a fabric store. It's a table top scene so I only need about 3 yds---any suggestions................

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

Velvet.

coco1964 Loc: Winsted Mn

JimH wrote:

Velvet.

That's what I was thinking but when I went to our local shop the velvet they had was very stiff---will have to check at a bigger store because I know they make some that is very "flowing" so to speak. Thanks for your input.................

GTinSoCal Loc: Palmdale, CA

Black velvet works VERY well, but it is on the expensive side when/if you need a larger backdrop. A very cheap (very!) alternative is black sheets from a discount retailer, and flag your flash to keep the backdrop in the shadow.

If you can turn a white wall black, you can certainly keep a black backdrop black! LOL

GT

George Kravis

Velour works well.

Sharon S. Loc: Odessa, MO

I often use fleece. It comes in lots of colors, folds up easily to take along, and can be washed.

coco1964 Loc: Winsted Mn

Thanks to all who responded. I'm going shopping with my daughter on Thursday and I'm sure we'll find something thanks to you folks. Once again thank you.............

the f/stops here Loc: New Mexico

coco1964 wrote:

I am planning to do my first still life and want to use a black background that will stay deep black and not reflect the flash. Hoping I can buy some at a fabric store. It's a table top scene so I only need about 3 yds---any suggestions................

Velveteen is the material you want. I've been using it for non reflective black backdrops for years.

Andersen1942

A long time ago my son wanted to do some sci-fi 8mm and wanted to do the black space background for his model rocket ships. As was mentioned, velvet is way too expensive. I tried black Rit Dye on the flannel they make the hospital bath sheet with. Black dye really comes out just a pale gray. Then I tried navy blue and black together. Perfect. The flannel nap breaks up any patterns and it is dull like matte with no reflections even with direct light and the color is about as black as space. (cheap, too) Just remember to go back and run the washer through a cycle with bleach before the next load of clothes.

Chip

velvet at a craft store like Michaels or others is not very expensive and works better than sheets or velveteen which gives off a sheen when used with lights or a flash. the texture of the velvet works really well. i use it exclusively for a flat black background.

chip

BillyDuds Loc: North Carolina

B+H carries Savage Seamless Background Paper, Super Black. It comes in 12-yard rolls in two widths, 53" for $25, and 107" for $46. They also stock white and a wide range of other colors, called rather imaginatively Widetone. Anyone have experience with this product?

Nikon_Darrel

I got one yard of black out/commando cloth, sorry I do not remember the company name. I was surprised they would sell one square yard.

The cloth is a deep black and does not sheen or transmit light.

Darrel

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

On another note, I went into a fabric store once looking for camouflage fabric and couldn't find it anywhere...

jaroberts Loc: Tampa, FL

I purchased 6' by 10' of black felt at Jo-Ann's Fabrics. I might have had a coupon or it might have been on sale but it was about $10.

picsnap Loc: NE Ohio

coco1964 wrote:

I am planning to do my first still life and want to use a black background that will stay deep black and not reflect the flash. Hoping I can buy some at a fabric store. It's a table top scene so I only need about 3 yds---any suggestions................

I just shot this with velvet. Not intending to hijack, just for demonstration. I used high intensity flourescent lighting {not direct} This was shot in an inexpensive light tent.