Lightbox backdrop question: I have a Bodox lightbox which came with canvas backdrops. I would like to replace them with fabric and need advise on what fabric to use. Need one that will...

rplain1 Loc: Dayton, Oh.

I have a Bodox lightbox which came with canvas backdrops. I would like to replace them with fabric and need advise on what fabric to use. Need one that will not be reflective and will not show any texture. Am currently considering muslin but any help would be appreciated.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

rplain1 wrote:

I have a Bodox lightbox which came with canvas backdrops. I would like to replace them with fabric and need advise on what fabric to use. Need one that will not be reflective and will not show any texture. Am currently considering muslin but any help would be appreciated.

felt? or a dull finish plastic of some kind or even cut poster board and paint it with a flat paint in the color of your choice.
Anything woven will show texture if the light hits it right.

rplain1 Loc: Dayton, Oh.

robertjerl wrote:

felt? or a dull finish plastic of some kind or even cut poster board and paint it with a flat paint in the color of your choice.
Anything woven will show texture if the light hits it right.

Felt was one of my considerations and I may still end up there. Some I looked at showed some loose fiber which I was concerned about. Poster board is out - I am looking for more flexibility which is why I am looking at fabric. Thank you so much for your quick response.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

rplain1 wrote:

I have a Bodox lightbox which came with canvas backdrops. I would like to replace them with fabric and need advise on what fabric to use. Need one that will not be reflective and will not show any texture. Am currently considering muslin but any help would be appreciated.

I would get black felt from a fabric store.

rplain1 Loc: Dayton, Oh.

PixelStan77 wrote:

I would get black felt from a fabric store.

I have looked at that (although I want other colors as well) but some of the felt I looked at showed fibers which I was concerned would show up in the photo. I know that with time and effort I can get rid of defects in Photoshop, But I am trying to find a fabric that will be smooth enough and non-reflective enough to minimize post-processing. Even the canvas that came with the lightbox has reflections that I have to get rid of in Photoshop.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

rplain1 wrote:

I have looked at that (although I want other colors as well) but some of the felt I looked at showed fibers which I was concerned would show up in the photo. I know that with time and effort I can get rid of defects in Photoshop, But I am trying to find a fabric that will be smooth enough and non-reflective enough to minimize post-processing. Even the canvas that came with the lightbox has reflections that I have to get rid of in Photoshop.

A trip to a fabric store will solve your problem.

rplain1 Loc: Dayton, Oh.

I went to Hobby Lobby and Jo-ann Fabrics and it did not solve my problem. They have no photographers there.

rplain1 Loc: Dayton, Oh.

PixelStan77 wrote:

A trip to a fabric store will solve your problem.

I am looking for advise from a photographer who has done this. Fabric stores generally do not have photographers. Of course I went there and looked, but while I can tell what won't work, I can't be certain what will. And at $14,00+ per yard, I would prefer to have some solid advise. I would like 4 colors and need 2 yards of each.

Haydon

Velor or velveteen might work for you. As long as the fabric isn't folded when stored you'll have a wrinkle free background. Check Joanne fabric occasionally. They have the velveteen on sale frequently.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Velvet or Velveteen, especially in black or dark colours "eats light". If, however you want a very dark or non-textured background to result in your images, the small confines of a lightbox may be problematic. If the light is coming into the box from one or more sides, there may not be enough distance between the subject and the background to prevent the background from being illuminated enough to completely negate its texture.

If you need complete control of the background rendition, you may have to create a setup. without the lightbox, whereby to can create the diffused light with diffusion material, in an open studio kind of concept.

I don't know what you are photographing or the exact dimension of your existing lightbox. If you supply further detail, I may have some other suggestions.

If you post an image of what you are dissatisfied with, that would be helpful as well.

rplain1 Loc: Dayton, Oh.

E.L.. Shapiro wrote:

Velvet or Velveteen, especially in black or dark c... (show quote)

It is a Godox ligthbox 33x33x33 with LED lighting. What I am dissatisfied with is mostly the lack of flexibility of the backdrop. The clips will not hold it in place. There is some reflection from the surface which I can get rid of in Photoshop but I would just like to replace it with a fabric if possible. I photograph various objects for still life photography (not for product sales). I don't need diffusion material - the LED lighting is fine. It is just the background I am concerned about.

pendennis

Felt is a good fabric as others have mentioned. It's surface is naturally matte, and the light from your light box should be diffuse enough so that fabric patterns aren't picked up by the lens. Either muslin or velvet is also good.

Are you using a single light box? If you're not using multiple lights, you might try moving the background a bit further back from the subject. Yes, you're liable to need more fabric, but you also need some additional subject-to-background distance. You might try a background distance that's at least twice as far from the camera, as the subject.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

E.L.. Shapiro wrote:

Velvet or Velveteen, especially in black or dark c... (show quote)

uhaas2009

Look in your closet and test what you have already hanging on clothes.....if you have hotspots on your background move your light a bit or put more defusing material over it.

PattyW60 Loc: Northwest Illinois

rplain1 wrote:

I have a Bodox lightbox which came with canvas backdrops. I would like to replace them with fabric and need advise on what fabric to use. Need one that will not be reflective and will not show any texture. Am currently considering muslin but any help would be appreciated.

Bob, I like to use black velvet as a backdrop. I also keep a lint roller nearby to clean up any stray particles that might find their way onto the fabric. Usually only notice those things when I'm shooting macro!