How To Make A Photography Backdrop Or Reflector For Your Photo Studio
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- čas přidán 23. 08. 2012
- See how Sue Bryce uses these reflectors to create the most amazing photographs in these great classes:
www.creativelive.com/courses/g...
www.creativelive.com/courses/2...
In this quick DIY video, Tiffany shows you how to create your own reflector stands using Polystyrene (styrofoam) boards found at your local big box hardware store to use as reflectors for use in your photo studio (as made popular by Sue Bryce).
These can also be used as backdrops for entertaining, such as behind cake tables, or make a great background for photo booths due their light weight and ability to easily pin various materials to the background.
Materials required:
(1) Polystyrene board (1.5" thick x 8' tall x 4' wide)
(2) 8" x 10" shelf brackets
(2) 2x4's cut to 18" each
(2-6) long screws (at least 1.5") with accompanying nut to connect the brackets to polystyrene board
(8-12) 1/2" screws to screw the shelf brackets into the base
Tools required:
Screwdriver
Wrench
Drill (to drill pilot holes and small screws into the 2x4's)
Hand saw or table saw (to cut the 2x4's)
Total cost for this project will run about $30 for materials.
Please post any comments or questions below. Thanks for watching!
www.tiffanyangeles.com - Jak na to + styl
8 Years later, and still relevant. Thank you Tiffany ❤ sending love from South Africa.
I have watched a LOT of these videos on how to make these back drops, and yours is the most practical! Thank you so much for taking the time to make this video! I am so grateful that I found it today! Blessings to you.
Finally getting the stuff for this. I'm using 2" boards. Can't wait to play!!! Thank you SO much Tiffany for the detailed video. Helped immensely.
Awesome Tiffany! Thanks for sharing this! now I have to go buy some Polystyrene
wish i could see how pictures turned out that took you with this backdrop but this video is by far the most helpful and off all that i've watched today (about 6). Straight and to the point. You go Tiffany Angeles! :)
This is the most informative video I've found!
Finally got this project going... Just waiting for the paint to dry!!!!! Thanks Tiffany!
This is the most clever and helpful thing ever. I'm looking to start a photography studio in the basement where I live without painting any walls. So awesome, thank you.
This is exactly the video I have been looking for! Thank you!
Simple, yet effective. Like it!
When I tell you this has been the video I’ve been looking for for months!!!
Awesome diy project. Thanks for sharing. Have a great day.👍
Out right Dope Thanks
Thank you, i have been searching for this, its exactly what i needed.
thanks for this great DIY advice!
Thanks Amanda! Glad you like it!
Really important explanation !
Thank you Tiffany !
omg this is exactly what i needed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for the instructions and materials listed...some of us are beginners!
Thank you!!!!! No one on CZcams shows how to make the support just how to do the project. I’m using the foam to make a flower wall for my wedding but I need to have I.t stand alone at the venue. Thanks again you rock!!!
According 2 Ty were you able to pull it off? How did you transport it? Did you build at the site or beforehand?
amazing, great idea!
THANK YOU SOO MUCH ! THIS IS AMAZING !!!
Thanks for sharing your video that was very helpful to me easy and cheap to make it.
This is Brilliant, thanx for this CZcams!
maaan this is great! :)
Cheep and effective!
Nice video! Thanks for the explanation. I'm thinking of doing this for a video backdrop
Wow this video help me a lot thank you
i used to walk by the Home Depot store aisles full of those panels and I´d ever considered using them as light reflectors, great tip :)
Thank you Tiffany! I saw Sue on CL and was dying to know how to do this in the US.
Fantastic, thanks!
Great simple idea.
Oh I am sooooooo going to try this!
+TheDodicat, hey Daria.
Stefon, if you cannot find the thicker ones, you can always get the thinner (and too flexible) ones and glue two or more pieces together with construction adhesive. Works like a charm! AND...if you want variety...instead of 1.5" board, get THREE 1/2" boards,. Paint each side a different color/shade, and use The Black BINDER clips (called Bulldog Clips) to secure the 3 together. Then All you can flip, turn, and exchange them easily, as needed. Literally, you now have SIX backdrops in one!
Tiffany, great tutorial. would love to see some of your photography work or videos using these backdrops/reflector boards. Thanks! :)
What you're looking for in Europe is 2400mm x 1200mm insulating board - it's a standard size but you might need to got to a "trade" builders merchant. In the UK we have B&Q (which is at diy com) which sells these for about £20 each. You'll need a decent size vehicle to move them around if your store doesn't deliver. They're BIG....
You know? Even if this was 10 years ago but it still super useful for me thanks for sharing this
Couple of tips I learnt the hard way: 1. To get around the foamboard warping when it's painted, simply paint both sides. I painted one side black and one side white. 2. Matt black paint scuffs really easily I found - just with normal finger pressure. Use an eggshell finish rather than matt to get around this.
Did you peel the backing on both sides or leave the plastic backing on?
Ok - did the 2" board instead and they stand very straight (and they are very light). He bought the silver lined one. I just peeled off the coating on both sides of the board and rolled it with black paint on one side. Worked perfect. For the holes, if you put a piece of straw in where your drill for the screw to attach the bracket in the foam, it will keep the foam from tearing if you remove and attach the bracket for transport/storing. We used a straw from 7-11 (the big gulp size).
awesome! thank you so much!
great tips . thank you
Thanks do much for this
Great! Thanks!
Excellent!
Hello. You have a top notch channel with a very good look overall. Keep up the great work and have a great day.
Thank you
Hey Jarrett, I actually used regular house paint and I don't have a problem with it eating the plastic. I have painted directly on the boards and also on the plastic and both ways still have shown no issues.
Great idea! It so light, it wouldn't need very big wheels. I use furniture pads on the bottom of mine so I can slide them around. :)
nice stuff!
Genius!!
thanks so much
Good job girl !
Hey Chad, I have painted both on the plastic and directly on the surface without plastic. Either way works. Don't get the silver stuff, that's a different type of insulation and it's true the silver doesn't rip off. If your Home Depot doesn't have it, maybe try Lowes.
Pia Bovis-Hostettler.....In reading your question I see that you are only able to find the smaller sheets of insulation. Here is a suggestion: Take two pieces, lets say 4'x4', because you desire a 8'x4' piece, and on one edge a piece apply a thick (though not too much) construction adhesive made especially for building materials. Then join two edges together of each piece, creating a "top and bottom" piece. Then, purchase a roll of craft paper and glue it to the front and back of the boards....
Hi Stefon, because it is sheet insulation, you should be able to find it at most hardware stores. B&H would carry other large reflectors, but not like this. I would try other stores or try your Home Depot a few times and see if they have straight ones come in. Good luck transporting across NY! :)
Nice work, Tiffany. One note.
Add a strip of 1" or 1 1/2" wood across the bottom, under the polyboard, from 2x4 to 2x4 to take stress off the poly where the screws go through. Will probably add some lifespan to the rig.
Cheers.
Thank you. Off to home depot I go!
wowwww thank you :D
Great idea about using the shelf brackets for feet.
Any suggestions on what kind of paint to use to make one side black (I don't know very much at all about paint)?
Good job,
just a few quick corrections/suggestions in case they hadn't been mentioned.
don't use screws, use BOLTS :-)
- bolts take a nut on the other end; a screw just digs in and holds to whatever you are screwing it in to. iow u can't use a nut on a screw.
- and if you use a large FLAT washer on both ends, the foam will last longer.
- if you want to make them easier to store, use different thicknesses of wood for the stands so the legs will go together and they will sandwich next to each other when not in use
very clever..
bravo!
nice work your
Thank you Tiffany! I'm so excited to make V-Flats, I'm in RI/MA and the closest material I've found is 1-in x 4-ft x 8-ft Expanded Polystyrene Insulated Sheet. Have you tried using this or tried doubling them? Thank you
Well you answered a question from my thoughts. I was wondering how to pull this off the other day
We use this kind of foam in the model airplane hobby and there are some tricks we can borrow from that hobby to help use the foam for photo/video uses.
Often, it turns out the inked logo printing on one side of these can be removed with isopropyl alcohol, if you want to keep the plastic outer layer. The isoprop will also dull that plastic a bit but should not dissolve the foam.
You can "melt-proof" polystyrene foam with a coating of Elmer's glue, thinned with water. Or the water-based latex version of "Kilz" wall primer will also work. There are hobby products specifically made for coating foam, to make it paint-able, but they tend to be expensive in the amounts you'd need for panels this large. There is also a version of Krylon rattle-can spray paint that used to be foam safe, it was called H2O, because it was water-based, not solvent-based.
Finally, a very cheap way to coat this foam and make it harder and able to take paints is to use water-based polyurethane furniture stain/coating. Minwax Polycrylic is the brand model airplane makers like to use. Brush on, let dry, then you can paint it with latex house paints, any colors. You can also make the foam panels SUPER strong if you lay brown kraft paper (brown shopping bag paper) on them and brush the polycrylic over that to adhere it. Sort of like papier mache'. When it dries it will be almost like fiberglass; stiff and super light and paintable with anything.
As to transporting the large panels, that is a major issue and car-topping is generally not safe or successful. It may work better with the thicker-foil-backed insulating panels, especially if first sandwiched between two 4x8 sheets of wall paneling for transport. What I'd suggest is get some wall paneling with the "brick wall" pattern on them, cheap at around 12-15 bucks a sheet, ( and most photogs will find a use for the brick backdrop at some point) and make a v-flat from those after using them to transport your foam sheets. You could cut the foam into smaller chunks with a very sharp razor blade to make them fit inside the car, and glue them back together at the destination, sanding the joints if a uniform surface is important. But it's simpler to pay for the home center to deliver the clean, whole sheets on a truck, or rent a u-haul van for 20 bucks for a few hours.
Hello, Skylarking12. Two years later, I came across this Most Helpful Comment, and I wanted to thank you for taking the time to load up all that great info for me to stumble across. Wow! I really appreciate you doing this.
Good video
Hey, the sound is in mono so it's possible that it is only coming out of one speaker. And if that speaker is blocked in any way it might be harder to hear. Headphones might help.
You definitely can hook some together if you are not able to find the large ones. Be careful about covering in paper if you are using as a reflector. The reason these make great reflectors is because of the uneven styrofoam surface throws light in multiple directions creating a better light than flat paper. If you are just using as a backdrop, then paper away! :)
thank you very much for this great DIYvideo!
do you have any idea where I can buy these huge polyboards in europe (especially switzerland)? i'm going crazy because anywhere i go, they only have small sizes... :(
(cont) to create a seamless board 8'x4'. You can then paint, decorate, etc. I have also used Tiffany's method to create a backdrop, but instead of painting, I have sprayed a tacky adhesive spray on one side, and laid fabric (smoothly or crumpled and wavy) on the board...creating beautiful and unique backdrops. GREAT TUTORIAL Tiffany! And Pia, if you have any questions, send me a message!
Hey Jarrett, I’m making a free standing wall. I have 2 4x8ft insulation boards. How would you suggest standing them up and separately transporting them. Please let me know. Thanks
yeah, same problem in czech republic. But I found company that makes polysteryne products they maybe can make the 2m high desk
You can pain over the smooth plastic....if you choose to leave it on...with a spray can paint that is meant for plastic. Rust-O-lium sells a wide variety of colors. And if one does not match exactly, after applying the closest color, you can use "regular" paint (acrylic or other) on TOP of the plastic spray paint application. But, often after removing the plastic sheet, the texture creates a unique and pleasant painted backdrop too, once painted.
carolytree, I think I'm falling into this as well. Were you ever able to find the right board?
I've been looking for something just like this! I currently use big, bulky and very heavy boards as my set backdrop. I will be looking into this for my next season! :)
Can I cut this down to a shorter height?
can i use this for outside? and if so how can i get still so that the wind doesnt knock this down?
If i wanted to turn one of these into, say, a green screen, what would you recommend as far as how to color something like this?
Will it be fine to stick wallpaper adhesive on a styrofoam?
Great idea! (but it's a bolt that goes through and is fastened by the nut. Not a screw)
What kind of paint do you use?
Double them up....take two pieces, and glue together with construction adhesive or a spray adhesive (like $5.75 a can), and two pieces at 3/4 will create the 1.5" thickness. Works just as well, though it may cost a few dollars more.
Cute.
I clicked on the link to see how to use this as a reflector (since I've never used a reflector) but it came up with classes you have to buy. Any thoughts on how I use these are reflectors?
what kind of paint are you using to paint those?
Hi Pia,
Did you found a suitable polyboard in Switzerland? I have the same problem. Thanks
BOLT. The word you're looking for making the feet is a bolt (that goes with a nut) not a screw. That could be pretty confusing to a newbie asking for help at the hardware store.
All the insulation that I've found has a silver layering on one side. Can that be removed or would I need to paint over it?
Tiffany, On CL the one Sue uses appear to be painted and smooth. Can you tell me what paint you use on the foam core. The foam core I purchased from the store doesn't have a smooth surface after you pull the plastic off. And I know you can't paint over that plastic, can you? Thanks for the help
Hey Tiffany I have went to lowe, home depot and Menards and I havent found any polystyrene boards with the plastic on it! I either found the one with the white side with writing on it and then it has a silver side on the other or I have found a blue and pink one? which do I use? Please help!
I think it is around $13 a sheet. I was thinking it would cost more. Great idea!
What kind of paint did you use to
paint the back of the board?
Hey, yes you actually can paint over the plastic. However, the reason Sue likes these as reflectors is because of the texture, so if using it as a white reflector be sure and remove the plastic. Either way, I just use regular house paint. :)
PS you should interpret diy com as a web URL. You know what to do!
Try listening with earphones? Sound is just fine.
I'm going to do this but add some wheels so I can move it around and not scratch up the floor. Nice tutorial
Hey, I posted links to two amazing classes on creativeLIVE that showcase how Sue Bryce uses these reflectors. Check 'em out!
You don't use screws to connect through the sheet ... a screw does not accept a nut ... you are using bolts. Screws for the connection to the 2 X 4. It may not seem important but the difference is significant.
William Thomas youre so right..ty kind sir..Seattle WA
Hi Tiffany , which store did you go to get your Polystyrene board ? I'm in New york and home depot Ploy Bards are all bent and will not stand straight. would store like B&H have them ?
awesome and informative video! Question, will this backdrop hold a paper flower backdrop? thanks!
Lauren Do I was about to ask the same thing lol. Did you perhaps get to do this and tried it for a paper flowers backdrop?
Once it's bolted to the base does it stand straight?