Black V-flats for contrast

[Equilibrium8]

Hi

I made some black and white V-flats a while ago. I mostly use the black to flag my background lights and the white on the sides of the model (to block light being reflected from ghastly yellow walls).

I remember reading an article long ago that said black V-flats on the sides of the model would increase the contrast. My experiments haven't affirmed that, and I cannot find that article again. Is there any truth in this statement (and I'm just positioning them incorrectly).

[GrahamS]

Kenny, black flats will increase the contrast if they are used to reduce or eliminate reflected light from the walls and ceiling of the room illuminating the subject. They work by eliminating this peripheral illumination, not by adding anything of of their own. If there is little or no such "stray light" in the first place, i.e. if the studio walls are black anyway, the flats will have little effect.