Vinyl Backgrounds

[rpcrowe]

I have never used, nor even seen, a vinyl background such as this one...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Photography-...item1e9eeb20e8

I don't like muslin because of the wrinkles and canvas is heavy an unwieldy to transport.

Digital backgrounds are cheapest but can be a PITA to use.

Has anyone used a vinyl background. How does it look? Are there fold marks? Reflections?

The price is inexpensive but, IMO, you usually get what you pay for.

If I ordered one and didn't like it - it would be expensive

[Mike Buckley]

Check reliable stores such as B&H.com. If you order it from them and don't like it, return it with no questions asked.

[William W]

. . . If you order it from them and don't like it, return it with no questions asked.

That is such a luxury you have over there: to return items based upon change of mind, I often do wish we had that here.

WW

[Max von MeiselMaus]

I have been looking at vinyl backgrounds like that too, and reviews that I have read say that the painted surface can crack off, that the creases are difficult to get out (they are sent folded) etc. However, others have been happy with them, so I imagine it is a matter of personal level of perfectionism and, perhaps, seller (although, in my experience, all these cheap items from China are identical. Just different prices for the same product).

I have heard a couple of good reports about Swanky Prints vinyls, and they are over your side of the pond. Can't remember whether this was from photographers or less demanding folks, though. They aren't as cheap as that, of course, but seem to be relatively reasonable.

http://swankybackdrops.com/shop/inde...te=common/home

ETA: Just had a look on their FB page.

"37% OFF at Swanky Prints ! Just enter the code, HIPSTER , at checkout Hurry hurry HURRY, this is a LIMITED time offer!"

Posted 11th May.

[IzzieK]

I have several vinyl materials hanging around my sewing room...it is very hard to control the light in them and on small items the light bounces...you can't store it properly because you have to fold them and the fold crease can be remove by ironing it at the back very lightly or something but honestly, I wouldn't use it as a backdrop but sew it as pair of pant for rain wear. And oh, you know how photographers wears black to be able to see their itty-bitty screen to review their shot? This will shine back at ya!..

CHANGE YOUR MIND...CHANGE YOUR MIND : don't buy it...buy it...don't buy it...buy it...

[Max von MeiselMaus]

^ LOL. That is worth knowing, actually, as I am still wavering on getting vinyl or poly cotton (so, low crease) printed muslin. Looks as though muslin is forging ahead. And sorry for hijacking your thread, Richard.

And who doesn't wear black? All the time? Happy World Goth Day!

[Manfred M]

Richard - Vinyl (technically polyvinyl chloride or PVC) comes in all kinds of qualities; from the cheap stuff that is used in shower curtains to the higher end stuff that is used in upholstery fabrics that are used in furniture and automotive seating. It can (and is) used in woven materials.

The same can be said about surface finishes and the inks used to print of the stuff; again, mileage will vary on the quality (and cost) of the materials used. Again the low end stuff can receive treatments to control sheen and the colours used can also be non-reflective.

PVC is naturally brittle and the suppleness is due to the use of chemicals known as plasticizers; these do break down over time and eventually the material will become brittle (probably not an issue over the expected lifetime of a backdrop) and as with most resins, they are susceptible to damage by UV (sunlight) and can yellow over time.

Unlike muslins; PVC has a low melting temperature, so any creases cannot be ironed out easily (i.e. you'd either melt or degrade the material with heat).

I suspect that you've hit the nail of the head; you get what you are paying for. Expensive stuff could perform better than muslin, but the cheaper stuff is likely to be more of a problem unless you handle it properly. I would expect that it will be more crease resistant than muslin, but once you have creased it, it will be impossible to undo the damage.

[rpcrowe]

At one time the Calumet store that once was open in my area had some vinyl backgrounds on sale that were rolled in a tube. They were narrow width backgrounds suitable only for head and shoulders images. I noticed the sale on the Calumet website and procrastinated a day or two. By the time I arrived at the store to look at these backgrounds, they were all sold out. I never had a chance to even look at them.

I have never liked muslin backgrounds, although (just like in bed sheets) there are low and high quality muslins. The high quality doesn't hold wrinkles like the cheaper ones. I delegated a cheaper muslin background to our rag bin. Even when throwing the BG OOF, it still lookedlike an unmade bed!

I have a couple of decent canvas backgrounds, that I have accumulated over the years, which are pretty nice. I keep them stored in large PVC tubes on my large RV garage.



The problem with the canvas is that they are very inconvenient to take anywhere.