Cheap, large chroma key backdrop? at DVinfo.net

Mel Abdo · February 19th, 2007, 01:42 PM

Hi guys, sorry to annoy you again, but I just can't find a large chroma key backdrop!

I went to a fabric store, and the cloth was long, but it was less than a foot in width!

Richard Alvarez · February 19th, 2007, 01:58 PM

How large, how cheap? Does it need to be portable? Collapseable?

Chromokey can work on any chroma, best on "Chroma Key Green" or "Chroma Key Blue". You can buy plastic tarps that are blue and green and use them. Problem being they are 'shiny' and so they create hotspots. Not good.

You can use colored canvas... try a commercial tent supply. But it's not cheap.

You can buy chroma key PAINT, and paint the walls of whatever you're using for a studio. OR paint 'flats'. If you have theatre background, you know how to build frames to stretch muslin over. Paint these with the chromakey paint, and store the flats when not in use.

You really have to give us an idea what the parameters you're working with are.

How large, how cheap?

Mel Abdo · February 19th, 2007, 04:12 PM

Probably 6x13 feet?
Probably under $60.

I wish, :P

Kit Hannah · February 19th, 2007, 04:35 PM

We made ours out of 2 pieces of fabric from Joann's - sewed them together. Cost about $13. It's about 10' x 12'. You could probably even find something at Walmart. Most fabric comes in sizes from 42" to 60" wide, either on a roll or on a bolt.

Richard Alvarez · February 19th, 2007, 04:35 PM

Getting closer to actually helping us with this problem. Now try answering this one.

Interior or exterior use?

Boyd Ostroff · February 19th, 2007, 05:47 PM

See my post here: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showpost....95&postcount=8

From this thread:http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=85533

Mel Abdo · February 19th, 2007, 08:12 PM

Interior, :)

Boyd Ostroff · February 19th, 2007, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mel Abdo

Probably 6x13 feet?
Probably under $60.

Read the post I linked to... you can get 10x12 feet for about $60 from Rosebrand. If you only need 6 foot wide fabric that will be even cheaper. Using this 72" Cyc cloth you could get a 6x12 foot piece for $48 or 6x15 foot for about $60:

http://www.rosebrand.com/A_Com/showd...ectGroup_ID=34

For other options see these:

http://www.rosebrand.com/A_Com/showp...ectGroup_ID=34

Austin Meyers · March 18th, 2007, 11:57 PM

i've used painter's drop cloth from the hardware store. it comes in blue and is about 9'x12' the and it ran maybe $10

Andy Harding · March 20th, 2007, 01:37 PM

Hi a word of waning NEVER use refletive surfaces E.G big plastic tarps (as others have said above) there a F*@*%ing nightmare tor try and key, trust me on this one NEVER use them!

We have the best keying software (or one of them) in the business and we ended up just reshooting it! The time it took in post it was just quicker.

Mike Cavanaugh · March 21st, 2007, 09:50 AM

If it is for a fixed location, get a piece of scrap linolium flooring (flooring vendors will often have some with stains on the face or damage on the finished side that make it unsaleable). Paint the BACK side with your key green color. You can hang it from the wall and, if it's big enough, it will take a nice, wrinkle-free curve onto the floor - real easy to light.

Rob Wolf · March 21st, 2007, 04:33 PM

Nice idea with the "back side of linoleum," Mike.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned another option...getting a roll of chroma green or blue paper. Here in Seattle, they sell it at Glazers in 12' widths. What's nice about it is that you can just roll it out and rip it off when it gets dirty.

Rob

Adam Bray · March 30th, 2007, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kit Hannah

Most fabric comes in sizes from 42" to 60" wide, either on a roll or on a bolt.

I thought a roll was a bolt?

Peter Ferling · March 30th, 2007, 08:10 AM

I also use paper from a local art store, and hang the roll from the ceiling and curve it down.

If I can't hang it, I stretch it between two poles and have a third pole in the middle, which I use to push the paper outwards from the center to create a slight roll-off to the sides and keep it from sagging, etc. for even lighting.

However, anything wider than 7' feet will be challenge for paper. It's best done with fabric or solid backing materials, as joining two sheets of paper will create visible seems that will make keying difficult, if not impossible.

Correct, never use shiney or textured materials. A good key will either be expensive, or laborous, but not cheap. It either works or it doesn't.

Robert Shaver · April 6th, 2007, 03:35 PM

I want to a party store and bought a roll of green plastic table covering used for picknick tables and such. I had to tape two sections together to get it wide enough but it worked. It was cheap enough that we just throw it away when we're done. I don't remember how much it cost but I think it was under $10 and I've still got lots left.

Rob:-]

February 19th, 2007, 01:42 PM	#1
Mel Abdo Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 42	Cheap, large chroma key backdrop? Hi guys, sorry to annoy you again, but I just can't find a large chroma key backdrop! I went to a fabric store, and the cloth was long, but it was less than a foot in width!

March 18th, 2007, 11:57 PM	#9
Austin Meyers Contributor Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: austin, tx Posts: 300	cheap chroma i've used painter's drop cloth from the hardware store. it comes in blue and is about 9'x12' the and it ran maybe $10 __________________ Compositing is my life right now. IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3596782/

March 30th, 2007, 08:10 AM	#14
Peter Ferling Trustee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wyomissing, PA Posts: 1,141 Images: 57	I also use paper from a local art store, and hang the roll from the ceiling and curve it down. If I can't hang it, I stretch it between two poles and have a third pole in the middle, which I use to push the paper outwards from the center to create a slight roll-off to the sides and keep it from sagging, etc. for even lighting. However, anything wider than 7' feet will be challenge for paper. It's best done with fabric or solid backing materials, as joining two sheets of paper will create visible seems that will make keying difficult, if not impossible. Correct, never use shiney or textured materials. A good key will either be expensive, or laborous, but not cheap. It either works or it doesn't. __________________ Pete Ferling http://ferling.net It's never a mistake if you learn something new from it. -------------------------------------------

April 6th, 2007, 03:35 PM	#15
Robert Shaver New Boot Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 15	Green plastic table covering I want to a party store and bought a roll of green plastic table covering used for picknick tables and such. I had to tape two sections together to get it wide enough but it worked. It was cheap enough that we just throw it away when we're done. I don't remember how much it cost but I think it was under $10 and I've still got lots left. Rob:-] __________________ Peace, Love, Laughter, Rob:-]

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February 19th, 2007, 01:58 PM	#2
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	How large, how cheap? Does it need to be portable? Collapseable? Chromokey can work on any chroma, best on "Chroma Key Green" or "Chroma Key Blue". You can buy plastic tarps that are blue and green and use them. Problem being they are 'shiny' and so they create hotspots. Not good. You can use colored canvas... try a commercial tent supply. But it's not cheap. You can buy chroma key PAINT, and paint the walls of whatever you're using for a studio. OR paint 'flats'. If you have theatre background, you know how to build frames to stretch muslin over. Paint these with the chromakey paint, and store the flats when not in use. You really have to give us an idea what the parameters you're working with are. How large, how cheap?

February 19th, 2007, 04:12 PM	#3
Mel Abdo Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 42	Probably 6x13 feet? Probably under $60. I wish, :P

February 19th, 2007, 04:35 PM	#4
Kit Hannah Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fresno, California Posts: 528	We made ours out of 2 pieces of fabric from Joann's - sewed them together. Cost about $13. It's about 10' x 12'. You could probably even find something at Walmart. Most fabric comes in sizes from 42" to 60" wide, either on a roll or on a bolt.

February 19th, 2007, 05:47 PM	#6
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	See my post here: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showpost....95&postcount=8 From this thread:http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=85533

February 19th, 2007, 08:12 PM	#7
Mel Abdo Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 42	Interior, :)

March 20th, 2007, 01:37 PM	#10
Andy Harding Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 82	Hi a word of waning NEVER use refletive surfaces E.G big plastic tarps (as others have said above) there a F@%ing nightmare tor try and key, trust me on this one NEVER use them! We have the best keying software (or one of them) in the business and we ended up just reshooting it! The time it took in post it was just quicker.

March 21st, 2007, 09:50 AM	#11
Mike Cavanaugh Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Albany NY Posts: 311	If it is for a fixed location, get a piece of scrap linolium flooring (flooring vendors will often have some with stains on the face or damage on the finished side that make it unsaleable). Paint the BACK side with your key green color. You can hang it from the wall and, if it's big enough, it will take a nice, wrinkle-free curve onto the floor - real easy to light.

March 21st, 2007, 04:33 PM	#12
Rob Wolf Tourist Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 3	Nice idea with the "back side of linoleum," Mike. I'm surprised no one has mentioned another option...getting a roll of chroma green or blue paper. Here in Seattle, they sell it at Glazers in 12' widths. What's nice about it is that you can just roll it out and rip it off when it gets dirty. Rob