Lighting question... at DVinfo.net

John Kim · February 20th, 2004, 07:31 PM

I'm trying to get the "Apple - think different" look.
Clean white lighting on the subject on a flat white background.

My questions:

1) What material is good for the background?
Is any white painted wall or drape fine to use?

2) What light(s) and whattage is suitable for this look?

I filming this with Xl1s.

Thanks in advance.

John

Scott Spears · February 21st, 2004, 11:02 AM

A white cyclorama is best, but you can find those in studios which will run many of hundreds of dollars a day. The white wall is probably your best bet and if you're going to see the floor, lay a white sheet on it.

Lighting wise, you don't need a ton of light on the white wall because well...it's white. I'd use a very soft light on your subject, either a softbox on your light or bouce a light into white foam core. Don't forget to add a backlight to help seperate your subject from the background.

Scott

Martin Garrison · February 21st, 2004, 04:28 PM

You can buy a nine foot wide roll of paper, for around $50. They will roll all the way down onto the floor if you need them to. The 12 foot rolls get a bit more expensive.

Wayne Orr · February 22nd, 2004, 03:49 AM

A good trick to use when you are shooting a white background, is to overexpose the background. This will give you a "whiter than white" look. Then, lock in the camera's exposure (f/stop), and then light the foreground subject correctly for this f/stop.

John Kim · February 23rd, 2004, 12:14 PM

Dude you guys are awesome! Thanks for all your replies.

"A white cyclorama is best...Don't forget to add a backlight to help seperate your subject from the background."

"You can buy a nine foot wide roll of paper, for around $50"

"... overexpose the background. This will give you a "whiter than white" look. Then, lock in the camera's exposure (f/stop), and then light the foreground subject correctly for this f/stop."

John

Richard Veil · March 1st, 2004, 09:09 PM

I would use hard light.. two totas with 650=1k bulbs and 45 degrees
maybe with umbrellas to avoid a hotspot.
Use lightbanks on subject with some hard hightlight

Background close to 2 stops higher that subject.

Pull subject away from background 6-12 ft if possible

February 20th, 2004, 07:31 PM	#1
John Kim Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: CA Posts: 26	Lighting question... I'm trying to get the "Apple - think different" look. Clean white lighting on the subject on a flat white background. My questions: 1) What material is good for the background? Is any white painted wall or drape fine to use? 2) What light(s) and whattage is suitable for this look? I filming this with Xl1s. Thanks in advance. John

February 21st, 2004, 11:02 AM	#2
Scott Spears Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 65	A white cyclorama is best, but you can find those in studios which will run many of hundreds of dollars a day. The white wall is probably your best bet and if you're going to see the floor, lay a white sheet on it. Lighting wise, you don't need a ton of light on the white wall because well...it's white. I'd use a very soft light on your subject, either a softbox on your light or bouce a light into white foam core. Don't forget to add a backlight to help seperate your subject from the background. Scott __________________ Scott Spears Emmy Winner Cinematographer http://www.scottspears.net IMDB listing: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0817387/

February 22nd, 2004, 03:49 AM	#4
Wayne Orr Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Northridge Ca Posts: 734	A good trick to use when you are shooting a white background, is to overexpose the background. This will give you a "whiter than white" look. Then, lock in the camera's exposure (f/stop), and then light the foreground subject correctly for this f/stop. __________________ Wayne If it was easy, they'd get a relative to do it.

March 1st, 2004, 09:09 PM	#6
Richard Veil Chimera Lighting Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Santa Cruz CA Posts: 293	Yes, yes yes I would use hard light.. two totas with 650=1k bulbs and 45 degrees maybe with umbrellas to avoid a hotspot. Use lightbanks on subject with some hard hightlight Background close to 2 stops higher that subject. Pull subject away from background 6-12 ft if possible __________________ Strength and Honor RLV

February 21st, 2004, 04:28 PM	#3
Martin Garrison Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 173	You can buy a nine foot wide roll of paper, for around $50. They will roll all the way down onto the floor if you need them to. The 12 foot rolls get a bit more expensive.

February 23rd, 2004, 12:14 PM	#5
John Kim Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: CA Posts: 26	Dude you guys are awesome! Thanks for all your replies. "A white cyclorama is best...Don't forget to add a backlight to help seperate your subject from the background." "You can buy a nine foot wide roll of paper, for around $50" "... overexpose the background. This will give you a "whiter than white" look. Then, lock in the camera's exposure (f/stop), and then light the foreground subject correctly for this f/stop." John