Nature of reflection at DVinfo.net

Matt Vanecek · March 14th, 2007, 12:12 PM

I'm going to be lighting/filming a staged dance production. The producer is in the process of obtaining a new backdrop for the stage. Last years was bright orange/red, with interleaved satin/almost matte layers inset in black frame. The reflection was very very hard to match between camera A (front) and camera B (offset).

For the new backdrop, the producer is looking at something in a greyish tone. We are telling her to get something matte or velvet. However, being a grayish/light charcoal, would the reflection really be all that bad or color-changing if the backdrop were satiny? How much would the light color change when reflecting off of a grey-ish/charcoal-ish shimmery backdrop? I wouldn't think the color would change that much, but thought I might check somewhere where people know more than I do....

Thanks,
Matt

Richard Andrewski · March 14th, 2007, 04:28 PM

The mat part is good. I don't know about the "velvet" part.

I've used a piece of velvet before as a product backdrop and I can say that I thought the color could change based on angle of my camera and lighting. To me, velvet seems to be a very "directional" fabric. Have you ever noticed how you can run your hand across it and it leaves a swatch of a lighter or darker color? I probably would have picked some kind of polyester based fabric. The color you picked is fine though. Neutral gray backdrops and cycs have been used in Television since the beginning.

March 14th, 2007, 12:12 PM	#1
Matt Vanecek Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Denton, TX Posts: 334	Nature of reflection I'm going to be lighting/filming a staged dance production. The producer is in the process of obtaining a new backdrop for the stage. Last years was bright orange/red, with interleaved satin/almost matte layers inset in black frame. The reflection was very very hard to match between camera A (front) and camera B (offset). For the new backdrop, the producer is looking at something in a greyish tone. We are telling her to get something matte or velvet. However, being a grayish/light charcoal, would the reflection really be all that bad or color-changing if the backdrop were satiny? How much would the light color change when reflecting off of a grey-ish/charcoal-ish shimmery backdrop? I wouldn't think the color would change that much, but thought I might check somewhere where people know more than I do.... Thanks, Matt

March 14th, 2007, 04:28 PM	#2
Richard Andrewski Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Shenzhen, China Posts: 781	The mat part is good. I don't know about the "velvet" part. I've used a piece of velvet before as a product backdrop and I can say that I thought the color could change based on angle of my camera and lighting. To me, velvet seems to be a very "directional" fabric. Have you ever noticed how you can run your hand across it and it leaves a swatch of a lighter or darker color? I probably would have picked some kind of polyester based fabric. The color you picked is fine though. Neutral gray backdrops and cycs have been used in Television since the beginning. __________________ Richard Andrewski - Cool Lights USA - RED #114 http://www.coollights.biz