Backdrop screen to create out of focus background...? at DVinfo.net

Brent Marks · February 14th, 2005, 09:58 PM

Hey guys...I've seen a thing you hang behind a subject when doing an interview...to create a nice... out of focus/depth of field/bokeh effect...

Has anyone tried this before?
Do you know where I can get one?
What is the URL?

I remember seeing it on the web, but it was like $500+

Does anyone know anywhere else I can get something like this cheaper?

thanks in advance for those who take time to post!

Dylan Couper · February 15th, 2005, 01:11 AM

It's called the Softscreen. Do a search on it here for some reviews. Check out this website:

http://www.indietoolbox.com/

Brent Marks · February 15th, 2005, 01:19 AM

Their site is totally horrible... tons of broken images and links.

And why so expensive?

This has to be something simple...

Anyone have any idea what it is made of..?

THANKS!

Rob Lohman · February 16th, 2005, 05:57 AM

I doubt it is known what it is made of:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...threadid=38990

Michael Carter · February 16th, 2005, 04:46 PM

Years ago I was watching a "making-of" doc; they used what they referred to as "bridal veil material".

In this instance, it was a practical model of a castle on a hillside; the model seemed to be about 15' tall; they had a scrim of white mesh stretched on a frame, about 10'" from the camera, with the model maybe 15-20' beyond the scrim. Gave it the look of shooting through miles of atmosohere, soft, washed out, desaturated. (As well as I remember, anyway...)

In my still-shooting experience, just about any decent white mesh will work, it needn't be expensive; the key is stretching it tight, and getting it out of the focal plane (IE, use DOF to keep from seeing the fabric).

The hardest part of this sort of thing is finding a bolt of fabric that's as wide as you'll need; if you sew two pieces together, the seam's gonna show.

February 14th, 2005, 09:58 PM	#1
Brent Marks Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Houston TX and New Orleans LA Posts: 300	Backdrop screen to create out of focus background...? Hey guys...I've seen a thing you hang behind a subject when doing an interview...to create a nice... out of focus/depth of field/bokeh effect... Has anyone tried this before? Do you know where I can get one? What is the URL? I remember seeing it on the web, but it was like $500+ Does anyone know anywhere else I can get something like this cheaper? thanks in advance for those who take time to post!

February 15th, 2005, 01:11 AM	#2
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	It's called the Softscreen. Do a search on it here for some reviews. Check out this website: http://www.indietoolbox.com/ __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

February 16th, 2005, 05:57 AM	#4
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	I doubt it is known what it is made of: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...threadid=38990 __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

February 15th, 2005, 01:19 AM	#3
Brent Marks Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Houston TX and New Orleans LA Posts: 300	Their site is totally horrible... tons of broken images and links. And why so expensive? This has to be something simple... Anyone have any idea what it is made of..? THANKS!

February 16th, 2005, 04:46 PM	#5
Michael Carter Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 108	Years ago I was watching a "making-of" doc; they used what they referred to as "bridal veil material". In this instance, it was a practical model of a castle on a hillside; the model seemed to be about 15' tall; they had a scrim of white mesh stretched on a frame, about 10'" from the camera, with the model maybe 15-20' beyond the scrim. Gave it the look of shooting through miles of atmosohere, soft, washed out, desaturated. (As well as I remember, anyway...) In my still-shooting experience, just about any decent white mesh will work, it needn't be expensive; the key is stretching it tight, and getting it out of the focal plane (IE, use DOF to keep from seeing the fabric). The hardest part of this sort of thing is finding a bolt of fabric that's as wide as you'll need; if you sew two pieces together, the seam's gonna show.