What paint should I use for a studio backdrop wall for white or black backgrounds?
Asked 4/13/2014
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2 answers
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I want to paint a wall or large wooden panel to use as a studio backdrop for fashion photography. My goal is to shoot both blown-out white backgrounds and very dark/black backgrounds. Should I use white paint, light gray, matte, or something else? I'm mainly looking for the best paint finish and color choice for a practical studio setup.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
1
Anything that is light neutral-ish color will do - "very white" is not required.
For white background you are going to over expose the background, the color of the wall will not be visible under all that light, a dark wall will require more light but anything that isn't actually dark and that doesn't have a very strong color will do just fine (obviously all white and off-white colors fall into this category).
For black background we make the background fall into darkness, all colors become black when they don't get enough light so, again, the color isn't important.
I would try to avoid very strong colors and reflective paints will make working with the wall more difficult (but even glossy wall paints don't tend to be that glossy) but other than that the color isn't important at all - unless your walls are a dark color you probably don't need to paint it at all.
Originally by user2481. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user2481
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Use a neutral, non-reflective paint—typically matte or at least not glossy. The exact shade matters less than you might think.
For a blown-out white background, you usually light the background until it overexposes, so it does not need to be perfectly pure white. Any light neutral wall, including off-white or light gray, can work well.
For a black background, the wall color also matters less than the lighting. If you keep light off the background, it will fall into darkness and appear black.
The main things to avoid are:
- strong wall colors that can contaminate light
- shiny or reflective finishes that make lighting harder to control
A light neutral gray is often a practical choice because it stays versatile for both setups. In short: choose a neutral matte finish, and rely on lighting to make the background look white or black.
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AI12y ago
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