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Posted by Stephen Howard on May 29, 2008, 7:17 pm
I'm trying to source some fabric to serve as background for a
photography project. The chief criteria is that it has to be a very
matt fabric - most of the shots will be in close-up, and quite
brightly lit.
It also shouldn't have too much 'texture' ( if any ), as weave
patterns could prove problematic when the photos are printed.
It needs to be a solid colour ( red...not bright, something darker
than signal/pillar box red and lighter than burgundy ).
Ideally it should be resistant to creasing/marking - it's going to get
pushed and pulled around and I don't want to have to go buy an iron!
I'll need a couple of yards.
I've had a bit of a schlep around a number of shops and taken a few
test shots, and it seems to me that synthetic fabrics do best in terms
of having little or no weave - but fail miserably in close-up with
regard to reflections of flash lighting. It's not excessive, but you
end up with colour being washed out in magnification.
I looked at velvets, but they tend to pick up brush marks - and all
the felts I've seen have been a bit shiny. I found a fake suede fabric
that looked promising, but that too picked up brush marks just like
the velvet.
The closest match I've been able to find so far is a fine weave woolen
fabric, which I suspect ( at a guess ) could be wool flannel -
something rather like this:
http://www.renaissancefabrics.net/cgi-bin/showAll.cgi?id=348
Ideally I'd like to be able to walk into a shop and have a good old
browse....but although there are quite a few fabric shops here and
there ( south UK ) they don't seem to carry the more expensive stuff (
like the wool fabric ) - so I'm having to trawl through assorted
websites.
Trouble is, I'm none too sure what it is I'm looking for in terms of a
fabric name/type...which is a bit of bummer when I'm trying to order
swatches and samples.
Any ideas/recommendations?
Regards,
--
Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations
http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk
Emails to: showard{who is at}shwoodwindcouk
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Posted by BEI Design on May 29, 2008, 6:43 pm
Stephen Howard wrote:
> I'm trying to source some fabric to serve as background
> for a photography project. <snip>
I was going to recommend velvet, that's what my photographer
husband used for a backdrop for portraits. The nap of velvet
absorbs light well. He stapled a piece of black velvet to a
large cardboard tube so that he could easily roll it up to
avoid crumpling it.
However, if you have already tried velvet and ruled it out,
then my next guess would be a very fine wool flannel, which
would resist most wrinkles. However, if you are doing
extreme close-ups the pattern of the weave is likely to
show.
Have you experimented with matte paint in the color you
need, sprayed onto a smooth surface, like sheetrock/gypsum
board?
Good luck,
Beverly
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Posted by Stephen Howard on May 29, 2008, 8:05 pm
On Thu, 29 May 2008 15:43:01 -0700, "BEI Design"
>Stephen Howard wrote:
>> I'm trying to source some fabric to serve as background
>> for a photography project. <snip>
>
>I was going to recommend velvet, that's what my photographer
>husband used for a backdrop for portraits. The nap of velvet
>absorbs light well. He stapled a piece of black velvet to a
>large cardboard tube so that he could easily roll it up to
>avoid crumpling it.
I found it works well if there's some distance between the object of
focus and the background. The objects I'm shooting will be laying on
the fabric.
>
>However, if you have already tried velvet and ruled it out,
>then my next guess would be a very fine wool flannel, which
>would resist most wrinkles. However, if you are doing
>extreme close-ups the pattern of the weave is likely to
>show.
I guess I won't find a natural fabric that doesn't have a weave
pattern...but as long as it's not too harsh it should be ok.
It looks to me like I might be able to brush a wool flannel, which
would help to blur the definition of the weave.
>
>Have you experimented with matte paint in the color you
>need, sprayed onto a smooth surface, like sheetrock/gypsum
>board?
I thought about that...but it's likely to get scratched and marked and
will need repainting, and I couldn't then guarantee colour
consistency.
>
>Good luck,
>
Cheers, I think I'm gonna need it!
--
Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations
http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk
Emails to: showard{who is at}shwoodwindcouk
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Posted by BEI Design on May 29, 2008, 7:51 pm
Stephen Howard wrote:
<snip>
>
> I guess I won't find a natural fabric that doesn't have a
> weave pattern...but as long as it's not too harsh it
> should be ok.
Actually, 100% wool felt may be just what you need,
something like:
http://www.ericas.com/fabric/woolfeltyardage.htm
That's NOT "craft felt". The felting process does not leave
a surface weave pattern. Lot's of colors available there.
Or you might find the color you need in a woven wool and
"felt" it.
How about a wool blanket in the right color. Possibly you
could dye a blanket. Dharma Trading has great dyes:
http://www.dharmatrading.com/
> It looks to me like I might be able to brush a wool
> flannel, which would help to blur the definition of the
> weave.
You might try brushing a sample piece with a wire brush.
However, that will create a "nap" so be sure when you touch
it up you always brush the same direction.
NAYY,
Beverly
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Posted by Stephen Howard on May 30, 2008, 5:19 pm
On Thu, 29 May 2008 16:51:42 -0700, "BEI Design"
>Stephen Howard wrote:
><snip>
>>
>> I guess I won't find a natural fabric that doesn't have a
>> weave pattern...but as long as it's not too harsh it
>> should be ok.
>
>Actually, 100% wool felt may be just what you need,
>something like:
>http://www.ericas.com/fabric/woolfeltyardage.htm
>
>That's NOT "craft felt". The felting process does not leave
>a surface weave pattern. Lot's of colors available there.
>Or you might find the color you need in a woven wool and
>"felt" it.
>
That looks like it might be just the thing, I'll get some samples in.
>How about a wool blanket in the right color. Possibly you
>could dye a blanket. Dharma Trading has great dyes:
>http://www.dharmatrading.com/
I've tried to find items like blankets/tablecloths etc. in the right
material and colour. No luck so far.
>
>> It looks to me like I might be able to brush a wool
>> flannel, which would help to blur the definition of the
>> weave.
>
>You might try brushing a sample piece with a wire brush.
>However, that will create a "nap" so be sure when you touch
>it up you always brush the same direction.
I've found a source of Superfine and Melton wool fabrics which look
like they might be worth a try.
Cheers,
--
Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations
http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk
Emails to: showard{who is at}shwoodwindcouk
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