White/Black Backgrounds

[NMWolverson]

What is the simplist way to achieve a professional looking coloured background effect, without relying on editing software such as Photoshop?
Thanks in advance!

 

[Alastair]

By using a physical coloured background?

Or colouring a plain background material with colour gelled flash.

What are you trying to do? Your question is rather vague.. is it portrait? still-life? something else?

 

[Morinaka]

If you don't want to go down the flash gel route then head on down to a DIY shop and check out the wallpaper section, can usually get plain white lining paper for like under £5 for 10 meters, or go for whatever wallpaper you prefer.

 

[NMWolverson]

Thanks for the replies - it's just that I tried using white paper but you could see the material of the paper in the image a lot of the time, so I was just wondering what material is best really.

 

[Mike Jackson]

You need to light a white background separately so that it is slightly over exposed.

 

[Alastair]

+1

Plus, aperture control for depth of field really helps as well.. get the background far enough away that it's out of the focus range, and make sure it's lit bright and even to just over-expose.

Examples would really help people to give more specific advice..

 

[specialman]

Natalie - as said, if you can get a material that's the colour you want in the first place, it does make it easy.

For black I either shoot against black velvet or use a black wall; for white it's a roll of paper... I have seen white material being used (sheets etc) but there's the issue of creases, that can create shadow, making it harder to light.

I rarely go down the gel route for creating coloured backgrounds, usually using coloured rolls or sheets of card. For smaller items where a piece of A2 card is big enough, you can get some wicked colours from craft shops like Hobbycraft.

 

[NMWolverson]

Thanks for the tips guys - been ill for the past few days, but hopefully I can have a practice later.