DIY Backdrop with a Painter's Canvas for Photography
Photography backdrops can be expensive. Making your own can save you money and give your photos a unique signature style. Backdrops that are production line will give your portraits a production line look. Production line backdrops are photography backgrounds that are produced in a factory. Each backdrop is reproduced over and over. You can find these in the photo studios that sell packaged portraits. Backdrops made from a painter's dropcloth are inexpensive, fairly easy to make and easy to change. You can back-light them to give an added dimension to your photos.
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Things You'll Need
- Painter's dropcloth
- Twine
- Dye
- Large pot
- Large tub
- Wooden spoon
- Salt
- Scissors
Instructions
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Cleaning
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1
Wash your painter's dropcloth in warm water with laundry detergent. Rinse well with cold water. This process removes any dirt and dust. The dye takes better on a clean dropcloth. Do not dry.
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2
Heat 9 gallons of water until hot. The hotter the dye, the better it absorbs into your canvas.
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3
Mix the dye according to the directions on the package. The salt helps set the dye and keep your backdrop from bleeding its color out.
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4
Tie your painter's dropcloth with the twine. Make small or large gathers with the cloth, twist the gathers and tie. Do this step only if you want a variegated color for your photography backdrop. If you want a solid color, do not tie with twine.
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5
Pour the hot water into the large tub and mix in the dye and salt mixture. Use the wooden spoon and mix well.
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6
Place your painter's dropcloth into the hot water dye mix. Submerge completely using the wooden spoon.
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7
Turn the backdrop every 5 to 10 minutes in the dye. This gives the cloth a more even coloring. The cloth should steep in the dye for 1/2 hour unless otherwise directed in the instructions.
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8
Remove your dropcloth and cut the twine if you used any. Rinse with cold water until water runs clear. Wring out and dry.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Using twine to tie up your dropcloth gives a tie-dyed pattern.
After you cut the twine, you can resubmerge the backdrop into the dye for a more even color.
The backdrop can be ironed for a smooth background, or left wrinkled for texture.
This can be a messy, job so wear old clothes and rubber gloves.
Work in an area where splatters do not matter.
Follow the directions on the dye container.
References
- Photo Credit Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
