How to Make a Patterned Muslin Backdrop
Photographic equipment can be expensive to purchase. Economize on some of the items that you need by making the simpler ones yourself. Creating your own professional-looking patterned backdrop is inexpensive and allows you to customize it to fit your own needs. Remember when you are creating the pattern or design to stamp onto the backdrop, avoid images that will be difficult to carve.
Things You'll Need
- Muslin
- Scissors
- Iron
- No-sew fusible tape
- Rubber carving block
- Lino cutters
- Fabric ink stamp pad
Instructions
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1
Choose muslin in a width of at least 3 yards. Cut a 4- to 5-yard length of muslin. You should have a muslin rectangle that measures 3 yards wide by 4 to 5 yards in length. Check that each cut side is straight.
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2
Place no-sew fusible tape along both cut edges on each side of the muslin rectangle. Fold the first edge over on top of itself and press this edge in place. This will fuse the folded edge onto the back of the muslin rectangle and create a neat edge to the backdrop. Fold the second edge over on itself and press this in place as well. This is your plain backdrop.
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3
Draw or trace your chosen pattern onto the top with a rubber carving block. Carve out the parts of the design that you do not want to print. Hold a pair of lino cutters so that they skim along the surface of the carving block. You will only need to carve 1/8-inch away from any area you do not want to print. This will create a carved stamp of your chosen pattern or design.
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4
Wash the stamp in water to remove any dust or dirt. Let the stamp air-dry.
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5
Lay the muslin backdrop flat over your work surface with the right side face-up.
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6
Press the stamp face-down into the stamp pad. Cover all of the areas on the stamp that you want to print with a layer of ink.
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7
Press the stamp face-down onto the desired area of the muslin backdrop. Apply even pressure across the back of the stamp so that the design transfers well. Lift up the stamp to reveal your printed pattern image.
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8
Repeat Steps 6 and 7 across the surface of the muslin to create a patterned backdrop.
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