How to Dye Your Own Backdrops

Amateur photography is an enriching and creative hobby that can open doors to many opportunities. Purchasing various backdrops for your photo sets can add up and become quite expensive, though. Dying your own backdrops is a frugal alternative allowing you the creativity to experiment with different scenes for your portraits and other photos.

Things You'll Need

• 6 foot x 6 foot white canvas sheet
• 20 heavy-duty rubber bands
• 40-gallon plastic storage bin
• 5 cups salt
• 1 cup vinegar
• 4 packages fabric dye
• Wooden spoon

Instructions

1. Roll the canvas sheet tightly and twist it from one end to the other.

2. Fasten the rubber bands around the twisted sheet in several places, following no particular pattern.

3. Fill the 40-gallon plastic bin with steaming hot water.

4. Combine the salt, fabric dye and vinegar in the bin of hot water.

5. Stir the solution with a wooden spoon until the dye powder is evenly dispersed through the liquid.

6. Drop the twisted and banded canvas sheet into the tub of hot, colored water. Let it sit for about an hour.

7. Rinse the fabric thoroughly with cold water until the water runs clear.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with different colors for your own designs and solids.

• Fabric dye will dye anything it touches.