Backdrop stands

chasmcg wrote on 1/10/2010, 1:16 PM
Can anyone recommend a place to buy Background Stands and Chromakey Green Muslin Backdrop? Is ebay ok?

Does that work best for videos? Also I noticed one that I was looking at had a lot of wrinkles in it? Will they affect the backgrounds that I want to use?

Also, where is a place to get moving and still backgrounds for my video(s)? Economically priced, of course. Thanks a lot.

Comments

richard-amirault wrote on 1/10/2010, 4:12 PM
eBay is OK .. if you don't get crap. That's like asking "Is it OK to buy my next camcorder on eBay?" You may find a great camera .. or you could get a dud.

If it were me, I think I'd buy the stand (also known as a seamless paper stand) from a reputable dealer (like B&H Photo) and the backdrop from eBay .. IF I could get it at a much better price than my dealer. It's still a risk, but it's up to you.

Just be sure to get a backdrop with a hemmed loop on one side. So that you can put the support rod thru the loop and not depend on clamps to hold the backdrop up.

Wrinkles? That might be a problem ... particularly if you do NOT have a nice even lighting on the background ... and that is one of the KEYS to a good Chroma Key effect .. be sure you have an EVENLY LIT background. If it is than I'm pretty sure small wrinkles will not show. That means at LEAST two lights for the background only .. more would be better. If you don't have even lighting than wrinkles will not be your only problem.
chasmcg wrote on 1/10/2010, 4:37 PM
Thanks for the reply, brighterside. I have a B&H catalogue in front that I received in the mail. Will check it out.

Any recomendations about where to get action and still backgrounds? Can I use scenes from movies if I only use a very short segment? Isn't there a 'fair use' clause or something like that on copyrights? Thanks again.
HaroldC wrote on 1/10/2010, 4:53 PM
I've recently gotten a green screen made of muslin along with a stand. However it is just plain cloth. I use clamps to secure it to the stand. It is difficult to get the winkles out. I've also just gotten a couple of lights for filming. I got both from Cowboy Studios through Amazon.
chasmcg wrote on 1/10/2010, 5:03 PM
Thanks, Harold. Do the wrinkles affect your video?