Looking for studio floor ideas

[Eero Makela]

I have been trying to figure out the best way to setup my background (seamless or other) on a carpet floor. I have a few ideas:

1. Build a 3/8" plywood floor with 2 sheets 3'x6' with a piano hinge so it can be folded and stored or moved to location shoot if required.

2. Just use muslin and not worry about the carpet under it ? ? ?

3. Plexiglass (very expensive) not sure if strong enough when model walks on it with high heels

Currently using just a white sheet from a fabric store

[richardpcrowe]

quick video 3: studio setup for a large white background | pro photo life

[coalcliff]

Great Idea! thanks Richard

[Bob Stothfang]

Check out this collection of tutorials....
Zack Arias - Atlanta based editorial music photographer Gear & Gadgets

Start with Part 1 (scroll down a bit to get to it) - White seamless tutorial and then sequence through the other parts.
At some point he talks about using white tile board which should address your carpet issue and also provide a reflective surface.

[waple]

I simply bought two 4x8 sheets of 1/4" ply and can put those down wherever and whenever. Very light and easy to move around.

I'm considering also something where i get thicker ply and ahdering wood floor to both sides so I can have two different types of wood flooring, and I can slide the two sheets next to each other and have an 8x8 floor, flip and have another 8x8. That one will be heavy as crap though.

[sc_radar]

White tile board from Lowes or Home Depot is what i use. Only cost around $10-$11 for a 4x8 sheet and gives a light reflective look .Here is a shot of my daughter recently with the tile boards. I just need to paint that stool white.

[Eero Makela]

Our home depot (in Canada) for some reason does not have this white tile board (as stated in the Zack Arias article). How thick is this tile board? I found something that might be similar but not sure. it is board that is 1/8" thick and has a white surface.

Have to try other stores after Christmas.

[sc_radar]

I would say its about 1/8 " thick .The backing is a brown color type surface. I know here locally it is next to paneling and sheets of material that you use say for a bathroom wall . I remember it also next to sheets of peg board material. Good luck with your find.

[Ecki]

Tile Board really looks good for me, too

But what about if you need two our four boards, what about the gaps between the boards, how visible are they ?

What about overlapping the first board on the second to cover the gap between, will that work if you don not use a high key setup e.g. not using a strobe for the background ?

[richardpcrowe]

quick video 3: studio setup for a large white background | pro photo life

[Songman45]

I believe that board is made under the trade name Masonite. You can find it not in flooring but in the bathroom wall boards. It comes in a variety of pale colors and white, both very glossy and textured. Its 4'X8' and is about 1/8th inch thick. The back side is brown as its sort of a processed pasteboard. It may not seam very well as there are joint trim strips used in its intended application. Butted against each other the seams might give you troubles. That's what Post Processing is for, right?

Steve

[Digital Hands]

Originally Posted by Songman45

I believe that board is made under the trade name Masonite. You can find it not in flooring but in the bathroom wall boards. It comes in a variety of pale colors and white, both very glossy and textured. Its 4'X8' and is about 1/8th inch thick. The back side is brown as its sort of a processed pasteboard. It may not seam very well as there are joint trim strips used in its intended application. Butted against each other the seams might give you troubles. That's what Post Processing is for, right?

Steve

Yes, they are available in Canada. I bought it at Home Depot for about $15-~$20 each.
All white on one side and light tan on the other side.
I have two of them. It is nice and sturdy. Easy to wash it off.

[HighMark Adventures]

Originally Posted by Digital Hands

Yes, they are available in Canada. I bought it at Home Depot for about $15-~$20 each.
All white on one side and light tan on the other side.
I have two of them. It is nice and sturdy. Easy to wash it off.

Ok the stuff I bought was not 10/ 15 bucks. More like 80 bucks and was in the bathroom section. Its thin where one side is white and shiny. You could get other colors also. The only stuff I could find that was around the 15 buck amount was the white corrugated stuff. So please tell me what section you bought it in. I would rather pay 15 than 80 next time.

Thanks

[Digital Hands]

Originally Posted by HardKore

Ok the stuff I bought was not 10/ 15 bucks. More like 80 bucks and was in the bathroom section. Its thin where one side is white and shiny. You could get other colors also. The only stuff I could find that was around the 15 buck amount was the white corrugated stuff. So please tell me what section you bought it in. I would rather pay 15 than 80 next time.

Thanks

I believe it is called particle (MDF) white board. Home Depot offers 1/8 or 1/4 inch thickness.
Check this one: Google Image Result for http://www.bikudo.com/photo_stock/769203.jpg

[PBB]

Originally Posted by Digital Hands

I believe it is called particle (MDF) white board. Home Depot offers 1/8 or 1/4 inch thickness.
Check this one: Google Image Result for http://www.bikudo.com/photo_stock/769203.jpg

The stuff in that picture isn't masonite, rather melamine. A high gloss melamine on a 1/8" or 1/4" substrate will last longer than a painted masonite. All home reno stores will sell the melamine, but usually in a thicker substrate. However, the flat white is available almost always in 1/4".

Paul

[KmH]

Originally Posted by Songman45

...... It may not seam very well as there are joint trim strips used in its intended application. Butted against each other the seams might give you troubles. That's what Post Processing is for, right?

Steve

Most just lay the front panel slightly overlapping and on top of the back panel to make the seam 'disappear'.

[Ecki]

Great thanks a lot, I will get some delivered next week

[Ed Shapiro]

Thick carpeted floors are only good if you are going to use them as your actual shooting floor. Placing things such as seamless paper, cloth, canvas and many other materials on think carpeting is not practical because sooner or later the material will wear badly or perforate when walked upon or when props are placed on them.

You can replace the thick carpet with indoor-outdoor carpeting which will be a better support base and can serve as part of a cyclorama background system in a dark color for low key work. I have done this and ran the carpet right up the wall. This material is also known as pool carpeting and has no nap. This carpeting mop clean of soiled.

If you do not want to take up your existing carpeting, the use of plywood or particle board is the next best alternative. These are the material used for sub flooring and can support most background materials nicely. You model cam move around freely without stumbling or have a heel go through the paper or cloth into the carpet. You do not need hinges or anything that will come through the background material. Have a look at the portable dance floors that are used at outdoor events or at venues where no dance floor is provided. The parts are held together at the very edges where the hardware is out of the way and will not cause accidents. You can acquire one of theses on the used market or construct something that works on the same principle.

There are many other flooring materials that can be used on top of you plywood or particle board base. There are temporary carpeting, rubber, and wooden floor TILES that are used to create floors at trade show booths and mobile displays. Check theses out at you local display provider or flooring dealers. There is no glues, tapes, other adhesives or fastenings needed.

I hope this helps, Ed

[lkeeney]

I have been using a 4' x 8' x 1/4" sheet of clear Plexiglas for about 6 years now. I like the clear Plexiglas and place it on top of the seamless paper if I want a reflection on the floor, or under the seamless paper if I don't want a reflection on the floor.

There is no problem with models with high heels with the Plexiglas.

[brice]

If you are using 1/8" - 1/4" on most carpeted surfaces, it will not provide the best result. With either of these materials, you are going to have to place thicker plywood or some other support under the material. You've received lot's of good ideas, but if you carpet pile or the pad underneath is significant, I would not expect most of the suggestions offered here to last long under the that condition.