White backdrop now pinkish?

[LadyShutterbug]

Well, hello! This is my first post here. Guess I should go introduce myself, but I have a nagging problem first... I have a white muslin backdrop that I have had for a few years. It is in great condition physically, but it seems that it has developed a pink hue. I tried, at my whits end, to bleach it today, but no luck. I can fix the problem in photoshop unless there is something truly white in the photo. I figure I need to just bite the bullet and get a new one, but I hate to waste it if it can be spared. Anyone else ever have this problem? Otherwise, where is a good place to buy a new one from? Thanks!

[Benji]

My guess is that your white balance is off. Try this. Get an 18% gray card, take an accurate meter reading of the main and fill lights and then photograph the card against a chair or something with the white background. Shoot Raw. In ACR open the image click the eyedropper on the gray card which will white balance the image. See what the background looks like.

Ben

[brian.austin]

Some of the RIT products might work. There isn't a white dye but there are some whiteners that might take it out.

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by Benji

My guess is that your white balance is off. Try this. Get an 18% gray card, take an accurate meter reading of the main and fill lights and then photograph the card against a chair or something with the white background. Shoot Raw. In ACR open the image click the eyedropper on the gray card which will white balance the image. See what the background looks like.

Ben

But how does that compare to her statement:

I can fix the problem in photoshop unless there is something truly white in the photo.

That tells me that if something is ALREADY white, a WB adjustment doesn't work. And it doesn't indicate if she can only see the pink hue in the images or all the time.

It could also be color shifts of her lights or something reflecting red back to the backdrop.

[algold]

and if the bleach doesn't help, you can always die it another colour (maroon or black are always handy ) and buy a new white one. It never hurts to have two different backgrounds.

[Ed Shapiro]

SILLY QUESTION (s)

Is the pinkish cast visible to the naked eye or does it only show up in your images?

Since it is white, Are you lighting your background with a background light- strobe- continuous?

In it's original condition, is the cloth bleached or painted with a sizing? Some of theses things will discolor with age.

Has there been any changes in lighting gear, camera type or anything else in your methods?

If you are using an electronic flash as a background light- and old tube can cause color shifts due to carbonization and glowing- oftentimes the result is a reddish cast.

Is the cast cold- like light magenta or warm like a salmon tint?

Just doing my detective work- let me know! I hope I can help.

Ed

[LadyShutterbug]

The pinkish cast is visible to the naked eye. I am lighting with one strobe, not continuous. It is a plain bleached cloth, not painted. I have changed cameras (I have 3) but it does the same thing each time with or without any flash. I can't imagine what has happened to it. I haven't washed it in anything but water and haven't washed it with anything else. It's kinda a pastel pink color, very vague to the naked eye. I tried bleach, but no change. Guess I'll try the RIT idea next? Thanks for all the help!

[LadyShutterbug]

My husband just had a thought, do you think it could be our hard water? We live in the "country".

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by LadyShutterbug

My husband just had a thought, do you think it could be our hard water? We live in the "country".

Yes, especially if there is a higher iron content in the water. One of the RIT products addressed "rusty" water, which should work for that.

[footskelly]

It's probably rust from the water, try a laundromat in town and bleach it extra heavy. Good luck.
Foots

[Sparky98]

If it is minerals in your water then your other white laundry should also have a pink tint. There may be a filter, either whole house or on the washing machine only, that you can put on your water line that will remove the minerals and prevent future problems.

[kgphoto]

If you can see the color, then that is the color! So unless you change it by bleaching and or dying, then you are SOL. The opposite of red is green so a light green dye may help, but it is really easy to over due it.

My recommendation:

Dye it gray or some other color you like and buy another white one.

[edleg]

If the rust remover and bleaching doesn't get rid of the pinkish color, try wahing with a "blueing" agent, which is a kinda bluish dye to fool our eyes into thinking white. If that doesn't work, dye it a darker color and get a new white background.

[Harry]

We have had the same problem, from time to time, and simply find a product like "Iron Out" to wash the white clothes in. It is a harsh chemical, so you don't use much and you definately don't mix it with other detergents or bleaches. There are probably similar products out there, and they will usually have washing instructions on the box or bottle.

[Ed Shapiro]

I think the RIT products are a good idea. Another rust removal chemical is CRL.

There a number of phenomena that discolor fabrics- mold, gas fading and discoloration due to air pollution or fumes from furnaces or nearby industries. Some of theses cause a chemical change in the fabric or the sizing that can not be easily removed

Just a word of caution- some of theses chemicals are acid based and should not be mixed with chlorine bleach. Even if your fabric is washed out and rinsed there could be enough residual chemical to liberate irritating or poisonous gas into the air. Some de-rusting agents contain muriatic acid which is a bad when combined chlorine

If you are not conversant with all of this- it simply may be time for a new background and as suggested, paint this one another color.

Be careful- good luck! Ed

[LadyShutterbug]

Thanks so much for all the help! I guess I'll probably just dye this one and get a new white one. Hmmm... now what color do I want to dye it? Choices, choices!

[generic]

tie dye, splatter dye, mop swat, poured rivulets of complimentary colors

lay it spread out on dirty pavement during a heavy rain and throw dust in the air above it. A mottled grey look with maybe some red georgia clay streaks.

I have a friend who is a stage designer. Some of the things she does boggles me mind.
well... it was already quite boggled.