Umesh Bhatt

Well, this post is about seamless backgrounds and how to create them. Below is an example of where i have used this recently.

Seamless White background

Note: Not all the material in this post is mine – so i have added references where relevant:

I have a setup similar to Zack Arias – minus the white tile board. Although, i think i should get one. I use a simple DIY gobo instead. For the background, i just use 1 flash (285HV) instead of two (although, i plan on using two in future). I pump it at 2 stops over the main light – only because my background material is not “bright” white and i need to blast it with light to make it over exposed. A more professional tip is to build something like this. Finally, for the main light, i use the Morris softbox to the light along with the included extra soft cloth – to cut down the light further (Full power wtih 285HV used at the length i have at home, will usually give me f5.6 with this extra layer (and is a stop brighter without the extra transluscent layer inside the softbox). The background is typcially f11. I use a Minolta IVF to measure the light although you can use any Flash meter. 

On occasions, I also use the Justin Clamp and Saxon grids along with my SB-600 to create more interesting lights – example: have this setup below the softbox directed towards the face (1/4 power), or attached to the background stand, directing the light as a hair light (1/4 power) – For better made grids and gobos (and more expensive),  you can try honl.

The good thing about white backgrounds is that:

• You can replace the backgrounds with any other backgrounds that you can either purchase or create yourself (or even available free). Make sure you view the tutorials about masking and hair selection with Photoshop or buy one of the very expensive Masking tools/plug-ins before you attempt to do this ( On One Mask Pro, Fluid Mask, Primatte Chromakey etc).
• You can change the background from white to black and all the way in-between (gray shades) by merely adjusting the background light power. If the ratio of background to main light is the same as that of the foreground – the background will become gray, if it is half power or less – it will be black.

That’s all there is to it!