Black backdrop test (2026-01-04)

I've had this 3m x 4m black backdrop since 2024, but I only got to try out the full length last weekend since I don't usually have the luxury of being able to rearrange the furniture to this extent.

notes:

[1]
I have no idea if the wrinkles can be ironed in a reasonable amount of time after unfolding the cloth since I don't have a backdrop roller to keep it wrinkle-free for storage.

[2]
The muslin cloth is thin, so any lighting in the background can easily bleed through. Even light-colored objects (ex. white walls) behind the backdrop can easily reflect light from studio flash. A second layer of dark cloth needs to be clipped to the backdrop stand to prevent this issue.

[3]
If the subject-background distance is close relative to the position of the light, the backdrop will appear as dark gray when it is hit by the light. To make it look black, either the light must be much closer to the subject, or the light must be controlled to prevent it from spilling onto the background.

[4]
I used a gray card to check the necessary camera and flash settings to get a proper exposure with my DIY projector attachment. With my camera set to 1/200s, f/4.0, ISO 400; my Godox AD200 Pro needed to be set to 1/1 power, with the projector lens (Sigma 20-40mm f/2.8) at f/2.8 and roughly 28mm focal length to illuminate a subject of my height.

Granted, I can get brighter light using the Godox AD100 Pro since that flash can focus the light into a narrower beam to force more of it through the projector lens, but it produces an uneven pattern, and the generated heat is enough to melt my acetate prints.

[5]
I don't like the idea of shooting at home since it would be a hassle for the other people living here.

At the same time, the backdrop (cloth + stands) is prohibitively heavy for shooting elsewhere when combined with the rest of the gear (camera + lens, flash + light stands + modifiers).

Right now, the only thing I can do with this is practice and check for feasibility before doing an actual shoot in a studio somewhere else.

There IS a studio though that's less than a 10-minute walk away from where I live, but that costs money to rent.

[6]
When the light projector is used, the output of the flash is significantly reduced to the point that drowning out ambient light is a challenge even indoors.

As such, the ideal use case would be inside a studio where the ambient light can be shut off. Otherwise, it would be best to shoot at night.