Kendra Paige wrote:
I am shooting an editorial in-studio later this month, and am looking to invest in a gray muslin backdrop. I have only worked with muslin a handful of times, so I am reluctant to invest $450 in my first one, and am looking for any alternative suggestions to the Eleanor backdrop by Seamless Photo:
http://seamlessphoto.com/us/eleanor-mus … -soto.html

My ideal budget is in the $200 range for 10x20, suggestions are very much appreciated! I can be swayed into investing in the Eleanor backdrop, but am interested in hearing other opinions first. Thank you!

There are MANY on Amazon for a fraction of the price you are looking at. Also look at CowboyStudio.com. They have a lot of them at an affordable price.

Shot By Adam wrote:

There are MANY on Amazon for a fraction of the price you are looking at. Also look at CowboyStudio.com. They have a lot of them at an affordable price.

I've done a lot of looking at those and others listed on Amazon, but was looking for any personal recommendations, as the reviews (or lack thereof) are all over the place. A lot of the ones I've found are very wrinkled looking or look like tie-dye, rather than a more painted canvas sort of look.

Kendra Paige wrote:
I am shooting an editorial in-studio later this month, and am looking to invest in a gray muslin backdrop. I have only worked with muslin a handful of times, so I am reluctant to invest $450 in my first one, and am looking for any alternative suggestions to the Eleanor backdrop by Seamless Photo:
http://seamlessphoto.com/us/eleanor-mus … -soto.html

My ideal budget is in the $200 range for 10x20, suggestions are very much appreciated! I can be swayed into investing in the Eleanor backdrop, but am interested in hearing other opinions first. Thank you!

Take a look at     Denny Manufacturing Co. They have a great variety at various price points.

I'm not sure why you are locked into muslin when it may be used only a few times. I use mostly paper.

MikeW wrote:

Take a look at     Denny Manufacturing Co. They have a great variety at various price points.

I'm not sure why you are locked into muslin when it may be used only a few times. I use mostly paper.

I use seamless paper and gels for the bulk of my shoots, different fabrics for others, but I'm doing a Victorian-styled editorial and would like a more eerie, slightly gothic feel to the imagery, which a nice canvas / muslin background can sometimes provide.

Thank you for recommending Denny! I had forgotten about them, definitely some potential options here.

E Thompson Photography wrote:
Just some ideas. Have you thought about buying the Eleanor backdrop as an expense and charging it to your client? You may also look at renting a backdrop from someplace like Oliphant or Schmidli and charging the rental as an expense. Or you could paint your own.

http://www.inbedwithsue.com/2014/11/04/ … -backdrop/

Sue Bryce is amazing, thanks for that link! I'll definitely give that a try when I get my workspace setup for set design.

AgX wrote:
I use and like Amvona Civichrome muslins and paid around $65 for my 10x20 grey one. You might be able to find new-old-stock in a pattern that you like. I haven't used them, but I've heard good things about Wescott muslins, at less than half the price of the one you listed.

Thanks for the tip, and especially for mentioning Westcott! I ordered one from them that is exactly what I'm looking for, and right in my budget. Can't wait to test with it once it arrives!

Michael Bots wrote:
Paint department at Home Depot  or Amazon  ---   canvas drop cloth - can be spray painted any color you want.



http://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-9-f … /203432096
http://www.amazon.com/9x12-Canvas-Cotto … B001G1ET0Y
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G1ETFE

Be careful here. I bought one from Home Depot and it had a seam right down the middle. Great for catching paint spills but worthless as a backdrop. Also, hard to find one 20' long.

Kendra Paige wrote:

MikeW wrote:
Take a look at     Denny Manufacturing Co. They have a great variety at various price points.

"I'm not sure why you are locked into muslin when it may be used only a few times. I use mostly paper.

I use seamless paper and gels for the bulk of my shoots, different fabrics for others, but I'm doing a Victorian-styled editorial and would like a more eerie, slightly gothic feel to the imagery, which a nice canvas / muslin background can sometimes provide."


Rent a smoke machine

E Thompson Photography wrote:
This company sells seamless canvas in a variety of sizes.

http://www.chicagocanvas.com

I've bought from them and then dyed the material with RIT. very easy and quite messy. But not expensive and you get what you want - sometimes!

E Thompson Photography wrote:
This company sells seamless canvas in a variety of sizes.

http://www.chicagocanvas.com

canvas and muslin are different fabrics. The OP asked about muslin. I see on your link they also sell muslin, but this source is well known for supplying muslin for professional scenic and backdrop painters

http://www.rosebrand.com/fabric-stage-c … spx?rl=tnd

personally, I cringe looking at the cheap muslins like from cowboy studios. I don't know the ones on Amazon. I was lucky and was able to buy 5 hand painted muslins from a professional backdrop painter when they were getting out of the rental business. I was actually only buying 2 at a steal of a price and she gave me the additional 3 for free. I couldn't argue with that, but one was a textured purple that I still haven't found a use for. The two that I had intended to buy I have been able to use on fashion shoots several times. I have even been able to travel with them.

I also picked up several hand painted canvas backdrops from the same painter which are quite lovely, but are large and in some cases very heavy which preclude anything other than local travel. You might consider Backdrop Outlets computer printed backdrops like their Titanium Cloth series, especially if storage or travel is an issue.

Jose Deida wrote:
Plain canvas from http://www.chicagocanvas.com/ painted it myself.

are you sure that it is canvas? looks like muslin. canvas, especially heavier canvas, usually doesn't drape softly like you have in lower part of image. muslin does.

Dan Howell wrote:

are you sure that it is canvas? looks like muslin. canvas, especially heavier canvas, usually doesn't drape softly like you have in lower part of image. muslin does.

The piece on the floor is muslin the BG is canvas

JJMiller wrote:
If you are cool with raw canvas : https://www.jerrysartarama.com/discount … n-Duck.htm

seamless and good enough for large paintings- a 10' x 18' piece is < $70.

I wouldn't recommend spray painting anything because it would stink pretty bad for a while.

What material would you recommend for painting a 10' x18'?

Kendra Paige wrote:
I am shooting an editorial in-studio later this month, and am looking to invest in a gray muslin backdrop. I have only worked with muslin a handful of times, so I am reluctant to invest $450 in my first one, and am looking for any alternative suggestions to the Eleanor backdrop by Seamless Photo:
http://seamlessphoto.com/us/eleanor-mus … -soto.html

My ideal budget is in the $200 range for 10x20, suggestions are very much appreciated! I can be swayed into investing in the Eleanor backdrop, but am interested in hearing other opinions first. Thank you!

I've had nothing but good luck with this company. I haven't purchased from them in over a decade but when I first opened my studio I did tons of business with them.

http://www.backdropoutlet.com/MUSLINS/departments/1004/