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plexiglass "flooring" over seamless paper ?
I have begun to use seamless paper backgrounds - currently I am using plywood (over carpeted floor) under the paper to prevent high heel punctures. I am considering buying a sheet of plexiglass and laying it over the seamless- as I have seen this done in several photos and I like the "glossy" look of the flooring. A few questions - are there any additional lighting challenges when doing this to prevent flare and glare from the plexiglass. Is there much of a problem with having the glass scratched by the model's high heels ? Any other suggestions, challenges, etc. when shooting with plexiglass flooring ? thanks. Jan 02 07 01:26 pm Link Don't do it. Unless you have a ton of time to keep cleaning and removing heel scratches, etc. Jan 02 07 01:28 pm Link preserves the paper at the expense of the plexi ... it cleans up ok but will never be pristine again as a background ... but the fixes are usually pretty easy in photoshop. the reflections are pretty much as you expect. it adds that liquid feel, but it may increase your workload. i kinda like it, good luck rich Jan 02 07 01:35 pm Link It will scratch like crazy. And you will have to deal with hot spots depending on your lighting and shooting angle. It's a cool effect if used sparingly, but as regular shooting floor, it's way too soft. There is a clear covering like Plexi, that is hard as nails and costs as much as gold. Sorry but I don't remember the name. Jan 02 07 01:36 pm Link Holes in the paper backgrd is just something you have to get used to,like footprints after its used a bit.Best thing is photoshop the problems out. As to plexiglass on the floor that sounds interesting to use for some shots but it does scratch alot ,again theres photoshop. Jan 02 07 01:37 pm Link richard boswell wrote: Thank You - Please let me add that I am NOT concerned about saving the paper, just adding the gloss/liquid look to the floor. Jan 02 07 01:37 pm Link okbyme wrote: That's what I've heard. There is a guy on here that uses it a lot (can't remember his name) but he says he spends a lot of time with a car buffer cleaning up the scratches on his plexiglass. Jan 02 07 01:39 pm Link What about shiny opaque things that give glossy reflections only at shallow grazing angles? White panels of some kind? Jan 02 07 02:18 pm Link The reflective plexi surface sounds good but don't do it to preserve paper. Paper is cheaper than the polish and elbow grease to remove the scratches because everything scratches it and it SHOWS - which means photoshop time. Then you will have to photoshop off the line in front or in back, or both. I tried it - the plexi now sits unused in my garage. Jan 02 07 02:24 pm Link There are better plastics than plexiglass, use it. they are cheap, but you got to clean clean clean cleean them. go to the goodwill and buy a floor shiner, trick: turn over and leave the shiny side down , when you dont need it.. It gives a nice matte with enough reflection. Jan 02 07 02:38 pm Link Hi, I use those plexiglass panels from time to time, but I have to drag 2 pannels all the time to the floor and lay them on top of the paper. They are pretty heavy. And they scratch and attrac a lot of hairs and dust. But before I shoot I wipe it clean. The nasty thing is to get the 2 pannels in PS together without loosing the mirror image. If you use paper on a laminate floor, you wont have punctures at all. (laminate.. is that the word in English for that wood imitation floor? Look at the studio pictures on top of the screen. http://www.beautyshoot.nl/profiel.php example on white: https://img5.modelmayhem.com/070102/13/ … fdcefc.jpg Here you can see the scratches .. like on ice  http://www.beautyshoot.nl/fotos/Modelle … 8ps700.jpg http://www.beautyshoot.nl/fotos/Modelle … ps1700.jpg On grey: ( I did not retouche the background yet) http://www.beautyshoot.nl/fotos/Modelle … 8ps700.jpg Jan 02 07 02:54 pm Link really GOOD plexiglass is EXPENSIVE. they come in different thicknesses. plexiglass looks cool in photos. Jan 02 07 06:13 pm Link Suggest you drop Ken at Transposure a line. https://www.modelmayhem.com/member.php?id=108792 He uses Plexi a LOT... Jan 02 07 06:18 pm Link If you want a high gloss floor go to Lowes and buy sheets of 4'x8' masonite wall board for around $12.00 a sheet it only comes in white ! and clean up is a snap! it works great for me! Jan 02 07 06:46 pm Link Jimi V Photography wrote: Glass? Jan 02 07 06:52 pm Link   I have a 4'x8' sheet of plexi. You don't need to splurge on the thick stuff - the thin stuff will lay down flat, and it doesn't change its reflectiveness any going with a thicker sheet. An 8'x8' sheet would be easier to work with because of the depth but you'd have to get it custom ordered and delivered (4'x8' sheets are standard and in stock locally). I worry more about hiding the seam than I do about scratches. And yes, there's some cleaning and buffing involved to keep it scratch free, but it's not as bad as everyone makes it out to be. As far as shooting goes, treat it like any reflective surface. Keep the surface in shadow and hit your subject with light if you want a strong reflection. You'll also get stronger reflections with black or dark colors as opposed to white. Jan 02 07 07:24 pm Link LLoyds Photography wrote: I second that, works great as long as you need white Jan 02 07 07:41 pm Link I use a 4 x 8 sheet of clear plexiglass and am very happy with it. I lay down a sheet of plywood then the paper and the plexiglass on top. You can use any color with it and the reflection is what works for me. The scratches are no big deal, it's a 2 second CS2 fix if it bothers you. Jan 02 07 07:53 pm Link digital Artform wrote: LLoyds Photography wrote: Now that's what I'm talking about Jan 02 07 08:03 pm Link Brandon Ching wrote: Are you thinking of Lexan? If so, that stuff's really, really expensive. Although it is much harder, I'm not sure that it is more scratch resistant than plexi. It might be cheaper and more effective to just use glass if you are laying it on a surface that won't allow it to flex. You can get glass in 1/2" thicknesses that aren't as expensive as you might imagine. Back in collage, we had a 6' square piece of 1/2" glass over a nice, flat concrete floor that worked wonders. Changing the paper would fry your nerves, but we never managed to break it. Jan 02 07 09:11 pm Link Brandon Ching wrote: lol well glass is certainly a material that shouldnt scratch at least not by most things you'd place on it. it could still get grimy and smudged up and you'd have to be more carefull with it when moving it around from place to place and in storage etc. also on a side note in a science class i took in like jr high the teacher of the class made it a very strong point that glass is in fact harder than nails, the proof being that you cannot scratch glass with nails and something along the lines of materials being harder or softer than eachother can be determined by the "scratch test" Jan 02 07 09:12 pm Link How about this... just get one of those indoor ice rinks. Should make for some great photos of the model flopping about on her ass while trying to pose in heels  Jan 02 07 10:01 pm Link Brandon Ching wrote: That's so crazy that... it.. just... might... work! Jan 02 07 10:04 pm Link Don't use clear plexi...get a white opaque at 1/16 in thick...get 2 4x8s and lay the seam horizontal to the camera...screw the paper it's cheap. There are great cleaners that can remove heel (black) marks and store the sheets between foamcore. As for the lighting...well there must be at least a dozen ways to light, but remember to keep the background one stop hotter then the subject or the least 3/4 stop hotter. Use gobos to keep the back lights separate from the front ones and if your model stands on the shadowed X on the floor, they will be lit just right. I have done this one for years and set up many situations for many fashion shooters when I assisted in NYC in the 80s. It's kid's stuff and simple...but experiment and have fun. The overall effect should look as if she is floating. Jan 02 07 10:08 pm Link ...so, since it was mentioned, what is the PS "fix" for the background-to-plexi transition? In one of the sample images here, that transition is pretty severe! Jan 03 07 02:53 am Link here's a question... everyone's bitching about the plexi getting scratched, etc etc... Isn't there some sort of laminate or a lacquer you could apply to the surface of the plexi to make it more scratch resistant, but not impede the reflective properties of the plexi? I'm sure there's got to be something like that that would work. Anyone try something like it? Jan 03 07 06:24 am Link Where can one get cheap plexiglass (clear)? I called a few shops around town and they wand $300 for 4'x8'. Ugh. Feb 16 07 05:55 pm Link Tonic Dog Studios wrote: I paid $200 for mine. I believe its 3/8 inch thickness. Paid $15 to have the edges smoothed. Would highly recommend that if you value your fingers. Feb 16 07 08:49 pm Link Tonic Dog Studios wrote: You don't need the thick stuff. I paid about $75 for mine (1/8" I think). Feb 16 07 10:17 pm Link I'd shoot on paper BG and forget about the plexiglass..... then in post - duplicate the layer, invert it, flip it, change opacity and presto.... you have the reflection that you desire without having to use a reflective plexiglass surface. Feb 16 07 10:20 pm Link There is a PS action called Wet Floor that duplicates the effect in white or black. I've only played with it a bit, but it seems like a fun and useful toy. Evan Feb 16 07 10:44 pm Link |
