Printed vinyl photography backdrops offer an easy way to build a versatile collection of designs.
For a relatively small investment (compared to original hardboard backdrops) you can have a range of different textures; marble, wood, tiles and more ready to instantly style and shoot. And what’s more, printed backdrops won’t take over your workspace. They're light and easy to transport and store, no more lugging heavy surfaces between shoots!
Here are a few pointers to help you get the most from our printed vinyl backdrops
Getting started
Our backdrops are rolled and posted to you in a double-walled cardboard tube. Because we print on demand, they'll have only been inside the tube for a few hours so they won't arrive all curly! Our extra-thick vinyl photo backgrounds will literally just jump open and flatten for immediate use. Although you can easily store them lightly rolled, we do recommend storing them flat, so they're always ready to go!
Different ways to use your backdrops
Printed vinyl photography backdrops can be used in loads of different ways.
- As a tabletop surface emulating anything from a table or bar to a kitchen worktop.
- As a vertical backdrop behind your subject.
- And as an infinity curve (scoop) - when you curve the backdrop sheet so it is both the horizontal table surface and vertical wall surface, as one continuous sheet. To create an infinity curve you'll need to secure the sheet in place on both the horizontal and vertical surfaces. We recommend using masking tape, weights or boxes as shown below - even a laptop can be very handy for leaning backdrops and card against! It’s a great technique for product and editorial style shots.
Shot on Utopia lightest grey concrete-effect backdrop
If you're using your backdrop as the table surface, setting up is as easy as simply laying it flat on a clean, sturdy and level surface.
To hang your backdrop behind your set as a wall, you can use masking tape to stick the backdrop to a vertical surface, use plastic clamps and a photography 'C' stand, or use an overhead stand, or even a clothes rail with clamps.
Shot with the Flaky and Forest backdrops
Here’s another set up at Scene Studios shot by Rob Smalley for Belvoir Fruit Farms - we used a stand and clamps for this one.
Shot with the Drip backdrop as the table surface and Safe backdrop as the wall behind
Getting the light right
Whether you use natural light, continuous or flash, there's a few things to consider when shooting with printed vinyl backdrops. They're printed on a non-glare premium vinyl material, but as with any smooth, flat surface you may notice a little bit of a highlight on the surface at certain angles. These highlights can add to the drama and be part of your aesthetic or you may want to control them.
Darker prints (with more ink coverage) will reflect the most light, while paler prints will appear flatter.
To reduce highlights on your backdrop we recommend using soft, diffused light. Any light source can be softened with a diffuser, thin white material (like cheese cloth or bed linen) or tracing/baking paper. This will soften both the highlights and the shadows.
Even though the light is still strong in this image, the shadows are soft - not hard edged. This is a creative choice, but harder light will naturally make it harder to control reflections.
Shot with the Salt photography backdrop
Adding black fill card to control light hitting the backdrop where the light is strongest (also known as flags) We recommend buying A1, A2 and A3 black card to slide down the sides of your set when needed. They are particularly useful when using backlight if the top edge gets ever exposed and ‘blown out’, losing its detail.
These two images show the difference made by adding the black 'flag' to the right of the set.
Everything went a little darker, but it helped keep the light more consistent across the surface and the detail in the backdrop on the right hand side, closest to the light source was improved.
Using low, side light that will illuminate your subject and props rather than the flat surface. However, this is a lighting style in its own right, so might not always suit every brief.
If you notice highlights after shooting, try these quick edits –
- In Instagram see if a soft vignette will remove the highlights or play with the 'highlights' slider.
- In Lightroom you could,
- Use the 'Dehaze' slider to remove any 'light haze'.
- Add a selective gradient or brush area and reduce the exposure, whites or highlights (same as vignetting but only in the selected area).
- Increasing the texture or clarity can also help if you’ve lost detail in the backdrop. Try +10 to start.
Food styling on printed backdrops
Our backdrops are designed with food styling and product photography in mind. The print quality and detail is high enough to shoot small items on without giving itself away as a print. Our vinyl backdrops are highly waterproof and can stand up to having food and liquids sat on them for a good length of time. We recommend leaving wet styling to the end of your set up and only placing food straight on the backdrop for your final shot, then cleaning away straight after.
Shot with the Wednesday photo backdrop
All of our backdrop sheets can be turned into solid surfaces by sticking to card, foamboard or wooden boards using wallpaper paste or spray mount adhesives.
Care and storage
To enjoy your backdrops for a long time, protect them from:
- heat – don’t place hot dishes, food, grease or pans straight onto them.
- knives and sharp objects – they are strong but not impermeable, please don’t use blades on them.
- strongly coloured food or dyes.
- direct sunlight for prolonged periods.
- frost or extremely hot rooms – please keep at an ambient temperature.
- Always remove tape carefully and clean any liquids or damp food off your backdrops straight after your shot is completed.
- Wipe gently with a damp cloth only – no chemicals or abrasives should be used as these can damage and scratch the print.
- Accidentally folding a vinyl backdrop can leave a permanent crease.
- We recommend storing your backdrops flat. A plan chest or portfolio case is ideal.