Jump to content

Backdrops


Lady Tam
 Share

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 26
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

You don't want bright sunshine, overcast is the best for shooting outside.

 

Sounds to me like you've got some lighting issues as opposed to the background. When indoors, what kind and how many lights are you using?

 

Optimum, you want a light on either side of the miniature. Having one "over" the mini as well would help as well. If you're just relying on flash or a single light, then your pictures could come out underexposed since the camera is searching for light. If there's not enough "ambient" light around for the camera to pick up, it'll expose as it can.

 

Another problem is the camera picking up "hot spots." The hot spots are points of light glare that the camera tries to expose for, instead of the subject. This is where good lighting techniques come in. This is why I don't recommend white backgrounds. They often produce glare (as in your picture) or fool the camera that there's more light than there truly is.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

By the way, here's an example of the natural background at work (as always, you may need to refresh or add a space to the URL to see the picture).  This shot was taken at sunset (sun is actually behind the hill at the edge of my property), facing due west, while plenty of ambient light was left to illuminate the minis "softly," with no harsh highlighting.  There are some GW trees among the figures, but the out-of-focus ones in the background are real.

 

The original topic is located here.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lots of blue and cyan in that pic and it's pretty contrasty. I just spent a good hour with it in Paint Shop Pro (just playing with it) and I'm having problems getting the highlights toned down without everything merging into shadows....

 

But I love the background. That works well. I had just wanted to see things a little more clearly, and once I got started I couldn't stop. Typical me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am still trying to get a good picture of my Deathsleet. A med to dark blue background didn't work. And neither has black. You still can't "pick out" the blues I put into her. What color would work well for her? She is blue worked out to white st the tips of her scales.

Lady Tam

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, when my Ex-BF used to take pictures of the jewelry I sell and some of the minis I painted for him, he used black velvet as a backdrop for some of them. Others he used a very dark green towel over some books.  Pictures turned out quite nice.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am still trying to get a good picture of my Deathsleet. A med to dark blue background didn't work. And neither has black. You still can't "pick out" the blues I put into her. What color would work well for her? She is blue worked out to white st the tips of her scales.

 

I'd recommend a contrasting color (red or green?) of similar brightness, so that the mini isn't forced into under- or overexposure.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One, I do not recommend using a red, green, bright blue, or magenta for backdrops. The reason for this is that all camera film is made on a three layer color base of cyan/magenta/yellow. Strong colors of these or their opposites (red/green/blue) will result in an overtint of the opposing color in everything else. For instance, if you shoot a picture of someone on a bright yellow background, the skin tone will look blue. Why? No idea. This even occurs on digital cameras (I've seen it in action).

 

A neutral grey will give the best color results. If, however, you really want something to stand out (and as I recall your Deathsleet is grey/white in color) then I'd go for either a very light grey and use extra lighting to specifically light the background to remove shadows, or I'd shoot outside against a background of grass or whatever. The natural lighting outside should remove the excess of opposing color.

 

If you should shoot against an extreme color background, then make certain you tell the lab to 1) print for subject and 2) color correct. Take the mini with you, if possible, so they have an idea of what the colors should be. Also, take it to an actual film lab, not a grocery store/drug store/local Wal-Mart. The results will be a lot better even if the price isn't.

 

As my old boss used to say, "I have a deal with HEB (the local grocery store here)... they don't develop film and I won't sell lettuce."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...