Black backgrounds

[AmieHiggs]

I always love the simple black backgrounds that a lot of you guys have on your photo's. I'm guessing these photo's are taken with a black background and im wondering what you use?

Also I've tried to extract the backgrounds on alot of photo's that I already have and replace it with black but it always looks false, fake and rubbish i would love to know how to do this properly so it looks like it was always there. any idea's ? :confused:

[joannknnrd]

I love black bg's. I bought a small velvet throw for $6.00 and use it for a quick backdrop. Works great for portraits!

[ScrapinB]

Ah! That is cheap and affordable I ought to try that. Thanks for sharing your thrifty cost effective method of doing this.
Thanks to the person who asked the question.

[Vallie]

That is a good idea, I think there were some posts in the photography forum last year about photo backdrops. The professional ones are hundreds of dollars, but a lot of people used fleecy track suit stuff , polar fleece, or sheets or curtains too or cheap fabric or there is even a long roll of wide paper someone mentioned. :)

[lbjiowa]

You'll have the best success if you chose a fabric that 'absorbs' the light...things like paper have a tendency to reflect light in places, as do some fabrics (esp those with no NAP)...fleeces, felts, velours, etc are all good choices - and - you might also consider that as long as the fabric is all one color 'extracting' your subject from the background will be EASY! esp if the color is unique ... not found anywhere ON your subject/person in the photo...

My dd is a photographer and we've used all sorts of blankets and fabrics as backdrops (as far as color goes), then extract subject out and place into desired backgrounds...with good success. As you build your skills in your software you'll be able to work around the 'flat' look...

[AmieHiggs]

Thank you ladies as always everyone is full of fab ideas.