Rex Photography

What can I use for a pure white background in photography?

I do artistic photography and I want to take photos of objects (still life) with the pure white or smoked white seamless backgrounds. I have tried different types of cloth but I always get hint of texture no matter the dof. I have tried making a photo box for this but the corner seams are always visible. I have a great lighting setup. I have seen photos like this. One that comes to mind is a photo I saw of an egg with a white seamless background. The egg was in the lower left quadrant and it was that simple. The contrast and detail of the white egg shell against a pure white backdrop were stunning. The photo had no Photoshop or retouching of any kind. The egg was sitting on something, but you couldn't tell. You couldn't even see a difference between the background and the surface where the egg was resting on. Any suggestions how to make a box like this and what materials to use, is greatly apprecated. Thank you.

Public Comments

1. the easiest way would be stick to your existing cloth and overlit it carefully so you won't overlit the object you want to shoot also.
2. I had a friend that owned an award winning portrait studio. He used paper. He had a roll that was big enough for people. My wife and I had a full body portrait taken, both dressed in white with our white German Sheppard between us. So my final thought would be a roll of stiff paper.
3. I did photography at uni. Here the studios had backdrops supplied. The backdrops were huge rolls of thick paper. We then used lighting to change the colours or to increase the brightness. The paper was also curved so we have no creases. For example - think of a skate ramp, how it is curved? Well you want your paper to be set up like this. Clip the top end to something to keep it up or make a frame. Make sure the paper has no creases or marks as these will appear in your print. To make the paper really white, use lights to 'blow out' the paper. Light up your object as you normally would, but have extra lights set up pointing straight to the background. Don't take your light meter reading from the background and it should come out very white. Remember to curve the paper so you get your seemless background. On the other hand, if you want a black background, don't allow any light to fall on the paper and use black. Have a go and see what you come out with. If you are having problems with finding a thick paper, check out photographic suppliers.
4. Your problems with texture are probably more to do with lighting than with the actual background. A studio photographer shooting either portraits or products will generally ensure that there is enough separation between the subject and the background that light can be used on one independently of the other. The more light you have hitting the background relative to the subject (at a given exposure level), the whiter a background will look. Another option is if your background material isn't completely opaque (plastic, some papers or fabrics), then you can shine light through it (as with a light tent) to bring up the value of the background. Here's an example of an object shot slightly back-lit in a light tent, to create pure white: http://www.evanbaines.com/gallery/prod03.php And to show the opposite extreme about separation of subject and background, this shot was shot with a brick wall behind the subject... but by ensuring no light hit the wall, I have a black BG. http://www.evanbaines.com/gallery/portrait09.php As for backgrounds, seamless paper is a good, versatile, affordable option. It is available at art stores, photo specialty stores, and various places online.
5. large sheets of art paper or white cloth. I use it all the time for my product and art shots. If the background is not coming out exactly white, then you have a problem with your exposure. Remember that the camera is exposing for 18% grey as the "standard" exposure. If it meters too much white, your white wuill come out drab and gray-ish. You may need to set some exposure compensation.
6. If your objects are small enough, consider putting them on or in front of a light box. http://www.flickr.com/photos/samfeinstein/412244168/ http://www.members.aol.com/swf08302/montblanc05.jpg
7. a soft white bendable plastic...they sell backgrounds like this at porters.com
8. What you are looking at is called a White on white assignment. In photography college, they have you create a box with no front or back. Just a top, bottom and two sides. behind the box is a white seamless paper 12 inches away that receives light from above. Do this out side on the NORTH side of your house when the sun is on the other side of the house. Place your egg or subject inside the box. The egg will be lit buy the same light coming from the front of the box. The amount of light that hits the egg will be ONE STOP less light then the white paper in the back of the box. YOUR exposure will be TWO STOPS MORE LIGHT when you measure the light at the egg.. Develop normally. Good luck. You may have to try this a few times to get the hang of it.