Suggestions for Window Coverings for Portraits

I'm not sure where to put this, so please move it if this isn't the place.

I'm thinking of stealing the Florida room from my wife to use as an art studio/photography portrait location. It's ideal, as there's nothing but glass on 3 sides from the roof to about 3' from the floor. I can't work with visual distractions either for the photography portraits or the painting/printing. Right now there's venetian blinds and you can still see a lot through the gaps, plus they block a lot of light. Not much of a fan of those coke dealer, silvered window coverings. It would be great if I could duplicate the whiteness of a light box, which would allow lots of light in, but only show general shadow movements from outside. In the past I've simply taped up wax paper strips, but it looks a bit tacky here, as the Florida room is the front entrance to our place.

Cheap is good :} At night, I can just pull down some of those roll up blinds. Any ideas? The wax paper can still work if I gussy it up w/ decorative push pins, thin wood frames, etc, but I'm wondering if some other material, perhaps another type of paper or even cloth of some sort, would allow maximum light in, while blocking visual stuff at the same time. I don't want to see anything but white when I look around and work, and much prefer natural light to unnatural indoor light.

How about translucent tracing paper which you can buy by the roll.

Bleached muslin. Kinda thick t light through but makes great curtains.
White fabric by the yard.

I favor natural painters canvass drop cloth. It can be purchased at any paint supply for low bucks.It makes great back drops and can be painted or dyed.

We used frosting spray on the inside of the windows of our utility room. It takes some practice to get it even. The real issue is do you want to make it permanent?

A dual layer of sheer curtains (net curtain for the Brits) might be enough to even out the light and provide privacy. Plus they could be opened or removed. You would want plain material.

I was thinking sheer curtains too. We have them behind the main curtains in our bedroom, and the quality of light is really nice. They are bright white.

Old white linen bedsheets. Get em at a goodwill for $5.

Since you have a big area to cover I suggest you use ordinary tracing paper stuck to the window with Blue Tack.

I would suggest that you use a back lite film, normally made of 100% polyester, also available up to 72' wide. It would be a great diffusion. From the inside you'd only see shadows passing by. From the outside you would not be able to see in. It would give you a really even white light on the inside. You cost for this type of material would be around 50 cents per square foot.

Marc

wildbill said:

Bleached muslin. Kinda thick t light through but makes great curtains.
White fabric by the yard.

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+1. It's cheap, doesn't care f it's wrinkled so if you wad it up & stuff it in a bag for storage It's just hung again and no harm, no foul.

It could also be rolled up like backdrop paper if you want a more neat installation. It passes much more light than most of the other solutions so far except the sheer curtain. Need more density? Double it up.

Local fabric store.

Or you could handle this like a professional DP would... big areas of diffusing fabric. Ripstop nylon is a very good softening diffusion, costs you a stop to 2 stops, widely available at fabric stores.

1/4 silk (it's not really silk in most cases) is a light mesh, like a bridal mesh but a bit tougher. Used as an overhead outdoors, it opens up shadows a bit, tames highlights, and still holds a sense of "real sun" vs. going totally flat. But fabric store white mesh can duplicate this look, and you can stack 2 layers for more effect.

The waxed paper/tracing paper route is a waste long-term. You'll have to handle it carefully, it comes in thin strips where you want a whole "wall" of diffusion. Go with fabric that can be hung in one piece.

Muslin, bed sheets, etc - kind of thick and will eat up more light than you may want. That said, I have panel-frame systems with various strengths of "pro" diffusion - I even have a 12x12 china silk (that's feet, not inches) but I also have a big sack of things like sheer curtains, white nylon, and unbleached muslin (which adds a bit of warmth as diffusion or bounce). I ended up with all the cheap tablecloths after my friend's wedding, real nice semi-open weave.

The great Roger Deakins (Coen Bros. cinemetographer, just shot the recent "Unbroken") is known for sending grips into the dept. store to grab bedsheets, though he uses this for bounce, not diffusion.

It may be easy for you to add thin curtain rods that run the length of each window group or wall, and just clip diffusion material up when needed with those a-shaped spring clamps. Or even have your diffusion sewn with borders and rod pockets, and just push it to the corners when not in use - it would just look like you have sheer curtains and could likely look completely residential and even add a nice touch of soft fabric style (your wife's mileage may vary of course).

How about wide translucent visqueen rolls and some sort of rod attachment that could be easily hung or taken down?

momus said:

Cheap is good :}

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http://www.ebay.com/itm/10x59-White-Sheer-Backdrop-/361194533442?

This has some stretch to it and can be pulled taught for greater transmission and a more specular look or hung relaxed for a much softer edge transition or bouncing a source off of. I just bought a portion of it and so far I think I like it.

And it's pretty darn cheap considering the total yards.

M Carter said:

Or you could handle this like a professional DP would... 1/4 silk (it's not really silk in most cases) is a light mesh, like a bridal mesh but a bit tougher. Used as an overhead outdoors, it opens up shadows a bit, tames highlights, and still holds a sense of "real sun" vs. going totally flat. But fabric store white mesh can duplicate this look, and you can stack 2 layers for more effect. .. .. ..

The waxed paper/tracing paper route is a waste long-term. You'll have to handle it carefully, it comes in thin strips where you want a whole "wall" of diffusion. Go with fabric that can be hung in one piece. .. . ..

Muslin, bed sheets, etc - kind of thick and will eat up more light than you may want. That said, I have panel-frame systems with various strengths of "pro" diffusion - I even have a 12x12 china silk (that's feet, not inches) but I also have a big sack of things like sheer curtains, white nylon, and unbleached muslin (which adds a bit of warmth as diffusion or bounce). I ended up with all the cheap tablecloths after my friend's wedding, real nice semi-open weave. .. .. .. ..

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I'll second that.