can i just hijack with a relevent question, how does paper, vinyl and muslin compare to one another. obviously the big issue is creases and durability. I'm guessing vinyl would be the best - wouldnt paper easily rip?
Good question, each has their advantages and disadvantages...
Paper doesn't tear all that easily but it does crease easily. When used in a 'sweep' it needs to be on a hard surface, not on a carpet, where it will become damaged by heels immediately.
It's also very wasteful, when bought in short rolls for home use - 11 metres isn't a lot when it's 2.5 meters tall and there's 3 metres on the floor - you can't cut off many damaged bits before you run out
Vinyl is popular and it does have some benefits, but not all vinyls are equal! Some of the vinyl backgrounds sold for photography don't clean as easily as people expect, some of them are far too shiny and some aren't what I personally would describe as white...
The weight of vinyl depends on the quality, but even if you get a true white, with a smooth enough surface to clean but not so smooth that it creates glare, vinyl is extremely heavy compared to other materials, this isn't a problem for permanent setups but it can be a real problem for 'mobile' photographers, and it requires very secure fixing for safe use.
Muslin (AKA cotton) is by far the cheapest option and it can go into the washing machine. Again, quality can vary from one supplier to another and IMO it doesn't pay to go for the cheapest.
Apart from cost, it can be machine washed and tumble dried, although it should never be dried fully, as this creates creasing problems. It's also much easier to transport and store.
Some people report problems with creases but that's only really a problem with unlit backgrounds. White backgrounds, overlit to create the (so called) high key effect, lose whatever creases they have. And creases can be avoided by stretching it and clamping or taping the edges to the side of the background support and the floor. And spraying the background with a plant sprayer is a big help too.
Illuminated backgrounds are expensive but popular, and most people seem to be happy with them unless they have a plastic 'train' on the floor, which needs to be lit separately. They save space but IMO the whole concept is flawed, because the light is pointing directly towards the camera, which destroys contrast and makes it likely that fine detail (especially hair) is lost. I frequently see shots on this and other forums with these problems that I personally would move straight to trash, but it seems I'm in a minority because a lot of people don't even seem to see the problem, let alone want to do anything about it.
If there are no budget considerations, I advise paper, with muslin, vinyl and illuminated backgrounds as 2nd, 3rd and 4th choices - for most people, most of the time.
) plus the dk grey wall or natural muslin. I do like those ones that come in a bag and pop out into a frame, again ..md.. had a really nice looking one that I wanted to steal 
