Hi Lite White Vinyl Train

[Deleted member 25799]

Alriiight guys.

So, the white vinyl train that comes with the Lastolite Hi Lite I find to be a pain in the A. Even if you manage to get the lighting right, the link up from train to background never smoothly fits...

Does anyone actually manage to get it right without having too much PP work? I just want to buy a white bottle top and my woes would be sorted! But alas.

Obviously I can just roll the white paper out on the fixed background, but it'd be handy to get the Hi Lite sorted!

 

[Deleted member 25799]

Anyone?

 

[TG.]

the link up from train to background never smoothly fits

Could you please elaborate on this a bit more, are you talking about where the train joins at the bottom of the background, i'm very interested as i'm thinking of investing in one of these, have you thought about putting a piece of perspex over the train ? as i think this will be my plan

 

[paul_g]

I've attached mine to a roll of lino with velcro. It slides up against the hilite and then stays put even on carpet. I still need to do some pp'ing but its much easier without the train moving around all over the place.

 

[sezzi]

We have the train, and works Ok, but we never get a 100% result,

TBH we always have to zap with Photoshop clone tool & levels

Al'

 

[Deleted member 25799]

Could you please elaborate on this a bit more, are you talking about where the train joins at the bottom of the background, i'm very interested as i'm thinking of investing in one of these, have you thought about putting a piece of perspex over the train ? as i think this will be my plan

The train has velcro on it and this sticks down to the bottom of the Hi Lite. But it's never a smooth linking up (it just doesnt seem to fit perfectly) and consequently a lot of photoshopping needs to be done after to make it seamless.

I want a white bottle top background! Or another fix that doesn't include lots of PP

 

[TG.]

I want a white bottle top background!

Maybe that's the answer, providing it doesn't affect the light output coming through the Hilite + the bottle top background, but i guess you would then just turn your lights up a stop or two, sorry i can't think of another fix

 

[Deleted member 25799]

Maybe that's the answer, providing it doesn't affect the light output coming through the Hilite + the bottle top background, but i guess you would then just turn your lights up a stop or two, sorry i can't think of another fix

Problem is I don't think they sell a white bottle top!!

 

[TG.]

Problem is I don't think they sell a white bottle top!!

I think you may be right, although their is always bleach

 

[AliB]

or a sewing machine

 

[Mark Anthony]

I don't think it's possible to get even a perfect fit or perfectly lit, though i've got so near that it's seriously quick to correct it in ps, can't say i'd like to have to process more than a couple of dozen images at a time though.

I go on a U.S forum a bit too and i know a lot of people over there use white faced fibreboard / mdf instead of the train and get good results, i keep meaning to try this myself but not got around to it. I've tried it with plexiglass on top of the train and that can give a nice effect too.

 

[rowla]

The large perspex sheets are currently half price at homebase.
No home delivery but the sizes/prices are listed on their website if you want to check them out.

Linky

I went to my local homebase yesterday and got a couple of the 180cm x 120cm ones. They weren't marked at the reduced rate but they scanned at the till at half price.

Just make sure they will fit in your vehicle.

 

[cowasaki]

A Hilite is on my shopping list for next month.

What else are people using rather than the vinyl they sell? Edinburgh Gary (I think) was suggesting something as was ..MD.. My new studio is too small for the normal techniques re white backgrounds so it will need to be a hilite!

I should have a pair of Safaris and a octobox within a couple of weeks so 2 of my 180w lights in the hilite should do it.