Studio layout and paint colour

Elines

Elines

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Chris
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I hope to be moving house this year and I am likely to be able to use one bedroom as a studio - approx 13' by 8' - with a window on a short wall.

I will be reviewing existing threads regarding kit but at this stage I have more basic questions that I can't see have been covered:

  • How could I best use the layout?
  • What colour should I paint the walls? I had assumed brilliant white emulsion but then I saw a reference to painting them grey (the white balance one :), on at least one wall with a lighter grey on the others
?plus .... anything else I should consider before I start getting kit?
 
Hi

The old recomendation used to be paint your studio black and your darkroom white.

One you wanted to make the most of the small amount of light produced by your safe light and the other you wanted to control reflected light so you knew what direction it was comming from.

Paul
 
The above holds true, the point of a studio is to control light, working inside a white box is just giving you problems to overcome.
 
I've worked in both a black darkroom and a white studio professionally and never had any issues. In a darkroom the safe light(s) provides the illumination, there's no rule to say you just need one safe light, you use them where needed. in the studio you add and subtract light as required, one of the main issues is window light.

A white studio painted in matt paint shouldn't cause you any concerns. However, black out blinds in the studio are a good investment if you have a window to stop stray light creeping in. Black studios can feel very oppressive, there are a number of professional models who don't like working in them. Ipso facto.
 
I agree about the psychological effects on people when the studio is black - which is why a lot of people compromise by going for grey.

How important it is to avoid a white studio depends mainly on the size of the studio - if your studio is an aircraft hanger with a massively high ceiling and distant walls, it doesn't matter at all, if it's a small room with a low ceiling it is vitally important.
 
Thanks for all the replies - I'm glad I posed the query because between you, you have all raised issues that my internet searches hadn't picked up.

Don't think I need bother too much about professional models though:). But glad you raised the general point because total black would be too much for my own sanity (let alone my marriage:))

I had assumed that white was the way to go so that bouncing light off the walls would be easy and no problems of colour cast. But I guess that a correct(ish) shade of grey would be OK from that point of view too.

Given the shape of the room I could always have one end grey and the other black plus black out blind.

Any further comments welcomed including any on best use of layout, if any.:).
 
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Just converted my garage. I painted walls grey and ceiling black. Matt emulsion. Pleased with the result. Not as depressing as all black.
 
Anther vote for grey as a good compromise of controlling reflected light vs the place feeling like a dungeon.
Noticing the dimensions, assuming you're putting backgrounds across the end wall - if you wnt the maximum use of the width use a wall mounted background support system - you can cut down 9ft rolls using a wood saw to fit your space.
Depending on where the door is can you arrange it so you can shoot from the hall/landing(?) through the door.
Wall mounted booms can be a good way of mounting lights in a compact space.
 
I'd recommend grey too. With the option of blackout blinds if absolutely necessary.
 
I have never worked in a small studio space and white has always been fine in commercial studios.
However I always had a number of large "flats" black or grey on one side, and white on the reverse.
these can be used as reflectors or shades to manipulate the light.
Large sheets of builders insulation would serve for this in a small studio.

In Darkrooms I have always gone for White, accept for the small area around enlargers, that might reflect white light back on to the easel.
 
Thanks for the further suggestions - some good stuff.

Black ceiling and grey walls sound doable*, with black/white/grey builder's boards to give flexibility.

Proper blackout blinds with sealed top, bottom and sides sound expensive so that will be something to decide on later.

Wall mounted background support is worth considering too.

Don't think shooting through door will be necessary but thanks for raising the point.

Wall mounted booms seem to require a brick wall - there is one but its at the wrong (window) end.

Any further suggestions still welcomed:)






*update .......HM (Higher Management) will only accept all grey - exact shade yet to be agreed:)
 
Apparently Dulux IceStorm paint is the best paint to use in a studio
 
chrisc said:
Apparently Dulux IceStorm paint is the best paint to use in a studio
Click to expand...

Thanks for such a specific reference - just googled it and ,as you say, it seems to be the one to go for.

EDIT: Newer references say Ice Storm2
 
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Paul-H said:
Hi

The old recomendation used to be paint your studio black and your darkroom white.

One you wanted to make the most of the small amount of light produced by your safe light and the other you wanted to control reflected light so you knew what direction it was comming from.

Paul
Click to expand...

Agree, though as Garry says, if the studio is big enough the colour/tone doesn't matter.

My ideal for a smallish studio would be white, with black drapes that could be selectively open/closed, maybe grey drapes for a more pleasant environment. Then you can use the white to bounce off, as giant softbox or reflector etc. That works well and can come in handy. An idea I had, though never seen done, would be white with red/blue/green pattern drapes to brighten things up a bit, which would combine to mid-grey as far as tinting the light is concerned. I saw the perfect material in a village hall recently. Or yellow/magenta/cyan drapes, same idea but lighter tone.

Edit: definitely avoid strong coloured furnishings like a red sofa and green curtains. The light will pick up on those and cause real problems ;)
 
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The (proposed) studio is about 13' x 8' so wall colour is likely to be important.

Curtains sound a bit pricey and I am thinking that builders foam board - 2.4m x1.2m x 5 cm - about £16 from wickes will be a better option. If I paint one side white and the other side black then that will be cheaper and more flexible in use - unless anyone has a better idea:)
 
Elines said:
The (proposed) studio is about 13' x 8' so wall colour is likely to be important.

Curtains sound a bit pricey and I am thinking that builders foam board - 2.4m x1.2m x 5 cm - about £16 from wickes will be a better option. If I paint one side white and the other side black then that will be cheaper and more flexible in use - unless anyone has a better idea:)
Click to expand...
Look up 'V flats' (y)
 
Elines said:
The (proposed) studio is about 13' x 8' so wall colour is likely to be important.

Curtains sound a bit pricey and I am thinking that builders foam board - 2.4m x1.2m x 5 cm - about £16 from wickes will be a better option. If I paint one side white and the other side black then that will be cheaper and more flexible in use - unless anyone has a better idea:)
Click to expand...

Yes, good idea, widely used. Paint them with emulsion, not spray paint. Even when it says safe for plastics, the propellant will melt the surface (as I discovered).
 
Thanks for the further info - temporary gaffer tape hinges to create vflats should work well and useful tip on the spray paint
 
Elines said:
Thanks for the further info - temporary gaffer tape hinges to create vflats should work well and useful tip on the spray paint
Click to expand...

Give them a good coat of paint right around the edges - gaffa tape won't stick to the bare surface :thumbs:
 
HoppyUK said:
Give them a good coat of paint right around the edges - gaffa tape won't stick to the bare surface (y)
Click to expand...
Ahh - another good tip - thanks
 
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