Where to buy Vinyl backdrops?

HamezUK

HamezUK

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Daniel
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Hi guys,

Long time lurker first time poster. The time has come to replace my vinyl and I've been looking into the 2in1's that a lot of companies have started marketing recently. My old vinyl was from Bessel but have seen this one and it's nearly £20 cheaper for what I want. Anybody used this company and their vinyls? Are they any good?

Cheers in advance.
 
Don't know, I've just bought one myself at what I think is a reasonable price, and I'm hoping it's a good'un.

I expect it will arrive tomorrow. I'll report back.
 
I went for the cheaper one from XLS and providing it arrives in time I will be using it this weekend. I'll pop a review and some pics on here to help everyone else out.
 
Please report back as I'm considering some.
I currently have muslin backgrounds for small shoots 1.8m wide but have a family portrait to do next month so need wider.

The 2 sided stuff could be handy.
 
I bought a 2m x 6m one from them last week, arrived the next day. Looks okay stuff for casual use though I've not been able to use it yet as you need a pretty sturdy support stand to support it and the cheap one I was using with backcloths just wasn't anywhere near up to the job. Not sure what the gsm is but it's pretty thin stuff. Should do the job well enough though I think. Will also post when I've used it in anger. I'm hoping my stand will arrive today.
 
In addition to this, I contacted xlstudiolighting today as the heavy duty support I'd ordered on Monday hadn't arrived. Received a very apologetic email about the delay and they refunded the courier charge and are including a reflector with the stand which they said will be despatched tomorrow.
 
I've also had an email from XLS today saying that there will be a delay with my delivery. They reckon it'll be here Monday. Am gutted, was looking forward to testing it out this weekend. Will definitely write a review on it and post some example pics when it finally arrives.
 
It's nice when you get a response like that.
 
Mine arrived today so will be using it tomorrow and will post some example images for you when I'm done :)
 
They seem a bit steep, a local sign company have quoted half that price for the exact same product.

I could have one side printed with a design of my choice too for less than the one linked in the OP!
 
It isn't about price, it's about fitness for purpose.
If the piece of vinyl supplied by a signmaker (or anyone else) at half the price sags, is too shiny, too lightweight, textured or has any of the other faults that make it unfit for purpose then it isn't cheap.
 
Dan / Garry have either of you used it yet? Can you see a weave in it like you can in the main pic of the ebay ad??
 
Mank said:
Dan / Garry have either of you used it yet? Can you see a weave in it like you can in the main pic of the ebay ad??
Click to expand...

No, I haven't unpacked it yet, will try to do it when I get to work tomorrow.
 
Had a quick look today and first impressions are that the vinyl is very thin and having the black on the other side makes the white side darker than white. This finish of the vinyl is very smooth. I will have some images for you on here when I am home tomorrow.
 
Hoping to the results of the vinyls on here soon, as Gary said,, fit for purpose..
 
Garry Edwards said:
No, I haven't unpacked it yet, will try to do it when I get to work tomorrow.
Click to expand...

HamezUK said:
Had a quick look today and first impressions are that the vinyl is very thin and having the black on the other side makes the white side darker than white. This finish of the vinyl is very smooth. I will have some images for you on here when I am home tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Thanks guys.

If either of you could have get a close up detail shot of the vinyl too that would be great! I'm wanting to replace my vinyl but want something better. Don't really want to buy the same quality again if I can. :)
 
The heavy duty stand and reflector arrived this morning so I'll hopefully have time to put it up for a bit later and take a few shots with a mini review. Only had time to have a quick look at the stand but it's 'very' solid and sturdy and from a quick look at one of the supports it'll confortably go to 3m high.
 
Morning all:

Just a quick couple of images to see the sort of results you can expect. Just to point out I am FAR from an experienced portrait photographer so they are not amazing images. Just something to give you guys an idea of the vinyl.


DSC_0045-4 by HamezUK, on Flickr


DSC_0084-2 by HamezUK, on Flickr
 
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Okay, finally got a chance to try out the heavy duty backdrop support and 2m x 6m double sided vinyl backdrop purchased fromXLStudiolighting via ebay.

Heavy Duty Support stand - £110 incl delivery
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/XL-Pro-3m-Heavy-Duty-Background-Support-Stand-/150844758429?pt=UK_Photography_StudioEquipment_RL&hash=item231f0c599d

This is a very sturdy, and quite weighty, piece of kit and will apparently support up to 15kg in eight. The 2x6m vinyl roll is specced at 7.75kg so no problem there. The stand is specced at 3m in height though if hanging anything more than a cloth from it I'd want sandbags on the bottom at that height.

The centre support comes in three sections. You can screw the two end sections together to support a 2m backdrop or add in a middle section to allow use of a 2.7m backdrop.

Backdrop - 2x6m dual sided vinyl - £85 incl delivery
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2m-x-6m-W...=UK_Photography_Backdrops&hash=item2323b18c99

Now started the problems

The aluminium core that the vinyl is provided on is a fair bit longer than the vinyl itself which, unfortunately, means that if space means you can only use the two ends of the support stand you can't actually put the support onto the uprights as the core impinges over the support ends.
See pics below

IMG_8496 by mikeplow1961, on Flickr


IMG_8499 by mikeplow1961, on Flickr

You can also see, in the above pic, the texture of the vinyl. It has a very slight raised square texture to it.

So, with much swearing, out with the hacksaw to get the roll to be able to go on the 2.2 metre centre support. (In theory I could have unscrewed the two support pieces from each other some but having a weak spot in the middle sort of negates the idea of a heavy duty stand if you ask me)


IMG_8502 by mikeplow1961, on Flickr

20 minutes later with 10mm hacked off each end, I was able to get it onto the supports.

As you can probably see, and I will attest, this stuff is very thin. I don't have a micrometer but I doubt it would be anywhere near 2mm, more like 1 and a bit.
As we quickly found, if you are using this on a carpet, even a relatively short pile one like the one on this room, you are going to get wrinkles, folds and shadows.


IMG_8533 by mikeplow1961, on Flickr


IMG_8536 by mikeplow1961, on Flickr

Putting weights on the corners may help, though I'm not so sure it would on carpet.

Switched round to black and it's, to my mind, a little reflective. I have been using one of those 'non woven material' sheets and that absorbed more light than this stuff. Obviously, the further your subject can get away from the backdrop the better and we're a bit tight on space but this is definitely a bit worse than the plastic/material hybrid.


IMG_8557 by mikeplow1961, on Flickr

Will be experimenting a bit more later and will post any further thoughts I may have.
 
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That vinyl looks v.similar to a sample sent to me from these people,photovinyl.co.uk.The vinyl is quite thin and you can easily see the markings/pattern on the surface.The one I bought from Bessel is far better quality
 
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I don't have a lot of choice re carpet, the only two rooms that have enough floor space to use the vinyl are carpetted and it's just too cold to shoot out on the patio. :-) I didn't think it would be as bad as it is. I'm wondering if maybe I should buy an offcut of thick vinyl to go under it. Any advice or ideas?
 
I'm in the same boat Mike. Definitely disappointed with the quality. With regards to the carpet under it. Maybe a sheet of MDF or something to stick under it?
 
HamezUK said:
I'm in the same boat Mike. Definitely disappointed with the quality. With regards to the carpet under it. Maybe a sheet of MDF or something to stick under it?
Click to expand...

Yes, that's what I'm considering too. I think I may have some or some thickish plywood from when I built a floating wall for the tv so will post how it goes.

For occasional use I think it's going to be fine but anyone who is planning on using it daily would be best avoiding. Too thin to stand up to any real kind of wear.
 
As luck would have it, I had 3 pieces of 4ft x 3ft pieces of hardboard in the box room which have done wonders to solve the problem. Something a wee bit thicker would be better but shows that it improves matters a great deal.


IMG_8575 by mikeplow1961, on Flickr


IMG_8576 by mikeplow1961, on Flickr

These two were lit by a couple of strobes each at approx 45 degrees to the subject, no backdrop lighting.
 
I use vinyl on nursery floor carpet all the time!

All it needs is a pack of cheap Wickes click together fake wood flooring on top of the carpet then lay the vinyl over that and then perspex over the vinyl. Tape the vinyl down to prevent tripping and movement.

If you don't lay the click together flooring then firstly the vinyl depresses when people sit or stand on it which both looks rubbish, can stretch the vinyl (if its the thin stuff) and the vinyl walks itself across the floor on the knapp of the carpet so looks all creased and wrinkled.

The vinyl I use is very thick and does not ripple or sag on the stand. I have a 4" cardboard carpet roll on which mine hangs so is as straight and rigid a setup as it can be :thumbs:
 
Hmm looks exactly like my vinyl from Bessel :(

I was hoping for it to be a little bit better.

I use my vinyl on carpet but I put my MDF boards underneath it so its solid where people will stand/sit.

Really not sure where to buy from now. I really want to replace my vinyl but was hoping for a better quality. I don't mind paying for better quality but no idea where to get it from!!!
 
I got my vinyl from here http://www.seal-seam.co.uk

Very thick and very happy with it for nearly two years now of heavy use.

You should try the click together flooring under the vinyl, it's quick to put down and easy to take up and store/carry about
 
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Mank said:
Hmm looks exactly like my vinyl from Bessel :(

I was hoping for it to be a little bit better.

I use my vinyl on carpet but I put my MDF boards underneath it so its solid where people will stand/sit.

Really not sure where to buy from now. I really want to replace my vinyl but was hoping for a better quality. I don't mind paying for better quality but no idea where to get it from!!!
Click to expand...

Getting a little worried about how much you're unhappy with your vinyl :D
 
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