Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Reflecting plates

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mary051756
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Joined: 1/31/08
Location: United States
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Topic: Reflecting plates
Posted: 2/27/13 at 10:39am

I am having a problem with plastic plates reflecting light back up under actors faces. I am using the Plastic disposable plates - the ones that look real - and I have tried spraying them with hairspray and painting them with a matte modge podge - but they still reflect the light up - any ideas would be helpful!

thanks...mary

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” EMERSON

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David McCall
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Joined: 1/28/09
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Posted: 3/04/13 at 7:15pm

Use sandpaper to reduce the sheen.

Paint the plate with a low sheen paint.

Teach actors to tilt the pate to angles that don't cause problems.

Just guessing

David M

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TimmyP1955
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Joined: 12/30/09
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Posted: 3/23/13 at 5:25am

Perhaps chalkboard paint would be sufficiently non-reflective? (They make it in decorator colors for interior walls now, so your kids can draw all over the place.)

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jayzehr
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Posted: 3/23/13 at 3:50pm

Do they still make those cardboard disposable plates? I guess somewhere the hairspray idea must have worked for someone. I had a problem last year with a refrigerator reflecting light on stage. We drenched that thing with hairspray and it had zero effect.

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bmiller025
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Posted: 3/26/13 at 8:22pm

Its not just the sheen of the plates that reflect light. It is just as much the color value of the surface. White surfaces are going to reflect light regardless of how glossy they are. A dark colored plate will reflect less light due to the color of the plate, but if it has a glossy surface, that will reflect light. The use of hairspray or dulling spray will make more of a difference when the surface being treated is dark.

http://www.brianmiller.biz/BrianDesign.htm

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rabbifrank
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Joined: 7/20/12
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Posted: 4/23/13 at 10:07am

I agree with Brian. Could you paint the entire top surface in darker, food shapes? Say an irregular green area to represent peas, etc. (Sort of a camo effect.) You could still place actual food props on the plate and reduce the glare without making a solid black or dark surface.

Good fortune.

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Lights and Sound
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Lights and Sound

Author	Message
mary051756 Lead Joined: 1/31/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 47	Topic: Reflecting plates Posted: 2/27/13 at 10:39am
	I am having a problem with plastic plates reflecting light back up under actors faces. I am using the Plastic disposable plates - the ones that look real - and I have tried spraying them with hairspray and painting them with a matte modge podge - but they still reflect the light up - any ideas would be helpful! thanks...mary
	“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” EMERSON

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David McCall Celebrity Joined: 1/28/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 299	Posted: 3/04/13 at 7:15pm
	Use sandpaper to reduce the sheen. Paint the plate with a low sheen paint. Teach actors to tilt the pate to angles that don't cause problems. Just guessing
	David M
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TimmyP1955 Lead Joined: 12/30/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 37	Posted: 3/23/13 at 5:25am
	Perhaps chalkboard paint would be sufficiently non-reflective? (They make it in decorator colors for interior walls now, so your kids can draw all over the place.)
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jayzehr Celebrity Joined: 8/11/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 537	Posted: 3/23/13 at 3:50pm
	Do they still make those cardboard disposable plates? I guess somewhere the hairspray idea must have worked for someone. I had a problem last year with a refrigerator reflecting light on stage. We drenched that thing with hairspray and it had zero effect.
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bmiller025 Star Joined: 10/06/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 82	Posted: 3/26/13 at 8:22pm
	Its not just the sheen of the plates that reflect light. It is just as much the color value of the surface. White surfaces are going to reflect light regardless of how glossy they are. A dark colored plate will reflect less light due to the color of the plate, but if it has a glossy surface, that will reflect light. The use of hairspray or dulling spray will make more of a difference when the surface being treated is dark.
	http://www.brianmiller.biz/BrianDesign.htm
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rabbifrank Player Joined: 7/20/12 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 14	Posted: 4/23/13 at 10:07am
	I agree with Brian. Could you paint the entire top surface in darker, food shapes? Say an irregular green area to represent peas, etc. (Sort of a camo effect.) You could still place actual food props on the plate and reduce the glare without making a solid black or dark surface. Good fortune.
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