Set Design and Construction: Printed backdrops

Print Page | Close Window

Printed backdrops

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Set Design and Construction
Forum Discription: Post your questions or suggestions about designing or building a set here.
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3852
Printed Date: 11/23/24 at 11:52pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Printed backdrops

Posted By: eagle10
Subject: Printed backdrops
Date Posted: 2/26/09 at 11:12pm

Hello,

I would like to ask if it would work to have a backdrop printed rather than painted on canvas. Like printed on plastic like material, like a banner. Would it be alright?

I thought that the lighting wouldn't work or that when a spot light is used on it, plastic would reflect so that it becomes an unclear image. Has anyone used a printed banner like back drop before rather than a painted canvas one?

Replies:

Posted By: spikesgirl
Date Posted: 2/27/09 at 6:08pm

Um, you do know that you are talking about racking up some serious costs with a printed backdrop. i'm not sure that they are printed on plastic. This only one I ever dealt with was on cloth. Is there a reason you don't want to use fabric? What show is it for? perhaps it would cheaper to just rent.

Posted By: vickifrank
Date Posted: 2/27/09 at 8:51pm

On a similar note, my company prints scrims. Yes, you can use them opaquely like a drop by simply lighting it from the front. And it is far cheaper than people think. Our scrim is particularly well suited to it. To read about that try this link: http://www.studio-productions-inc.com/white_papers/wp_printing_scrim.html - http://www.studio-productions-inc.com/white_papers/wp_printing_scrim.html

Printing is not as cheap as projecting. And we do have a few preprinted scenes for rent.

Back to your question. I'd not use plastic because it would most likely reflect. Most plastics have a shiny not matte surface, so you'd get a spot of glare that would be distracting.

-------------
_____________

http://www.studio-productions-inc.com
1-800-359-2964

The theater scrim people

Posted By: Nanette
Date Posted: 3/01/09 at 8:43pm

We were going to use printed images for a touring show last summer but couldn't get the images to enlarge properly. They went all pixel on us. We had no way to project the images as we were in an outdoor venue. Our scenic artist doesn't do portraits so that's why we were going to use the projected images. We ended up not using scenery; a good thing as it 1)poured and 2)was extremely windy.

FYI ... some copy places print banners on paper, but you need an original image for it to enlarge properly

-------------
In a world of margarine, be butter!

Posted By: eagle10
Date Posted: 3/06/09 at 4:44am

Thanks for your replies. I have found out that it is not as expensive as I thought. And it is possible to print on cloth instead of plastic. Buying canvas cloth and then enlarging a design ourselves and then painting it with acrylic may even be more expensive than printing it. It sure saves time. And as we are a school and not professionals, enlarging a design ourselves seems like a daunting task. I have done it before but the result wasn't so satisfying. Btw, the backdrop would need to be 20' x 16'. I've looked into the possibility of renting but am not in the States so that's difficult and besides bookings are full.

The downside making a printed design is that the original design needs to be 1:1 proportion in photoshop and that makes for a huge file. There is also another way of using a special printing machine (used by publishing media) to print a painted design of A3 size enlarged.

Based on the above we tried to experiment with a design using A3 size. We haven't got to the stage where we would go to the printing because as yet, the design isn't detailed enough yet and using an A3 design wouldn't work. We are looking into the possibility of using photoshop.