Lights and Sound: Reflecting plates

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Reflecting plates

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Lights and Sound
Forum Discription: Technical discussion
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5455
Printed Date: 12/04/24 at 2:14pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Reflecting plates

Posted By: mary051756
Subject: Reflecting plates
Date 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

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

Replies:

Posted By: David McCall
Date 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

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David M

Posted By: TimmyP1955
Date 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.)

Posted By: jayzehr
Date 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.

Posted By: bmiller025
Date 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.

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

Posted By: rabbifrank
Date 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.