V Flats

[macandal]

I hope this forum can accommodate DIY projects not necessarily exclusive to LF. This could actually be used for photography (and video?) in general, regardless of format.

I want to make some v flats, 2 of them (i.e., 4 boards), and one of the best I've found is this one made out of PVC:

DIY V-Flats (http://photography.tutsplus.com/tutorials/build-your-own-diy-v-flat-light-modifiers--photo-14969)

I like it because, I guess, it's light. I am hoping I can take it apart for easy transport/storage. The only part I would change is, I would prefer not to use boards. Boards are not so easy to transport. Store maybe, but you have to make sure they don't get wet/bent, etc. I was thinking of using some kind of cloth/fabric. My initial use, the project I'm building this for is to block out light. In the future, I would imagine I would use them also to bounce light. For now I need black fabric for my purposes.

Any thoughts? Could you guys suggest some fabric that would work for my purposes. Or if you don't think I should use fabric for my purposes, I would like to hear that too. Fabric, just as the PVC pipes, makes it easier to store/transport. That's why I want to use it.

Thanks.

[Peter De Smidt]

V-flats are super useful in a studio. Outside, though, you're making a hard to transport sail. :)

When doing location life style portraiture, I take two big "silks", one white, one black. Mine are made out of ripstop nylon. I gaf tape or clamp them up where needed. Mine are about 8ft by 16ft.

Collapsible reflectors are pretty cheap and good, and you could make a type of hinge for the top and bottom that would hold two reflectors in a 'v'. Or just use a stand. Probably with a sand bag.... or ideally have someone hold it. Make sure it won't cause damage if blown down.

[vinny]

The only fabric you need is Ultrabounce. Black on one side/white (not shiny white) on the other. Water/rip resistant and sold by the yard. It's the standard bounce material in the film industry. It's also sold in pre-made sizes with grommets for pre-made frames. typically starting at 6x6, 8x8, 12x12, 12x20, 20x20, and so on. 1" Square aluminum stock is the standard for frames as well. You can buy frames/kits or just the corners and "ears" which rest in the stands. You could also use 1" round stock and guy speed-rail fittings for corners if you won't be using it in windy conditions.

[Peter De Smidt]

Unless you're using the 'reflector' also for diffusion, which I often do.

[macandal]

V-flats are super useful in a studio. Outside, though, you're making a hard to transport sail. :)Peter, I'm not using them "outside," I'm using them in a makeshift studio, i.e., my friend's living room, so I'm transporting them there. That's what I liked about the PVC flats in the link I posted above, they appear easy to transport if I ever need them on location.

Thanks.

[macandal]

Collapsible reflectors are pretty cheap and good, and you could make a type of hinge for the top and bottom that would hold two reflectors in a 'v'. Or just use a stand. Probably with a sand bag.... or ideally have someone hold it. Make sure it won't cause damage if blown down.Is this (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Interfit-INT271-Flat-Panel-Black-White-Reflector-/371480897839?hash=item567dfca92f:g:2-MAAOSwc3ZUpHK7) what you're talking about?

[Peter De Smidt]

Something like that....but as I said before, what I use are big sheets of translucent white and black rip stop nylon. They can be bounced off of, well, the white one anyway, and they can diffuse, with, say, a window on the other side, or a flash head..... You can mount them to stands, but often you can clamp, tie, tape, drape....them in a good place. You just stuff them in a sack. There's no frame to carry around.

[Taija71A]

Mario, I recently completely redid my shooting space. I found the following articles very informative!
Therefore, to get you started... ;)

Tinker Tubes -- Personal Lighting Systems by Dean Collins.
http://media.software-cinema.com/documents/tt-book.pdf

Fabrics:
Modern Studio Equipment -- Flags, Nets & Diffusion & Technical Fabrics. Pages 52 - 54.
http://modernstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Modern-Catalog-2015-51415-For-Web.pdf

Matthews -- New Fabric Specifications.
http://www.msegrip.com/articles/new-fabric-specifications/

Best regards, -Tim.

[macandal]

Mario, I recently completely redid my shooting space. I found the following articles very informative!
Therefore, to get you started... ;)

Tinker Tubes -- Personal Lighting Systems by Dean Collins.
http://media.software-cinema.com/documents/tt-book.pdf

Fabrics:
Modern Studio Equipment -- Flags, Nets & Diffusion & Technical Fabrics. Pages 52 - 54.
http://modernstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Modern-Catalog-2015-51415-For-Web.pdf

Matthews -- New Fabric Specifications.
http://www.msegrip.com/articles/new-fabric-specifications/

Best regards, -Tim.Tim, thanks.

My god, those frames on pages 9 and 13 ... But that's a major project. Still, good to have this resource. I like the Matthews solid fabrics. Check their prices on BH and they're pricey.

[macandal]

There is a fabrics store here in San Francisco where I could go buy the fabric. I guess my question is, what is a good inexpensive black fabric to get?

[Peter De Smidt]

The pro movie stuff is great. It's good to know about. Nonetheless, you can do a lot for still photography with something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-Collapsible-Reflector-Silver-Diffuser/dp/B003Y2KCAY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1453500248&sr=8-2&keywords=fotodiox+reflector

[Peter De Smidt]

What is the purpose of the black? Black velvet or felt will probably be the darkest, but I use black ripstop nylon in my location kit. For me it's black enough, and it's strong and light. I often use it to cut down glare on people's glasses. Go to the store and browse. I had a local person sew the fabrics into larger pieces, and so there is a seam running down the middle, hemmed and reinforced edges, especially the corners.

[Taija71A]

... Nonetheless, you can do a lot for still photography with something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-Collapsible-Reflector-Silver-Diffuser/dp/B003Y2KCAY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1453500248&sr=8-2&keywords=fotodiox+reflector

Peter is correct! ;)

Depending upon the Frame Sizes that you require Mario...
'Collapsible Reflectors' are another great alternative -- And offer a lot of 'Bang for the Buck!' (*Especially... 'On Location').

[IanG]

I worked alongside (he was my sub tenant) a top UK Commercial and Advertising photographer, his flats were 8x4ft sheets of expanded polystyrene used for insulation, cheap simple, very flexible. lite weight, so simple and easy :D

Ian

[vinny]

I worked alongside (he was my sub tenant) a top UK Commercial and Advertising photographer, his flats were 8x4ft sheets of expanded polystyrene used for insulation, cheap simple, very flexible. lite weight, so simple and easy :D

Ian

Same thing we use in the motion picture world but we call it "bead board". We tape it to a same-sized piece of foam core and have clamps (platypus) to attach it to stands, etc. It's cheap and provides a much softer source than the surface of foam core would. Every grip department carries this stuff in a several sizes like 2x2, 2x4, 4x4, and 4x8 often with Roscoflex glued to the back of some for a hard reflector.

The nice think about Ultrabounce is it's nearly opaque, and doesn't shred (if not sewn) like raw ripstop or similar fabrics.

If you purchase white ripstop, be aware that not all of this stuff is neutral white. It may show a color cast when you put a light through it.

[Fr. Mark]

The PVC construction manual is amazing!
There are even lower cost options for light controls for table top work.

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2013/11/50-diy-projects-for-lighting.html?m=1

[Drew Wiley]

PVC tubing and velcro tabs on the fabric or whatever.