black background for still lives

[Frank Petronio]

http://www.setshop.com/

and

Photoshop

[sharpics]

You can find your answer here studio photography equipment and photo studio accessories.

[arca andy]

Hi, heres my two pennyworth
First put a long lens on your camera..250/300mm if using 5x4. Then set up and light your object be sure to leave a good distance behind your set for the background. I try not to use glass as a support because of reflections and dust with a black background. Then set up your background as far away as possible making sure you have no light from the set hitting it. My black backgrounds tend to be either black velvet or if a larger spread is needed then plywood painted with blackboard paint.
I think the key is using a long lens as this means your background can be much further away than with a standard lens due to the foreshortening effect
If all the above fails then Photoshop is the answer!
Have fun

[Ed Richards]

Also angling the background a little so there is no light from the subject reflected to the camera.

[Doug Keyes]

I use black felt, not the cheap stuff as that reflects too much light. True wool felt doesn't reflect anything but the dust that settles on it. I use a lint roller to keep the dust off. I'm shooting books laying flat, looking down at the felt so it's definitely lit well (strobes) and in focus but it completely goes away.