OT: Best source for white foam backed screen

[Mike Kujbida]

Norman, from another video forum, here’s an inexpensive way to do it.

You can make a more durable, semi-portable/storable cove by using sheet vinyl flooring, any cheap, ugly stuff will do as long as the backing is smooth, because that’s the side you use. Prep the surface with a base coat of Kilz brand latex (not oil!) based primer, use a nice even roller application. Then go over that with a latex flat or eggshell white or light gray topcoat. Sandwich one edge of the vinyl between two 2×4’s with screws, then hang that bar from two sturdy light stands or bolt it to the ceiling or wall. Let the excess material swoop down naturally into a catenary curve onto the floor. Save a quart of the paint for later touch-ups. You can walk on this with street shoes and it will last a long time, compared to paper, and is easy to clean or touch-up. You can roll it up to store or take elsewhere. Weighs much more than the paper does, though. OTOH, is mostly immune to wind if the stands are anchored. Get tired of the white, chroma green will go on that Kilz layer very nicely. Don’t forget the primer layer of Kilz first or you’ll be sorry. If you paint the cove a medium gray, or use medium gray paper, you can light it with colored gels and make it any color of limbo you want, BTW.
My opinion is if you want to go white, chromakeying it is easier, but if you insist on actual white, don’t use a snow white but a light flat gray, and bring it up to full white by controlling your lighting.

[Norman Willis]

Mike, as usual, the Vegas forum is a lifesaver.

I called the local Home Depot. They said they have a foam-backed ‘floating vinyl’ flooring, on which the backing is pretty much a light-cream-colored off-white foam as it is. She said it should roll and unroll real easily, and I might not even have to paint it.

It sounds like I need to get in the truck, and go check it out 🙂

Thanks!!

Norman Willis
http://www.nazareneisrael.org

[Mike Kujbida]

Norman, I’m always glad to help out.
I just hope that Eric won’t be upset by my suggestion 🙂
BTW, if you do decide to paint it, use the Kilz brand that was suggested.
I’ve seen that name come up numerous times on related articles so it must be good stuff.

[Norman Willis]

Hey Mike.

>>My opinion is if you want to go white, chromakeying it is easier, but if you insist on actual white, don’t use a snow white but a light flat gray, and bring it up to full white by controlling your lighting.

In your opinion, you could do everything in Eric’s tutorial easier on green?

Also, how does this keyer compare to the Boris keyer?

https://fxhome.com/compositelab-pro

Norman Willis
http://www.nazareneisrael.org

[Mike Kujbida]

Norman, if I wanted a white backdrop, I’d definitely follow Eric’s tutorial.
That way, I wouldn’t have any chroma keying issues to worry about whatsoever.

I’ve only used the keyer in Vegas (and on a dpsVelocity on my previous job).
Given the prices & specs, I’d think that the keyer in Boris would be much better.

[Stephen Mann]

I’ve been clearing a wall in my studio for exactly this kind of installation. I found the lowest priced Vinyl flooring I could at Home Depot for 44-cents per square foot. Mine will be long enough to roll out if needed for a walk-on, but it will be “permanent” in that I won’t have to mess with hangars and cloth or fabric.

Good suggestion about the Kilz. We use it all the time in our home paint projects, but it never occurred to me that it would also help the paint adhere to the rubber backing.

I have planned to paint it near-chroma green (the closest that Home Depot paint department can match a chroma cloth), but, would white let me use chroma green gels on the lights? (Or chroma blue if needed?)

Any thoughts?

Steve Mann
MannMade Digital Video
http://www.mmdv.com

[Stephen Mann]

“I called the local Home Depot. They said they have a foam-backed ‘floating vinyl’ flooring”

Norm, could you get for me the Home Depot SKU for this flooring? What is the $/sq ft. that it costs?

I found vinyl flooring there for 44-cents per sq. ft. that will work for me. 12-ft wide and 18-ft long is my plan. (I am making a walk-on green screen).

Steve Mann
MannMade Digital Video
http://www.mmdv.com

[Norman Willis]

Hi Steve.

I went to Home Depot. I looked at the rubber backed vinyl, and it is not suitable. It has holes every so often that would show up on camera, ruining the flat white screen (making it look ‘perforated’).

I decided about the same thing: I think I will clear a wall, and will mount the top of the vinyl to the wall with a 2 x 4 x 12. The vinyl I will primer with Kilz latex, and then topcoat with Behr Elastomeric (i.e., rubberized) white paint. They said to get the white-white, and not the tintable. Before I roll it out, I will lay down a piece of paneling (to support it on the carpet).

The paint man at Home Depot said if I really wanted to go for gold, I should apply the paint with a sprayer, with a 25-29/1000th’s tip. I don’t know if that is necessary. I’m thinking a roller will do just fine.

Norman Willis
http://www.nazareneisrael.org

[Norman Willis]

>>I have planned to paint it near-chroma green (the closest that Home Depot paint department can match a chroma cloth), but, would white let me use chroma green gels on the lights? (Or chroma blue if needed?)

I also have questions about the keying process. My editor thinks there is no actual keying involved; but that one just cuts away the parts one does not need, and overlays it on a white background. If one uses a pure white background, that may be true, but I think Eric does key, because he uses some light blue backgrounds on his sets.

https://vimeo.com/4436002

Where is Eric when you need him, anyhow? 🙂

Norman Willis
http://www.nazareneisrael.org

Some contents or functionalities here are not available due to your cookie preferences!

This happens because the functionality/content marked as “Vimeo framework” uses cookies that you choosed to keep disabled. In order to view this content or use this functionality, please enable cookies: click here to open your cookie preferences.

[Stephen Mann]

The vinyl I looked at had a smooth rubber backing. Some of the more expensive stuff had a pock-marked back with dimples every inch or so. I suspect that this is on purpose to make the adhesive stick better.

So, if you can get the Home Depot SKU for the material you found, I would like to compare.

I think a paint roller will be sufficient because the background should be far enough from your subject that it would be out of focus.

It’s quite possible that you could do infinite white with masking only, no keying. But I already have a shoot scheduled for the new green-screen wall – a music video overlay.

Steve Mann
MannMade Digital Video
http://www.mmdv.com