Duplicating Backdrops

[carrbowl]

I have been asked to duplicate a headshot. I'm not worried about duplicating the headshot per se...just the back drop . Any suggestions?

[Dobick]

Looks like a black seamless, with a background light using a blue gel.

[carrbowl]

never used a gel before....wonder if a green screen would work???

[andyz]

Worst comes to worst that should be doable in post.

[kronos2818]

Why don't you blue screen it. The background is just a variation of blue. Just put him in front of a blue screen then remove the background and add a dark to light blue gradient background layer in your image editor program and your done :)

[carrbowl]

Uh...because I have a green screen, not a blue screen!!! :)

But that sounds like it might work!! thanks for the idea

[Dobick]

I would try the darkest background available to you (be it black or smoke grey) pull him a bit away from it, then point one of your strobes at the background. The gels are really easy, you can usually attach them with masking tape, and it just changes the color of the light.

Is this a time sensitive request -- meaning that you need a way to accomplish this tomorrow? or do you have a week or so?

[carrbowl]

He is coming over next Tuesday...so I'm going to pull the lights out tonight and see if what I can do. I have a black backdrop....

[rhoffart]

Black backdrop for sure ...
http://rhoffart.smugmug.com/gallery/...04305533_w7XNw

[carrbowl]

So did you use gels to change the colors?

[rhoffart]

Originally Posted by carrbowl

So did you use gels to change the colors?

Yes, that is all on black paper ... gels on an AlienBee AB-800 at different levels of power

[carrbowl]

Just wanted to say thanks for the help...got the job, got the photo, and it is on the website and you cannot tell my photo from the rest..woohoo!!! Funny thing is, he came in, sat in the chair, took one photo, asked to look at it, and said ok, that's good. I talked him into one more, and we were done.