Photo Backdrop Material Descriptions
Below is a description and close up photos of each of the different backdrop materials that we offer.
Here are some commonly asked questions:
Q: Which materials are glare free? A: All materials except vinyl.
Q: Which material has the most vibrant print? A: Poly paper.
Q: Which material is the lightest weight? A: Poly paper and cascade cloth.
Q: Do you offer vinyl or poly paper in larger sizes, like 8'x10'? A: Poly paper and vinyl are only available in up to 5' wide (5'x5', 7'x5', 10'x5', etc). Our larger sized backdrops are available in fabric, which can ship folded (and greatly reduces shipping cost).
Q: Which material is wrinkle free? A: All of our fabric options are wrinkle resistant. If it does get a crease in it, just toss it in the dryer for around 5-10 minutes on low heat with a damp cloth, checking on it often. A hand steamer will also remove wrinkles quickly.
**PLEASE NOTE: There may be some shrinkage with all fabric materials after printing. The size listed on our website is the size of the material before it's hemmed and printed.
All of our backdrops are printed in the U.S.A.
CASCADE CLOTH: Our Cascade Cloth backdrops are made of a wrinkle resistant, light weight, polyester material. It's 100% glare free and easy to hang. This is a lighter weight material than our Dream Fabric and is more budget friendly option. Cascade Cloth is semi-transparent. It can be hung from a blank wall or hung from a backdrop stand (with nothing directly behind it). It will not shoot see through. An in-use image of cascade cloth can be seen below. This material will arrive folded. Just toss it in the dryer on low heat for around 10-15 minutes with a damp cloth or use a hand steamer to remove any fold lines or wrinkles. Available for smaller 5' sized backdrops (5'x5', 6'x5', 7'x5', 8'x5'). Please note that sizes are approximate. Fabric can have some shrinkage after printing. Sizes listed are the size of the material before it's printed on.
PROS: 100% glare free, hangs beautifully, more budget friendly than dream fabric.
CONS: Not as wrinkle resistant as dream fabric or royal fleece. Wrinkles can be removed as described above.
In-use image of cascade cloth:
POLY PAPER: Poly Paper is a synthetic, coated paper that is very tough to tear and is an inexpensive option. It's much lighter weight than vinyl, canvas and fabric and can be hung from a backdrop stand with clamps or taped to a wall with blue painters tape. You must be careful when using poly paper as a floor drop, to be sure that you do not scratch or crease it. Unlike vinyl, Poly Paper is not suggested for cake smashes as it cannot be wiped clean. Poly paper is glare free and has a bright, vibrant print. Poly paper backdrops will have a small white border around the design (about a quarter of an inch) and is included in the size of the design. The backdrop can be tucked under the floor drop and the white border is not noticeable. CARE INSTRUCTIONS: Store rolled when not in use (we recommend in the shipping tube). Cannot be folded, washed, do not wipe clean or using any liquids with the backdrop. Poly paper can slightly "warp" during the printing processing causing a little bit of a wave to it when hung or laid out. This is not a defect and is typical.
PROS: Inexpensive, most vibrant print, light weight, ships a little cheaper than all other materials, glare free.
CONS: They can scratch when being used as a floor drop and must be handled with care to prevent creasing or scratching. Not recommend as a floor for high volume. Cannot be wiped clean like vinyl.
VINYL: Our matte vinyl backdrops are constructed of fabric hidden between a thin layer vinyl. It is a high quality, heavy duty vinyl. VInyl backdrops are very durable and work well as a backdrop or floor drop. They can be wiped clean with a damp cloth, making them great for cake smashes or messy shoots. The downside to vinyl is that the lighting does need to be adjusted when photographing darker backdrops because the ink can cause a sheen. If even minimal sheen is a concern for you we recommend going with Poly Paper or Canvas. We have customers who absolutely love vinyl because of it's durability. To remove unwanted sheen in Photoshop, use the burn tool to darken brighter areas. CARE INSTRUCTIONS: Store rolled when not in-use (we recommend in the shipping tube). Can be wiped clean with a damp cloth (no cleaners). Can be used for cake smashes but be careful for staining. Test any frostings on the corner of the backdrop first. Liquids can stain.
PROS: Inexpensive, the most durable for floor drops, can be wiped clean with a damp cloth.
CONS: Backdrops can have a sheen if the proper lighting or photo editing techniques are not used, especially with darker drops. Vinyl does not print as true to color as poly paper and canvas. Not glare free.
Royal Fleece (formerly "fabric"): (photos coming soon) All listings that state "fabric" as the material option will be fulfilled with Royal Fleece starting Oct. 18. 2024. This is a beautiful material and a more budget friendly option than dream fabric or our regular fleece. It's softer than our other fleece option and has some stretch to it. The sides are laser cut to prevent fraying and this also allowed for it to easily be pulled tight. This material does not include a pole pocket but can be hung from a backdrop stand with clamps. This backdrop does not have any hemming, which allows us to keep production costs down and the savings passed on to our customers. it photographs just as beautiful as our more expensive materials.
PROS: 100% GLARE FREE, vibrant print, hangs beautifully, available in large sizes, wrinkle resistant
CONS: Does not include a pole pocket.
DREAM FABRIC: Our "Dream Fabric" backdrops hang and photograph like a dream! The material is a 100% polyester fabric, meant for backdrops and has a little bit of a stretch to it. A pole pocket is included at the top for 8'x6'. 8'x8' and 10'x8' backdrops, for easy hanging. 8'x5', 7'x5', 6'x5' and 5'x5' backdrops are laser cut and do not include a pole pocket. Please note, the pole pocket will take away at least 2"-3" from the height of the backdrop. Dream Fabric is perfect for backdrops with scenes, where the material needs to be pulled tight. If it has fold lines, just toss it in the dryer on low heat for 5 - 10 minutes or use a hand steamer. Please note that sizes are approximate. Fabric can have some shrinkage after printing. Sizes listed are the size of the material before it's printed on.
In-use image using a Dream Fabric backdrop:
FLEECE: Our fleece backdrops feature a design on the front and the back side is white. They are glare free and wrinkle free so you can hang it and shoot right away. Fleece backdrops do not include a pole pocket. It can be hung from a backdrop stand with clamps. If the backdrop does get any hard creases just simply toss it in the dryer on low heat for around 10 minutes or use a hand steamer. The backdrop is hemmed on all four sides and the weight of the material allows it to hang beautifully. This material can be stored folded. Please note that sizes are approximate. Fleece backdrops can have shrinkage of up to 6" after printed and hemmed. Sizes listed are the size of the material before it's printed on. *Please note: Our 80"x60" fleece backdrops are a slightly lighter weight fleece material.
PROS: Glare free and wrinkle free.
CONS: We cannot think of any!
HANGING EXTRA LARGE BACKDROPS: A popular trick for the fabric is to drape some of the fabric on the floor and fold it out (towards the wal). Place a 2x4 piece of wood behind the backdrop and on top of the part you have draped on the floor. Move and pull tight as needed. The wood will weigh down the bottom of the backdrop and allow you to pull it tight and will hold it in place. We have a tutorial here. You can also tape the corners to the floor or pin the backdrop to a wall. If you order a sweep (backdrop and floor in-one), simply let the backdrop drape on the floor.
WASHING: Vinyl can be wiped clean with a damp cloth. Poly paper cannot get wet. Wipe away dust with a soft c(dry cloth). For fabric backdrops, to prevent fading or shrinkage, spot clean by hand when possible. If you must wash it, machine wash separately with cold water. Tumble air dry or use low heat, checking it often. Do not bleach or use harsh cleaners. Washing with water only is recommended.
AVOID WRINKLES/SCRATCHING: Poly Paper and vinyl are tear resistant but still need to be handled with the care. Please keep in mind that these are a "printed" surface that can be scratched, scuffed, or creased. To avoid creasing we suggest you store your backdrops rolled inside the shipping tube to avoid creases, scratches or damage. If not stored in the tube, poly paper and vinyl should be rolled very tightly and laid on the floor, to avoid flattening. The center of the backdrops should be a circle when rolled (not an oval). If you see an oval in the center, it is not rolled tight enough. When using backdrops as a floor, use with care, to be sure that props, etc. do not scratch the surface of the print.
Please double check your order before submitting it. No refunds/cancelations/exchanges can be made once your order is placed, absolutely no exceptions.
VIEWING: Large format prints are intended to be used at a distance and are not meant to be viewed up close. Photography backdrops are designed to be in the depth of field, approximately 4-5 feet away in typical.