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How to Make a White Screen for Photography

When it comes to taking professional portraits, the focus should be on the subject and not on the background. For this reason, many photographers shoot their pictures in front of a pure, white background so the subject is the main focus. If you don̵7;t have any pure white walls in your home or you want to create a seamless white background from floor to ceiling, use photography background paper. This paper is relatively inexpensive and is easily removed so you can put up other backdrops for other photo shoots. Although most professionals have a wall-mounted system to suspend their paper rolls, for a one time use you can just cut the paper to size and tape it to the wall to create a white screen.

Things You'll Need

Measuring tape
White photography background paper
Craft knife
2 ladders or step stools
Masking tape

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the height of your wall so you know how long you need to cut your background paper.
- 2
  Lay the roll on a flat surface and slowly roll out the paper until you have enough paper to cover the wall from floor to ceiling.
- 3
  Use an craft knife to cut the bottom of the paper. Since the paper is so large, you will need the help of a friend to install the paper onto the wall to create your white screen.
- 4
  Set up two ladders on either side of where your white screen will be placed, one for you and one for a helper. Hold the paper and climb to the top so you can reach the location where the wall meets the ceiling. Place the sheet along this area and use a good quantity of masking tape to hold the sheet in place.
- 5
  Climb down and tape the screen along the bottom to secure it. You̵7;re now ready to take portraits in front of your homemade white screen.

Photography