Home >> Hobbies >> Photography

How to Make a Hand Painted Muslin Background

Studio photography offers opportunities to create any scene a photographer can imagine. Paint a few yards of muslin and your subject is lying on a sandy beach or in the middle of a winter wonderland. Backdrops are a necessary element to include in your inventory. They anchor the subject in the frame and eliminate distractions in the background. Your selection of backdrops can range from a simple, mottled effect to scenes for holidays and childhood milestones. With a few yards of muslin you can add backdrops to your studio and create more picture taking opportunities.

Things You'll Need

White or off-white muslin fabric
Spray paint or acrylics
Projector

Instructions

- 1
  Prepare the fabric by washing and drying it to remove the fold lines. Iron the dry fabric and use some starch so the fabric will be somewhat stiff while you paint it.
- 2
  Use a few shades of the same color to create a neutral backdrop with a mottled effect. Spray the fabric in random spots with each shade being sure to cover the backdrop with a consistent amount of each shade. For a spotlight effect concentrate the darker shades in the outer edges then gradually get lighter towards the center.
- 3
  Choose a scenic picture that coordinates with a holiday or appeals to a large number of people. Use a projector and trace the contours of the picture onto your fabric. Once you have a recognizable picture use acrylic paint to fill in the details. This is a good project to complete with a group friends as you'll complete it faster and everyone can add their own artistic touch.
- 4
  Coat all your muslin backdrops with a layer of matte finish varnish. This step will keep the fabric from being stained and the matte finish won't cause glares when you're using a flash.

Photography