Thanks so much Yuri! I'm glad that my video(s) helped you out. I continue to use both of my backdrops regularly. I'm actually thinking about painting an additional, much darker, backdrop on the back of one of my current ones. If I do, I'll make sure to create a video on it.
@@MattSpaugh thanks for the update. I would love to see the creation of a darker one... but I will probably start as you did, with something light and less contrasty.
Quality, primed canvas will make ALL the difference I assure you. I've been using both of my backdrops for two years now and they still look great. Glad you liked the video, let me know how you come out!
Great video. The cost of backgrounds for new guys like me is a little depressing, especially when I'm trying to buy lights and glass. I appreciate this information. I'll post a reply when I make one myself. Be prosperous. :)
I hear ya! All told I spent a little over $100 when you factor in the paint tray, rollers, plastic dropcloth for the shop floor, etc. BUT, I ended up with two totally usable drops. AND, I can still paint the backsides of them for another $20-30 in paint. Four drops for less than $150? YEAH!
@@MattSpaugh Great videos and the backdrops look so good! Will you/did you use the same base coat color for all of the backdrops? Which color was used as the base coat for your backdrops?
@@greenearthdream I purchased four colors. They're all Benjamin Moore paints. 2112-70: American White 2112-60: Cement Grey 2112-50 Stormy Monday 2112-40: Stone I used Stormy Monday as the background for the first backdrop, and American White for the second one.
@@IamShado I use 12 oz canvas. If you buy primed canvas as I recommend, bleed through will not be a problem. Be aware though that the canvas is only primed on one side, so you'll get slightly different results no matter what your technique. Hope that helps, thanks for watching!
Really good job. Wish I'd seen this before I bought my canvas from Blick! :-) Only thing I'd suggest is putting up a few pics taken on this background at the end of the video. Thanks for the info!!
Thank you for an actual narration… what good is music??. I live in wales, United Kingdom so the store references mean little. I love the info that you impart and I agree with Yuri Jones, the most useful video I’ve seen. Thank you. “ something from my youth drew me to concrete” ha ha ha I will follow you
@@alandenny1177 Happy Easter to you too. I've been to Europe a couple of times but never to Wales. It's on my list, as is the Yorkshire Dales. I've read all those James Herriot books so many times I feel like I'd know my way around the Dales.... ha.
I would not buy a 'pre-printed' backdrop if you're considering one. I've never seen one that looked authentic - once you've used a real-deal hand painted drop, everything else looks cheap. I would have to see and feel a drop before I paid good money for it. As I'm in Atlanta, Georgia, my first go-to would be Franklin Backdrops: franklinbackdrops.com/
Thank you for this great video Matt! I have one question, I didn’t get what size of canvas did you order from this site duck..))? and how long it took you to get it?
Mine was 6 feet wide by 18 feet long. I used it to get two 6x9 foot backdrops. I actually picked mine up from Big Duck Canvas. I'm sure they can give you an estimate on shipping time if you go to their website or give them a call. Thx!
Thank you for all the details. A video that I watched suggested almost using watery paint so that when dries it's not rigid. Your paint seems to on the thicker side (relatively speaking) - how did the canvas feel, especially when you are trying to fold it?
I don't fold mine - I roll them up on the cardboard tube that came with the canvas. I know the 'pros' prefer to use a watered-down paint but for my purposes, the paint (with the Flotrol) worked just fine. I can see the benefits to using a thinner paint mix - if you go that route let me know how it works out for you. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!
Glad you liked it. I did a session this week for a local school and used the darker one I created in Part 2. Being able to feather the light on it really gives it flexibility. It still works great and having the cardboard roll and plastic bag from bigduckcanvas makes it east to transport. Have a great day!
Hi Matt! Great video. One of the best on this subject and Im wanting to get started on this tomorrow. Question. What type of paint did you use? Latex, oil, acrylic?
Thanks Ben! The paint I used was BEnjamin Moore Regal Select which is just plain interior house paint. The can says 100% Acrylic. My initial tests were done using their half-quart sample paint cans which for me were around $7 each. I ended up using about a half quart of my base coat and less than that of the lighter/darker colors. I don't think using an enamel is going to do you any favors. Oil would be a mess and take too long to dry. Good luck with your backdrop - let me know how it goes.
Matt,just one more question.i hope y still use this canvas. but what I'm interested in is whether the paint cracks after a while, because that paint is for walls and it doesn't bend like with canvas, it has to be packed in a roll after each use.or should I put some more water. Sry bothering and Ty.
No apologies needed, I love answering questions on my videos. I keep mine rolled up on the original tube that the canvas came in and I keep them in the plastic sleeve. In 4 years of use (and yes, I still use both of them) I've experienced no cracking at all. I think that latex paint has some elasticity to it. Mine look as good as the day I painted them. Hope that helps, thanks for watching.
I roll them tightly onto the tube that came with the original canvas. It's a heavy duty tube, about 4-5" in diameter. I also saved the bag and put that over the rolled backdrop. I store the rolled backdrop vertically, making sure that only the tube is touching the ground. Hope that helps. Have a great day and thanks for watching!
Why go through all the trouble? You could just use that shirt. :) Just kidding, of course. This was a great series of videos. Thank you for making them.
Hi Matt, I sure enjoy watching your videos, found you searching for backdrops. I checked the company Big Duck Canvas and they are out of stock on the 12 oz. You mentioned the canvas was "pre-treated". what does that mean? They have "preshrunk", maybe that is it. Anyhow, I'm going to give it a go. It they don't get it back in stock, I guess I will get some Home Depot 10 oz drop cloth canvas. It id doesn't work out, I can always use it for a drop cloth, Ha.. Thanks , Ted in Sebastian, fl.( lived in Warner Robins Ga.)
Pre-treated = primed. The canvas has a primer applied to it. If you can wait, hold out for the primed canvas - or see if you can purchase it somewhere else. It makes a HUGE difference. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Let me know how your backdrop comes out!
Ted, using primed canvas will allow you to paint on both sides, so have two different backgrounds with one canvas. If you try this with unprimed canvas, the colors on the second side will bleed through to the other side, ruining your work.
Matt, get a long handle on the roller! Save your back! Most of the vids I see, they thin the paint way down with water. You didn't use any water in your paint at all?
@@syedsultan87 water resistant possibly, but I would not get it wet. The canvas (even primed canvas) is going to absorb water to some degree. If you were to store it wet you would get mildew, etc.
Yes, but bear in mind I was using additional paint from the smaller (darker and lighter) sample cans and I was adding Floetrol which definitely makes the paint go further. When I do my next backdrops, I'll buy quarts of all the colors/shades I need. I found myself being stingy with the paint because I was afraid I would run out. I think I might have had better results if I'd been more relaxed with the paint. Hope that helps, thanks for watching!
@@MattSpaugh Thanks for the come back. To let you know, I'm using 8oz drop cloth, ironed (easy), with Sargeants gesso. We'll see. The Big Duck is quite expensive with California shipping.
The canvas I purchased was primed, 12 oz. weight, 72" wide but it comes in various widths. www.bigduckcanvas.com/artists-canvas/primed-rolls/72inch-number12
@@MattSpaugh Thanks Matt. I ordered three yards and to get it delivered on a "tube" I was instructed to add a "core" to the order. If you do not do this, smaller orders are shipped folded.. The core adds $10 to the order but is worth it to me. Looking forward to making a chalk board black background.Thanks.
@@johncaulfield1576 Yes, I should've mentioned that. The tube (and the plastic bag your canvas will come in) is worth hanging on to for storage. Good luck with your backdrop. Let me know how it goes!
@@theone614 I actually tried that and in my case, I couldn't work fast enough. The brush wouldn't hold enough paint for me to work large areas. I was using a 3 inch brush so maybe a bigger brush would've helped. Also, the pattern that the brush made was too small (again, bigger brush maybe). I had a specific scale in mind when I did this and the brush/roller technique gave me that scale. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I appreciate it.
Super video, thank you ! I am a Frenchman from Santo Domingo, I want to order the canvas from bidduckcanvas. could you give me the exact reference ? I don't want to make a mistake and avoid a necessarily complicated return ! thanks in advance. Best regards, JPh
I would recommend that you call them. Mine was 12oz which I'm not seeing on the site, but that's pretty heavy, something lighter would work just as well. If possible, try to get it on a roll - not folded. It might be much cheaper to ship it folded. I would definitely call them and confirm with them. This is the closest thing I see to what I used: www.bigduckcanvas.com/artists-canvas/primed-rolls/72inch-10oz
![ถามตรงๆ กับ อาจตุพร ทำไม ประเทศไทย ใครเป็นนายก ก็โดนด่า พอออกเเล้วคนคิดถึง!!?? l [Nickynachat]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3YFLMXxBGAs/mqdefault.jpg)
Love the shout out to Rush in your video
"... and the meek shall inherit the earth..."
Nice results! Thanks
Thanks for watching!
I've been looking at these DIY hand painted backdrops for a few days, and yours is the best example I've come across. Great job Matt!
Thanks so much Yuri! I'm glad that my video(s) helped you out. I continue to use both of my backdrops regularly. I'm actually thinking about painting an additional, much darker, backdrop on the back of one of my current ones. If I do, I'll make sure to create a video on it.
@@MattSpaugh thanks for the update. I would love to see the creation of a darker one... but I will probably start as you did, with something light and less contrasty.
@@MattSpaugh what kind of paint do y use?
@@kristijanignjatovski4415 It's regular matte finish interior house paint. The exact brand is Benjamin-Moore, Regal.
@@MattSpaugh Ty for y time.
This is one of the better backdrop videos. Thanks.
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. One of my goals is to be thorough. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Thank you
My pleasure! Thanks for watching!
One of the better videos I’ve seen. I just got my duckcanvas and it’s a way better quality that those in box stores. Today is paint shopping. Thanks
Quality, primed canvas will make ALL the difference I assure you. I've been using both of my backdrops for two years now and they still look great.
Glad you liked the video, let me know how you come out!
So glad I found this video! You have helped me a lot! Thank You!
Glad to hear it -thanks for watching!
One of the better canvas videos. Saving me 2k on an oliphant for this lol
Send your percentage kickback to ME! Glad you liked it. I still use mine often with great results.
Great video. The cost of backgrounds for new guys like me is a little depressing, especially when I'm trying to buy lights and glass. I appreciate this information. I'll post a reply when I make one myself.
Be prosperous. :)
I hear ya! All told I spent a little over $100 when you factor in the paint tray, rollers, plastic dropcloth for the shop floor, etc. BUT, I ended up with two totally usable drops. AND, I can still paint the backsides of them for another $20-30 in paint. Four drops for less than $150? YEAH!
@@MattSpaugh Great videos and the backdrops look so good! Will you/did you use the same base coat color for all of the backdrops? Which color was used as the base coat for your backdrops?
@@greenearthdream I purchased four colors. They're all Benjamin Moore paints.
2112-70: American White
2112-60: Cement Grey
2112-50 Stormy Monday
2112-40: Stone
I used Stormy Monday as the background for the first backdrop, and American White for the second one.
@@MattSpaugh What weight canvas did you use? I was considering painting both side but worried about the bleed.
@@IamShado I use 12 oz canvas. If you buy primed canvas as I recommend, bleed through will not be a problem. Be aware though that the canvas is only primed on one side, so you'll get slightly different results no matter what your technique.
Hope that helps, thanks for watching!
This was great! Thanks for sharing.
Glad you liked it!
I appreciate your passion and thorough research! Subscribed.
Thanks Amanda - both backdrops were fun to do and I'm still using them regularly. I learned a lot from making the videos as well. Have a great day!
Just discovered your channel and subscribed. Great video.
Thanks David
Glad you're liking the content - thanks for subscribing!
Thank you!
My pleasure, thanks for watching!
Really good job. Wish I'd seen this before I bought my canvas from Blick! :-) Only thing I'd suggest is putting up a few pics taken on this background at the end of the video. Thanks for the info!!
If you visit my website: spaugh.net, you'll see lots of images that use both backdrops.
Best video on this subject thank you Matt
Thanks Sylvia. I love doing DIY/How-to videos best! Coincidentally, my youngest daughter's name is Sylvia.
Thank you for an actual narration… what good is music??. I live in wales, United Kingdom so the store references mean little. I love the info that you impart and I agree with Yuri Jones, the most useful video I’ve seen. Thank you. “ something from my youth drew me to concrete” ha ha ha I will follow you
Glad you liked the video. Thanks for watching!
@@MattSpaugh no problem. Keep them coming. Great format and presentation. Salutations from an Easter Sunday in beautiful wales
@@alandenny1177 Happy Easter to you too. I've been to Europe a couple of times but never to Wales. It's on my list, as is the Yorkshire Dales. I've read all those James Herriot books so many times I feel like I'd know my way around the Dales.... ha.
Great Video. Thanks.
If you were to buy one instead of make one, which company do you prefer? TIA. Great video btw!
I would not buy a 'pre-printed' backdrop if you're considering one. I've never seen one that looked authentic - once you've used a real-deal hand painted drop, everything else looks cheap.
I would have to see and feel a drop before I paid good money for it. As I'm in Atlanta, Georgia, my first go-to would be Franklin Backdrops: franklinbackdrops.com/
Way to go Matt!!
It was a fun experiment, and I still use both backdrops regularly!
Great video! Would love to see examples of your backdrop with an actual subject.
Thanks Nina. I just finished a high-volume shoot for a local school that used the darker backdrop. I'll be posting a video of that shoot soon!
@@MattSpaugh awesome!
Great video nice job
Thanks Divi!
Thank you for this great video Matt! I have one question, I didn’t get what size of canvas did you order from this site duck..))? and how long it took you to get it?
Mine was 6 feet wide by 18 feet long. I used it to get two 6x9 foot backdrops. I actually picked mine up from Big Duck Canvas. I'm sure they can give you an estimate on shipping time if you go to their website or give them a call. Thx!
hey Matt,those colors, are they colors for indoor painting?
Yep, just interior flat paint.
Great video glad you 2112 it
Both backdrops have worked really well for me and I ended up paintng my studio that same 2112 color.
Thank you for all the details. A video that I watched suggested almost using watery paint so that when dries it's not rigid. Your paint seems to on the thicker side (relatively speaking) - how did the canvas feel, especially when you are trying to fold it?
I don't fold mine - I roll them up on the cardboard tube that came with the canvas.
I know the 'pros' prefer to use a watered-down paint but for my purposes, the paint (with the Flotrol) worked just fine.
I can see the benefits to using a thinner paint mix - if you go that route let me know how it works out for you. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!
Great video, very helpful, thank you for sharing :-)
Glad you liked it. I did a session this week for a local school and used the darker one I created in Part 2. Being able to feather the light on it really gives it flexibility. It still works great and having the cardboard roll and plastic bag from bigduckcanvas makes it east to transport. Have a great day!
What kind of paint did you use? The exterior paint?
I use Benjamin Moore brand, Regal Select. But any 100% Acrylic interior house paint will work. I recommend getting the flat or matte sheen.
Hi Matt! Great video. One of the best on this subject and Im wanting to get started on this tomorrow. Question. What type of paint did you use? Latex, oil, acrylic?
Thanks Ben! The paint I used was BEnjamin Moore Regal Select which is just plain interior house paint. The can says 100% Acrylic.
My initial tests were done using their half-quart sample paint cans which for me were around $7 each. I ended up using about a half quart of my base coat and less than that of the lighter/darker colors.
I don't think using an enamel is going to do you any favors. Oil would be a mess and take too long to dry.
Good luck with your backdrop - let me know how it goes.
Hallo thank you for this video! Idd jou use latex or acrylic?
Glad you liked it! The Benjamin Moore Regal Select that I used is advertised as a 100% acrylic paint..
Matt,just one more question.i hope y still use this canvas.
but what I'm interested in is whether the paint cracks after a while, because that paint is for walls and it doesn't bend like with canvas, it has to be packed in a roll after each use.or should I put some more water.
Sry bothering and Ty.
No apologies needed, I love answering questions on my videos. I keep mine rolled up on the original tube that the canvas came in and I keep them in the plastic sleeve. In 4 years of use (and yes, I still use both of them) I've experienced no cracking at all. I think that latex paint has some elasticity to it. Mine look as good as the day I painted them.
Hope that helps, thanks for watching.
@@MattSpaugh latex? Is that something y added to colour or the colour has it already.
@@MattSpaugh Matt,I found latex colour.now I am ready,and thanks a lot.
@@kristijanignjatovski4415 It's just the type of paint.
Matt... how do you store your canvas? roll them up or lay them flat to store them?
I roll them tightly onto the tube that came with the original canvas. It's a heavy duty tube, about 4-5" in diameter. I also saved the bag and put that over the rolled backdrop. I store the rolled backdrop vertically, making sure that only the tube is touching the ground. Hope that helps. Have a great day and thanks for watching!
Why go through all the trouble? You could just use that shirt. :) Just kidding, of course.
This was a great series of videos. Thank you for making them.
My pleasure. Glad you like the videos. Yeah, the shirts. I have MANY tiny floral print shirts. James May inspired me years ago.
Hi Matt, I sure enjoy watching your videos, found you searching for backdrops. I checked the company Big Duck Canvas and they are out of stock on the 12 oz. You mentioned the canvas was "pre-treated". what does that mean? They have "preshrunk", maybe that is it. Anyhow, I'm going to give it a go. It they don't get it back in stock, I guess I will get some Home Depot 10 oz drop cloth canvas. It id doesn't work out, I can always use it for a drop cloth, Ha.. Thanks , Ted in Sebastian, fl.( lived in Warner Robins Ga.)
Pre-treated = primed. The canvas has a primer applied to it. If you can wait, hold out for the primed canvas - or see if you can purchase it somewhere else. It makes a HUGE difference. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Let me know how your backdrop comes out!
Ted, using primed canvas will allow you to paint on both sides, so have two different backgrounds with one canvas. If you try this with unprimed canvas, the colors on the second side will bleed through to the other side, ruining your work.
@@abronto Primed canvases are only primed on one side. I would not try painting on the other side unless you gesso it first.
Matt, get a long handle on the roller! Save your back! Most of the vids I see, they thin the paint way down with water. You didn't use any water in your paint at all?
Thanks for the tip
Are these paints which are used for wall painting
Yes, they're standard interior latex paint.
@@MattSpaugh so this is going to b waterproof ?
@@syedsultan87 water resistant possibly, but I would not get it wet. The canvas (even primed canvas) is going to absorb water to some degree. If you were to store it wet you would get mildew, etc.
Matt. Did your single quart plus the two samples last for two 6x9's?
Yes, but bear in mind I was using additional paint from the smaller (darker and lighter) sample cans and I was adding Floetrol which definitely makes the paint go further.
When I do my next backdrops, I'll buy quarts of all the colors/shades I need. I found myself being stingy with the paint because I was afraid I would run out. I think I might have had better results if I'd been more relaxed with the paint.
Hope that helps, thanks for watching!
@@MattSpaugh Thanks for the come back. To let you know, I'm using 8oz drop cloth, ironed (easy), with Sargeants gesso. We'll see. The Big Duck is quite expensive with California shipping.
@@tantamount999 Good luck with it!
Matt - great production. Can you tell me the exact cat number of the backdrop you bought?
The canvas I purchased was primed, 12 oz. weight, 72" wide but it comes in various widths. www.bigduckcanvas.com/artists-canvas/primed-rolls/72inch-number12
@@MattSpaugh Thanks Matt. I ordered three yards and to get it delivered on a "tube" I was instructed to add a "core" to the order. If you do not do this, smaller orders are shipped folded.. The core adds $10 to the order but is worth it to me. Looking forward to making a chalk board black background.Thanks.
@@johncaulfield1576 Yes, I should've mentioned that. The tube (and the plastic bag your canvas will come in) is worth hanging on to for storage. Good luck with your backdrop. Let me know how it goes!
Are you able to keep on folding and unfolding your painted canvas without the paint cracking off?
No folding. I only roll mine back on to the cardboard tube that came with the canvas when I bought it. They're too stiff IMHO to fold.
Try working from oneside to the next so you don't wind up sticking your hand in it :D
PRO-TIP! Thx.
@@MattSpaugh using a brush would probably make this easier as well instead of a roller and sponge.
@@theone614 I actually tried that and in my case, I couldn't work fast enough. The brush wouldn't hold enough paint for me to work large areas. I was using a 3 inch brush so maybe a bigger brush would've helped. Also, the pattern that the brush made was too small (again, bigger brush maybe). I had a specific scale in mind when I did this and the brush/roller technique gave me that scale. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I appreciate it.
Super video, thank you ! I am a Frenchman from Santo Domingo, I want to order the canvas from bidduckcanvas. could you give me the exact reference ? I don't want to make a mistake and avoid a necessarily complicated return ! thanks in advance.
Best regards,
JPh
I would recommend that you call them. Mine was 12oz which I'm not seeing on the site, but that's pretty heavy, something lighter would work just as well. If possible, try to get it on a roll - not folded. It might be much cheaper to ship it folded. I would definitely call them and confirm with them.
This is the closest thing I see to what I used: www.bigduckcanvas.com/artists-canvas/primed-rolls/72inch-10oz
@@MattSpaugh muchas gracias ! Merci.