Great video! One material to keep on your radar is 4'x8' corrugated plastic, the kind used for pollical/real estate yard signs. While I have not made v flats with it, I have a Dr Seuss photo backdrop and used lightweight medal hinges stitched in with heavy fishing line. I came upon it when my boss tasked me with making the largest paper airplane I could and after huffing and puffing for days I thought of corrugated plastic. As for the photo booth I primed it with kilz before painting it. I'm so happy that the elementary teachers can easily move it/ tuck it somewhere out of the way. I wish youtube could let people post photos. I'm always dreaming of ways of making stuff with it.
Hey! Sorry for the late response. I could've sworn I had already replied. Corrugated plastic is fantastic! (haha pardon the rhyme) I work with www.battletestedfilmgear.com and they make a lot of bounces and diffusers out of it. I think for a large V-flat of this size, it might be a little on the flimsy side to stand on it's own. Possibly if doubled up with black and white stuck together it may give it more rigidity. 🤔 That's something to try for sure. Also, I'm with you. Being a visual medium, I hope one day YT implements photo sharing in the comments.
I was thinking about your ideas when I went past a demolition site where a house was being pulled down. There were a half dozen 2040 x 820 mm (6'8"x2'8") timber veneered doors which I got for $100 AUD. I picked up some butt hinges, castor wheels and a couple cans of spray paint from the hardware store and went to work. Fortunately the doors were already checked out so I didn't have to chisel out the doors for the hinges. I just placed two together up on their sides and screwed the hinges in and castor wheels to the bottoms and laid them flat to paint. I've only done one pair black and white so far. I'm going to leave one set in the wood veneer panelling for a more masculine look of back and ponder what colour to paint the other the other three sets. Thank you for the inspiration.
Thank you! I thought I was original with this idea and was having trouble seeing how to execute it. Decided to check out RUclips and your video has been very helpful!
Thanks for this video. I went to lowes to price materials for a party backdrop. That material has doubled in price😮. I think this might work for what i had in mind and a lot easier than i anticipated. Thanks again for the tips, too.
I’m sure everything that’s gone up by now. That’s why I never do thumbnails that have prices in them. They’re outdated in a month. Haha but, thank you for the compliment and I’m very glad this helped you.
Thank you so much for making this video! I'm currently in the process of looking for a V Flat and a lot of what you recommend is what I'm going to do to make my own!
Would taping color poster paper be more efficient then spray paint or paint? I want to do this, I'm thinking of attaching fabric and use fabric adhesive. Hopefully it'll work, trial and error.
It would be similar to one of these fabric foldable reflectors. amzn.to/45Oyn2q If you’re choosing your own, I suspect white rip stop fabric would work nicely. (But really any pure white fabric will do great) For the black side velvet is my fave option since it absorbs light the best.
Hi I’m planning to build this from the plywood boards I found nice white and black no need to paint just the point is the black board is actually shiny black will it actually absorb the light like Matt black ??
Hey! Yes, black will (and does) definitely absorb the light... otherwise it wouldn't appear black. But, it's more of a percentage thing (I don't know the exact percentage) but, it would be something like, if matte black is absorbing 100% of the light, then a shiny black would be absorbing something like 80%. Either way, I doubt you'd notice a difference. I don't on mine.
Thank you. At :45 seconds in. I show the label with the info for the exact board I purchased. You don’t necessarily need to buy the exact same stuff, though, all you really need is something that’s ridged and light weight.
I was wondering if I can make a 6 ft tall version of this using styrofoam board, cover it with sequin fabric and make a photo backdrop out of it. Any ideas/tips on how to make it work would be appreciated.
If it were me, I'd grab two of the same boards. Tape them together the same way I did with mine. (They are 4 feet by 6 feet already) Then grab some Gorilla spray glue and adhere your sequin fabric that way.
To my knowledge. Foam boards are boards, made with foam. they’re used primarily in housing construction industry. I don’t know much more than that, as that kind of information isn’t useful to my needs. :)
Good question. Buying foam boards that are already black on one side, and white on the other in larger dimensions is much more expensive than purchasing cheap building materials, paint, and doing it myself.
When selecting paint. Did u have a preference? Like types of paint? Eg...did some paint give glossy finish that had reflective properties u didnt want?
Technically yes it does affect the shot. But, when used as a negotiable fill it’s very minimal. It’s still black and will absorb light, just not as much as a matte black would. When I use mine as a black background though, I do get some speculate highlights from the paint. So, matte is definitely a better way to go.
@@neola1712 silver and gray are very different in the way they reflect light. I if it were me, I wouldn’t paint a reflector gray. But, if grey suits your needs go for it.
Are you asking if two 2 foot pieces joined together would work? If so, absolutely. A lot of photo studio’s V flats are about that size. When it comes down to it. You can make your V flat any size you like. It all depends on your needs. :)
@@austinlindsay i meant the width at the base... yours had a 2x2ft cutout ..so in total 4 ft .... the only ones I could find in ireland were (L)1.2m (W)0.45m (T)25mm ... was hoping that 120cm in yours to 90 cm base in mine ..wont lead to a wobbly base
@@shinuj1989 with these dimensions you should be pretty good. That’s not too much smaller than mine. They do sell V flat stands. There’s also a decent amount of DIY videos for them as well if you think your V flat may be too wobbly. You can also get a standard spring clamp and attach it to a light stand or a C stand arm for more stability. Or to position it better.
Good job but I don’t really understand what if the flat is used for and have to look at somebody else’s RUclips channel. I found the music to be monotonous and conflicting. I hope you take this as constructive criticism. I really appreciate the video.
Lol! Just go buy two 4' x 8' foam core B&W boards. Gaffer tape the edges and make a book binding and you're done. These flats are too short and not enough width for proper studio lighting purposes! This video is ridiculous for the time, effort and expense! WTF!
That’s how you do a tutorial! Appreciate the do’s and don’ts and the example of how you tapped the edges together.
The easiest straight to the point video on making a v-flat! Thank you 🙏🏼
Thank you for the compliment! And, you're totally welcome! I'm glad you liked it. :)
Made a 8x8 today for the studio. Worked like a charm. Very informative and easy to follow tutorial. Thanks again!
That’s a lotta light bounce! Haha I’m glad this was helpful.
This is the best DIY V-flat video I've seen.
Jim White thank you! I really appreciate the kind words! 🙌
The most comprehensive diy I have seen yet ,bravo.
Thank ya! I really appreciate the kind words and feedback! :)
Great video! One material to keep on your radar is 4'x8' corrugated plastic, the kind used for pollical/real estate yard signs. While I have not made v flats with it, I have a Dr Seuss photo backdrop and used lightweight medal hinges stitched in with heavy fishing line. I came upon it when my boss tasked me with making the largest paper airplane I could and after huffing and puffing for days I thought of corrugated plastic. As for the photo booth I primed it with kilz before painting it. I'm so happy that the elementary teachers can easily move it/ tuck it somewhere out of the way. I wish youtube could let people post photos. I'm always dreaming of ways of making stuff with it.
Hey! Sorry for the late response. I could've sworn I had already replied. Corrugated plastic is fantastic! (haha pardon the rhyme) I work with www.battletestedfilmgear.com and they make a lot of bounces and diffusers out of it. I think for a large V-flat of this size, it might be a little on the flimsy side to stand on it's own. Possibly if doubled up with black and white stuck together it may give it more rigidity. 🤔 That's something to try for sure.
Also, I'm with you. Being a visual medium, I hope one day YT implements photo sharing in the comments.
This is perfect for what I want to do with my streaming. Cheap and easy instruction! Thanks!!!
Anytime! Thanks for watching!
Thank you for sharing your process - including the mistakes you made!
Anytime! I’m glad ya found it helpful. Thanks for watching.
Im currently making a v-flat im using it for a backdrop. This video was great
Thank you! I'm glad you found it helpful. Keep me updated on how you like yours! :)
Nice video! It kept me from buying the wrong stuff. Thanks for sharing your experience.
You're very welcome! Glad, I saved ya some trouble. :)
AWASOME!!. Thank you for demonstrating the part where the boards or apart from each other before you add ducktape. That is the secret.
Anytime! I'm glad it helped you. That part had me stuck for a while.
I was thinking about your ideas when I went past a demolition site where a house was being pulled down. There were a half dozen 2040 x 820 mm (6'8"x2'8") timber veneered doors which I got for $100 AUD. I picked up some butt hinges, castor wheels and a couple cans of spray paint from the hardware store and went to work. Fortunately the doors were already checked out so I didn't have to chisel out the doors for the hinges. I just placed two together up on their sides and screwed the hinges in and castor wheels to the bottoms and laid them flat to paint. I've only done one pair black and white so far. I'm going to leave one set in the wood veneer panelling for a more masculine look of back and ponder what colour to paint the other the other three sets.
Thank you for the inspiration.
That’s an awesome find. I love the idea of putting two doors together like that. That would be very handy for a studio.
Thank you very much, straight right to the point with no nonsense.
PhotoZen thank you kindly for the comment! Very much appreciated
wow ... this has given me such a wonderful idea ... thanks for sharing
Jerian Lewis anytime! I hope you can now easier bring your idea to life!
Thank you! I thought I was original with this idea and was having trouble seeing how to execute it. Decided to check out RUclips and your video has been very helpful!
That makes me happy! How did yours end up turning out?
Absolutely helpful for my business! Thanks for sharing!
That’s awesome to hear! Thank you for the kind words! Cheers!
Thank you I have been thinking of buying some flats. But I think I will make my first set
Jo H Photography you’re gonna love ‘em. So useful!
This is a brilliant option, especially for those of us with small spaces to work with
Thank you! Yea, I never seem to have enough space. haha
Yes, but not too brilliant, the matte finish is better.
Excellent video. Thank you.
Thanks for this video. I went to lowes to price materials for a party backdrop. That material has doubled in price😮. I think this might work for what i had in mind and a lot easier than i anticipated. Thanks again for the tips, too.
I’m sure everything that’s gone up by now. That’s why I never do thumbnails that have prices in them. They’re outdated in a month. Haha but, thank you for the compliment and I’m very glad this helped you.
Thank you! I will be making my own vflat thanks to you
Good to hear! Keep me posted! :)
Thanks Austin for the informative video. I am on a budget so I want to save as much as I can 😉.
Thank you! It's nice to save some bucks whenever ya can. :)
Awesome video. thanks. I was about a day away from dropping $400 on a pair of V-Flats
Anytime! Glad you liked it, and glad I could save you some money!
SAME 195 each
This is a fantastic tutorial!
Thank ya for watching. And for the kind compliment! I appreciate it
Great video! Clear and informative.
Thank ya! Glad you enjoyed it. :)
Thank you so much for making this video! I'm currently in the process of looking for a V Flat and a lot of what you recommend is what I'm going to do to make my own!
Nice! I'm glad I could help. It's so rewarding, not to mention cheaper, to make your own. :)
That was great! Thank you so much for the info.
Anytime! Glad you enjoyed it!
This is amazing! Thank you
You’re very welcome! Thanks for the kind words!
Great video...very informative and helpful...Thanx...!
Anytime! Thanks for the compliment! :)
Love this, I'm definitely going to give this a try
Let me know how it goes! :)
I remember seeing black blackboard paint, for schools... so matt.
I believe I saw some while doing this project, but I recall it being much more expensive. So, I cheap’ed out. Haha
Very nice tips! Thanks
You’re very welcome! Thanks for the compliment!
Nice and honest. Good.
Thank you, thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Maybe use primer first, and then Rustoleum Chalked paint which is very matte when dry, that's what I paint canvas backdrops with
That’s a good idea! I was trying to go with less painting that time. But, if I make another one I may go that route.
Thanks for the info!
You’re very welcome! Thanks for watching.
Would taping color poster paper be more efficient then spray paint or paint? I want to do this, I'm thinking of attaching fabric and use fabric adhesive. Hopefully it'll work, trial and error.
In my opinion paint is best. It’s the one thing that conforms and coats the entire surface of the foam core without any extra work, or materials.
how would fabric work? I'm thinking of building frames and then having the fabric go over it.
It would be similar to one of these fabric foldable reflectors. amzn.to/45Oyn2q
If you’re choosing your own, I suspect white rip stop fabric would work nicely. (But really any pure white fabric will do great)
For the black side velvet is my fave option since it absorbs light the best.
Hi I’m planning to build this from the plywood boards I found nice white and black no need to paint just the point is the black board is actually shiny black will it actually absorb the light like Matt black ??
Hey! Yes, black will (and does) definitely absorb the light... otherwise it wouldn't appear black. But, it's more of a percentage thing (I don't know the exact percentage) but, it would be something like, if matte black is absorbing 100% of the light, then a shiny black would be absorbing something like 80%. Either way, I doubt you'd notice a difference. I don't on mine.
@@austinlindsay thank you so much for your reply I’ll go ahead than I’ll let you know about results
Yes! Please do! :)
Can you say more about what kind of board you used? I looked up poly board on home depot's site & they have many kinds.
BTW -- I liked your video
Thank you. At :45 seconds in. I show the label with the info for the exact board I purchased. You don’t necessarily need to buy the exact same stuff, though, all you really need is something that’s ridged and light weight.
I was wondering if I can make a 6 ft tall version of this using styrofoam board, cover it with sequin fabric and make a photo backdrop out of it. Any ideas/tips on how to make it work would be appreciated.
If it were me, I'd grab two of the same boards. Tape them together the same way I did with mine. (They are 4 feet by 6 feet already) Then grab some Gorilla spray glue and adhere your sequin fabric that way.
@@austinlindsay Thanks for the idea. I will probably pin the fabric since I don't want to attach it permanently
That’s a great idea as well! Then you can change the fabric out whenever you want!
Thank you. This is good advise
Rivi Wickramarachchi anytime! I’m glad you dig it! 🙌
thanks for the video!
You’re very welcome! Thank you for the kind compliment!
Good stuff
Thank ya kindly!
What are foam boards and what are they primarily used for?
To my knowledge. Foam boards are boards, made with foam. they’re used primarily in housing construction industry. I don’t know much more than that, as that kind of information isn’t useful to my needs. :)
can i ask why did you decide to paint? did you consider getting black and white foam boards?
Good question. Buying foam boards that are already black on one side, and white on the other in larger dimensions is much more expensive than purchasing cheap building materials, paint, and doing it myself.
When selecting paint. Did u have a preference? Like types of paint? Eg...did some paint give glossy finish that had reflective properties u didnt want?
My goal was to build it as cheap and as easy as possible. So my preference what what ever was the least expensive.
@@austinlindsay thanks austin. They look fantastic
You're welcome! Let me know if you have more questions. :)
Does the sheen in the paint impact the shot at all?
Technically yes it does affect the shot. But, when used as a negotiable fill it’s very minimal. It’s still black and will absorb light, just not as much as a matte black would. When I use mine as a black background though, I do get some speculate highlights from the paint. So, matte is definitely a better way to go.
@@austinlindsay thanks! I’ll keep that in mind
Should I paint them gray and use it as a reflector?
If you want to reflect light, white is the better color choice.
@@austinlindsay Oh because I always see reflectors as silver looking so ^^
@@neola1712 silver and gray are very different in the way they reflect light. I if it were me, I wouldn’t paint a reflector gray. But, if grey suits your needs go for it.
Should have bought 1 gallon white in a can and rolled. Cheaper, especially for a couple coats. 'Some come pre-primed.
That’s a smart idea!
So helpful! :))
A Nwosu thank you! That makes me happy to hear!
Sorry what is the dimension overall and 1 side .. can u update the description
Dipesh Mehrotra the overall of mine is 5’ X 4’.
(Two 2’ wide sections taped together that are 5’ high)
would 2ft pieces be fine?? ..i feel 4ft is small a fair bit
Are you asking if two 2 foot pieces joined together would work? If so, absolutely. A lot of photo studio’s V flats are about that size.
When it comes down to it. You can make your V flat any size you like. It all depends on your needs. :)
@@austinlindsay i meant the width at the base... yours had a 2x2ft cutout ..so in total 4 ft .... the only ones I could find in ireland were (L)1.2m (W)0.45m (T)25mm
... was hoping that 120cm in yours to 90 cm base in mine ..wont lead to a wobbly base
Thank you for making this video
@@shinuj1989 with these dimensions you should be pretty good. That’s not too much smaller than mine. They do sell V flat stands. There’s also a decent amount of DIY videos for them as well if you think your V flat may be too wobbly. You can also get a standard spring clamp and attach it to a light stand or a C stand arm for more stability. Or to position it better.
I'll be using the support base for flex boards for the bottom.. just in ordered 6 of those boards :)
Th aos a lot 🎉
Anytime!
Why is the vflat only 5 ft? Seems better to make it 6ft
I wanted my vflat to be more portable, which is why I made it 5 feet. 6 ft may be “better” for your particular situation though.
can I use a PVC board ?
You can. You can use any material you like. This video is more about concepts than a hard fast “how-to”. Let me know how it goes!
@@austinlindsay alright thanks
Good job but I don’t really understand what if the flat is used for and have to look at somebody else’s RUclips channel. I found the music to be monotonous and conflicting. I hope you take this as constructive criticism. I really appreciate the video.
Thank you for the feedback it’s much appreciated!
Thx
No problemO!
Brown Brian Thompson Melissa Perez Daniel
❤
contact paper for the vflats next time ;)
That’s a good idea. Thanks.
good video but incredibly distracting music choice
Thanks for the feedback. I should've probably ducked the higher frequencies more. I'll keep an "ear" out for better audio quality in the future. :)
😳🤔👍👍👍👍👍🤗🇨🇭
Thank ya!
Lol! Just go buy two 4' x 8' foam core B&W boards. Gaffer tape the edges and make a book binding and you're done. These flats are too short and not enough width for proper studio lighting purposes! This video is ridiculous for the time, effort and expense! WTF!
I’m very sorry to have wasted your time. If you want to leave me your credit card number I’ll go ahead and send you a full refund.
Great Video ❤❤❤❤
Glad you enjoyed it. 🤘