Photo Studio Basics: How to Set Up a Wall Mounted Paper Backdrop
In this post we are going to cover how to hang a wall mounted paper backdrop. These wall mount systems are great if you are wanting to hang multiple backdrops and be able to change them quickly between setups, and are looking for something more permanent than a backdrop bar.
Start by placing a ladder in the middle of the mounts, grab the backdrop you want to use and grab two spools, one with a chain and one without. Lay the backdrop flat with the paper unravelling from underneath the roll. You can ‘shrink’ the spools by turning the handle anti-clockwise, which will allow you to fit them inside the roll. Once they are in there, ‘expand’ the spool by turning it clockwise to secure it in place.
Step 1: Put the Spool with the Chain on the Left-Hand Side
Step 2: Put the Spool without the Chain on the Right-Hand Side
Step 3: Rest the Backdrop on the Brackets
Place the backdrop over your shoulder and walk it up the ladder. To ensure the ladder remains stable, you should get a second person to hold it while doing so. Once at the top, raise the backdrop and rest the ends on the mounts. At this point, it just needs to be sitting there securely, the brackets don’t need to be properly connected. Remove the tape from the middle of the paper before you head down to tidy up the ends.
Step 4: Connect the Right Bracket
Go to the right side first and insert the bracket on the spool into the slot on the wall mount. Don’t tighten the screw on this end or the backdrop won’t be able to unravel. Remove the tape from the right side before you head down to fix the left.
Step 5: Connect the Left Bracket
On the left side, insert the inner slot of the bracket on the spool into the slot on the wall mount. The white ‘square’ on the spool should be parallel to the ground. Fully undo the paper by removing the tape on the left, and don’t worry, it won’t start to unravel until you’ve pulled it further down.
Step 6: Unravel and Hook
You can start unravelling the paper by pulling it down with your right hand while controlling the chain with your left. The outer chain is the one that will stop the paper from unrolling, so you want to keep a hold of it at all times. Often the paper will get caught on the far end because of its curl, and you can dislodge it by giving the chain a quick jerk downwards once it’s been unravelled a little bit. With the lip of the paper free from the roll, continue to lower the backdrop with the chain and then hook it onto the wall once it’s reached the floor.
Step 7: Pull out the Backdrop
If you need to put the backdrop along the floor it’s easiest to use two people. Get the second person to hold the backdrop from the middle and walk it back while the other person controls the chain. Make sure not to release the paper too quickly to avoid creating any kinks. Once you’ve reached the desired length, secure the corners with some shotbags and the front lip with some rubber mats.
Step 8: When Finished, Trim the Backdrop
When you’ve finished with your shoot, trim off any paper you’ve used, but trim as little as possible, as it doesn’t go very far! I trim about 30cm in front of the rear most mark, meaning there will still be some marks left on the paper, but these will be covered up by the mats on the next shoot. The paper is easiest to trim by winding it back so that the point you want to cut is where the wall meets the floor. You can then walk along it, which will provide a bit of tension, while you cut through it with a box cutter. Be very careful however to not cut anything behind it, like the powercords you can see here.
Step 9: Tape and Remove the Backdrop
Roll the paper to the top and prepare three bits of masking tape. Go up the ladder on the lefthand side, hold the paper with your right hand and pull on the chain with your left to get it taut. Make sure you have a second person stabilizing the ladder, and be careful not to throw yourself off balance. Once the roll is tight, secure the paper with some tape.
Move to the righthand side and do the same, holding the paper and twisting the spool until you get the roll taught, then securing with more tape. Finish by moving to the middle and adding the final piece of tape, and then lift the backdrop off the mounts, place back over your shoulder and walk it down the ladder.
