black backgrounds

[anevilgiraffe]

is it just me, or does anyone else find it really hard to see minis on a black background?

I know it's popular, but it seems to just suck the mini into the backdrop and lack any vibrancy, so I don't see the appeal.

[Silent Invader]

Agreed

[Malebolgia]

I'm a big fan, it works better for me than white backgrounds. White's just too bright and distracts from the actual model for me.

[anevilgiraffe]

I'm a big fan, it works better for me than white backgrounds. White's just too bright and distracts from the actual model for me.

I’d say white is the same. I like the variable colour backdrop I have now, but was also happy with the pale blue. Stark black drowns the mini, stark white is too bright.

[v_lazy_dragon]

Yup,
I find that too. I prefer white, but agree it's not perfect. Light blue/grey is probably a favorite

[modelwarrior]

I agree black back grounds are not my favourite colour either but some people are able to turn them into a fine art when photographing. So whatever floats your boat.

[Aethelflaeda was framed]

black backgrounds have their place but  the amount of black framing around the fig in the composition, the focus (a good macro lens coupled with stacked layers in retouching, can help the fuzziness at the edge of depth of field)  and last all good 3 point lighting needs a lot of attention to avoid the issues raised.  When i send photos of my jewelry to the selection juries of art festivals, i always black or dark backgrounds so that attention always goes to the artwork.

[Ash]

I suppose it all boils down to a personal preference.
I used to shoot everything against a white backdrop; switched to black a few years ago, saved a lot of time 'cleaning' the background shadows from white.
Both can tend to creep into the sides/edges of mini to a certain degree, black may give an amount of negative fill, whilst white can bleed into the edges.
I find with photographing against black it helps to not just light from the front. I start with a soft/diffused light over the top, and slightly behind the mini. This helps to separate it from the background. A main diffused light to the side, approx 45 degree (I prefer from the left), to light the front of the model, then a similar angled fill on the opposite side. This helps to 'lift' the subject from the background.

You'll always get a dark/ shadow area in any recessed parts







Only drawback I have is every speck of dust or escaping static grass needs removing...

[CapnJim]

I used to use a black mat for a background.  One day, that mat was in use, so I used a green "meadow" gaming mat instead for a background.  Been using that ever since...

[jamie.grinstead]

There is a type of black super black background for photos https://www.greenstuffworld.com/en/415-backdrops that absorb the light of GSW.
I recommend it, because the focus of the camera on the figure is direct, and it enhances the colors and the finish of the figure.

[anevilgiraffe]

I've looked at the examples and that is exactly the look that I think kills minis, drains all life out of it and there's a lack of definition.

[Zelmor]

My approach for making backgrounds is buying thick paper in larger sizes in the art supply store, along with cheap craft paint in black, white, browns, greens, as well as a few wide, cheap and crude brushes, and just making my own backgrounds.

The upside is that you can make a lot of different backgrounds fast and cheap. The downside is that you need somwhere to store them, but ann elementarr-school art-tableau carry, I don't know what it is called exactly, is all you really need.
Here's an example.