How to Create an Invisible Black Background (Photography)

Find a place to take the photograph., Find out what your camera's sync speed is., Set your ISO to its least light sensitive., Take a shot of your subject without a flash., If you still see something, anything, you want to make the adjustments that...

13 Steps 1 min read Medium

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Step 1: Find a place to take the photograph.

    You don't have to worry about the background, because it'll be gone (black).

    Do try to eliminate as much as you can.

    This lessens the likelihood that there will be a stray beam of light reflected off of something.
  2. Step 2: Find out what your camera's sync speed is.

    This helps you figure out where to start.

    It is usually about 200 or 250th of a second. , 100 or 200 are the best, whichever you have. , What you are looking for is a picture of nothing but black.

    That is giving you your black background. , Reduce the aperture. ,, The umbrella needs to be a parabolic umbrella, because you will be shooting into it. , This controls the reflected light much better and makes it more focused. , If you know the camera's output to be fairly strong, set it for 1/2 power.

    If not, set it for full power.

    You can always reset it later. , Whatever the results are, if they aren't what you want, try raising or lowering the output of the flash.

    You could also experiment with the umbrella and increasing or reducing its output.
  3. Step 3: Set your ISO to its least light sensitive.

  4. Step 4: Take a shot of your subject without a flash.

  5. Step 5: If you still see something

  6. Step 6: anything

  7. Step 7: you want to make the adjustments that you need to darken it even more.

  8. Step 8: Take a shot to see where you need to start.

  9. Step 9: Set up your light stand fairly close to your subject.

  10. Step 10: With the reflective side of the umbrella towards your subject

  11. Step 11: Shut it down about halfway.

  12. Step 12: Choose a setting on your flash.

  13. Step 13: Take your shot.

Detailed Guide

You don't have to worry about the background, because it'll be gone (black).

Do try to eliminate as much as you can.

This lessens the likelihood that there will be a stray beam of light reflected off of something.

This helps you figure out where to start.

It is usually about 200 or 250th of a second. , 100 or 200 are the best, whichever you have. , What you are looking for is a picture of nothing but black.

That is giving you your black background. , Reduce the aperture. ,, The umbrella needs to be a parabolic umbrella, because you will be shooting into it. , This controls the reflected light much better and makes it more focused. , If you know the camera's output to be fairly strong, set it for 1/2 power.

If not, set it for full power.

You can always reset it later. , Whatever the results are, if they aren't what you want, try raising or lowering the output of the flash.

You could also experiment with the umbrella and increasing or reducing its output.

About the Author

D

Diana Johnson

Specializes in breaking down complex lifestyle topics into simple steps.

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