As a professional photographer and author of numerous photography related articles, I am frequently asked about the differences between the various types of backdrops and how to go about selecting and purchasing a quality backdrop online without the benefit of seeing it in person.

As any amateur or professional photographer will attest, backdrops represent a significant financial investment, ranging in price from several hundred dollars each to only a few dollars. So, how can a buyer make a good investment in a quality backdrop that will stand up to studio usage and avoid making costly mistakes by choosing poor quality backdrops that may seem to be attractive and reliable?

I have worked with a variety of backdrops in my studio and have purchased several backdrops on Ebay just like other photographers. I have also experienced my fair share of disappointment and difficulty dealing with less than scrupulous sellers who pass off cheaply made backdrops as the genuine article. So, I thought I would offer my expertise to help buyers select and purchase quality backdrops.

Backdrops come in a variety of different materials. The sturdiest, and often most expensive, are the canvas backdrops. These backdrops are tough and should last many years with proper care. Muslin backdrops, by far the most popular material used for backdrops, are lighter and softer but also still quite durable if they are made of 100% cotton muslin. Finally, there are sheer backdrops (sometimes referred to as fantasy cloth or drapes) that are very lightweight, somewhat translucent, and generally meant to be draped over a person or object. These backdrops add interest to a photo but are really not designed to serve as the only backdrop for a photo. Given that the vast majority of backdrops sold on Ebay and elsewhere on the Internet are made of muslin material, I will focus this guide on the various types of muslin backdrops.

Of key importance in selecting a quality muslin backdrop is the method of painting or dyeing used to create a finished product that can be used in a studio. There are vast differences in the quality of these backdrops, so it’s very important to know what you are buying.

Hand-painted backdrops are just that. They are painted by hand with brush. Hand-painted backdrops will be heavier due to the application of layers of paint that are absorbed into the muslin material. Also, they tend to be a bit more rigid until they have been handled enough to make them supple. Hand-painted backdrops are usually more expensive because of the time and effort involved in creating them. Many of the finer hand-painted backdrops I have seen or worked with are truly masterful pieces of art. With very few exceptions, you should never machine wash a hand-painted backdrop. Gentle spot washing is the best method for dealing with spots or stains.

There are a number of sellers on Ebay, in particular, who are listing backdrops for sale and representing them as hand-painted when, in fact, they are merely air-brushed. Air-brushed backdrops can be quite beautiful and stunning in their color saturation and detailed designs. However, air-brushing does not fully penetrate the muslin material. That is why it’s very common to see feedback comments about the paint chipping or falling off of an air-brushed backdrop. What’s more, depending on the type and quality of paint used, air-brushed paint designs are likely to rub off on people and clothing. Unless you want to wash away most or all of your backdrop design, I would not recommend machine washing an air-brushed backdrop either. Just normal use of these backdrops can cause them to shed paint.

I have been using dyed muslin backdrops in my studio for quite a while. I love to work with them, as they are lighter than hand-painted backdrops and easier to drape. Dyed muslins come in a variety of interesting and colorful designs. Some are tie-dyed with funky colors, spirals and swirls. Others look much like the acid-washed denims of the 80’s. The high school seniors I photograph seem to love them. These backdrops are versatile and often machine washable. The dyes used fully penetrate the muslin material and are generally much less likely to rub off on people and their clothing.

Finally, there are variety of solid muslin backdrops offered for sale on Ebay and elsewhere. These backdrops are one color only with no mottling, dyeing or other paint effects. Be particularly careful to avoid buying muslin backdrops from disreputable sellers who are actually selling bed sheets to unwary buyers.

So, how does one go about carefully selecting and buying quality muslin backdrops from reputable sellers?

First and foremost, watch the feedback comments. If a seller has anything less than 100% positive feedback, scroll through several pages of feedback comments and actually read any negative or neutral comments left by buyers. If you see one or more comments from buyers that the backdrops they received were not as pictured, not as represented, not as described, etc., it’s in your best interest to avoid purchasing anything from that seller. Even sellers with feedback ratings in the high 90’s have been known to mislead buyers in their listings. I personally fell victim to one such unscrupulous seller who very intentionally misrepresented the backdrop I purchased as a hand-painted backdrop when, in fact, it was a poorly airbrushed design and not at all as it was pictured. Pay very close attention to the photograph pictured in the listing. I see the same photographs of backdrops pop up in listing after listing by different sellers. Clearly, these are not genuine photographs of the actual backdrop offered for sale. Many clever, albeit dishonest, sellers will pack the photograph will people and/or objects to obscure the backdrop and make it harder for you to see any backdrop detail. Or, worse yet, use a photograph from another merchant’s website. Time after time, buyers leave comments that the backdrop is substantially different from the photograph in the listing. Some variance in colors or designs is normal due to differences in computer monitors and differences in the dyeing or hand-painting techniques used. However, vast color shifts and design differences are unacceptable and should not be tolerated.

Never hesitate to ask the seller a question about the backdrop or the seller’s shipping or other policies BEFORE you bid. Reputable sellers will respond to your questions fairly, honestly and promptly. If you never hear back from a seller, then there is a good chance that the answer you seek is unfavorable for you. In light of my few bad experiences with dishonest sellers, I have started asking more questions up front. Occasionally, the seller refuses to answer my questions entirely or offers vague, non-responsive answers. In such cases, I avoid those sellers and look elsewhere for backdrops. BE SURE to ask the seller outright if the backdrop is hand-painted by brush stroke if you are in doubt.

The overall key here is research. Do your research BEFORE you buy. Try doing a Google search on the seller. Does the seller have a favorable report with the Better Business Bureau? Watch out for sellers with exorbitant shipping rates. Also, watch out for sellers who have multiple accounts and are selling the same or similar items using these multiple accounts. Actually read any negative feedback left by buyers and be very wary of any seller who leaves retaliatory negative feedback. This is a bullying tactic used by a number of sellers on Ebay to coerce buyers into leaving positive or neutral feedback instead of honest and appropriate negative feedback. After all, the purpose of the feedback system is to help buyers identify which sellers are honest and reputable.

If all else fails and you end up purchasing a poor quality backdrop from a sly seller, file a complaint with Ebay and/or with PayPal. The only way to stop crooked sellers is to call attention to their tactics again and again.

Finally, remember that there are a number of great sellers on Ebay and elsewhere on the Internet who value their customers and treat them with respect. Whenever possible, I buy from sellers like these, even if they charge more for the same items. I would rather buy a more expensive item from a seller who delivers outstanding customer service and high quality products than to settle for inexpensive products from less than honest sellers with terrible customer service.

I hope this guide will help you, my fellow photographers out there, to avoid making costly mistakes when shopping for photography backdrops.