A backdrop is a painted curtain that hangs in the back of the stage to indicate scenery.
Backdrops are an important part of decorating a stage for a professional setup.
Perhaps the most common use of a backdrop is in photographic studios and movie theaters.
Photographers and movie directors use backdrops to convert their studios or sets into a desired image of a location or place.
Theater Backdrops and Movie Backdrops are pieces of cloth that fully or partially cover a stage.
They come in many different colors, types, and sizes.
Backdrops technology has come a long way.
There is a great variety of materials that can be used to create a backdrop.
Backdrops can be used to depict backgrounds as sophisticated as flying in the space or running a sprint in front of a packed stadium.
Can backdrops be created for any occasion? Well, a backdrop is limited to the imagination of the user or the graphic designer.
Thanks to the advance of computer imaging technology, graphic designers can now create any type of backdrop with the help of graphic design software such as Photoshop or Gimp.
The creation of a backdrop involves three steps.
The first step is to determine the type of scenery or image that needs to be created or portrayed in the background of a stage or studio.
Once the image or scenery is finalized, the next step is to start creating the design using computer based graphic design software.
After the design is created and finalized, then comes the role of a backdrop artist.
Before the artist paints the actual backdrop image, he must "size" the fabric - a process which seals the fibers.
(A translucency requires starching rather than sizing.
) For a typical opaque drop there are several choices for sizing - many scene shops use flame retardant.
Then using airbrush, the Artist paints the backdrop completing the process.
Once the backdrop is finished, it can be staged using long poles and frames to ensure that the entire stage is covered by the backdrops.
A professionally installed backdrop will create a magnificent illusion generating stunningly realistic and beautiful sceneries and images.
So the next time you look at a backdrop, remember how much work goes into it and appreciate the artistic talent behind creating the backdrop.
Although backdrops can be created using different types of material and fabric, many states require the backdrops to be fire retardant for safety reasons.
It is also important to know the difference between cheap low quality non fire retardant and high quality hand painted backdrops.
There are hundreds to website selling cheap low quality backdrops on the internet.