From: kjm@cnmss.tredydev.unisys.com (Ken J. McFadden)
Newsgroups: rec.photo
Subject: Muslin Backgrounds
Date: 15 Apr 92 17:03:55 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Unisys Corporation, Tredyffrin

I got a request for descriptions of the muslin backgrounds that I said
I might trade (for something useful maybe?) or sell cheaply to any
netters that I might meet at PhotoProExpo.  I would prefer to sell
these in person as the first one I bought didn't live up to the
picture of it in a catalog.  All of these backgrounds are custom
painted and no one seems to stock many.  I prefer to see what I'm
getting before purchasing it and would like to offer the same service
to any potential buyer too.  However I am willing to sell these through
the mail and you can ship it back if you don't like it.  By the way
PhotoProExpo is a pretty good place to buy backgrounds as several
manufacturers are there with a variety of backgrounds on hand to sell.

Anyway here's the details that I sent through e-mail.

I think my memory is still pretty good, so these descriptions should be
fairly accurate.  I have found a background that I am pretty happy with and
am willing to get rid of one or both of the following backgrounds that I
don't like as much:

    1)  Wescott Illuminator background - grey splatter,
           approx. 4 feet by 6 feet?, folds down to a cirle 1/3 the size,
           flexible metal rim holds background tight and allows it to be
           leaned against a wall with no stand

           why its not my favorite - bought from local pro camera dealer
           from a picture in Wescott's catalog (most dealers stock few
           if any backgrounds); the picture looked great (many shades of
           mildly contrasting greys with pattern of small splatter marks),
           but the background looks little like the picture (large spatter
           marks - up to several inches in diameter with wildly contrasting
           colors from white to black); of course all these backgrounds are
           custom made and can vary; its also not intuitive how to fold up

           weight - maybe 1 or 2 pounds?

           I paid about $130

    2)  Adorama muslin background - navy blue, approx. 10 feet by 12 feet,
           meant to be used with background stand (has hemmed (sp?) top
           to put a pole through

           why its not my favorite - this would probably work out as a
           nice solid color background, but it turns out black on cibachrome
           prints; any reasonable contrast print material should show it
           well; after my luck ordering from the Wescott catalog, I drove
           to Adorama to pick this one out of their stock

           weight - maybe 3 to 5 pounds?

           I paid about $110

I don't have any fixed prices in mind, but may be willing to entertain low
bids combined with good stories as why you really, really need a background.
I kind of prefer selling these in person (like at PhotoProExpo, which other
netters might attend) as then if the buyer dislikes the background neither
of us has to waste shipping costs sending it back and forth.

-- 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ken McFadden        kjm@cnmss.tredydev.unisys.com
Unisys Corporation  kjm@cnmsa.tredydev.unisys.com
P.O. Box 203        work: (215) 648-3742
Paoli, PA 19301     home: (215) 675-0382