New in October, 2009: All systems now ship with a new, pre-sewn 9.8ft x 8.2ft backdrop, bordered with black nylon and a full-width, top sleeve for a backdrop stand crossbar.
New in March, 2010: High Definition (HD) backdrops are now an option, as well as sold separately. These have a much finer grain and are ideally suited for HD video. While the SD backdrops can be, and have been, used quite successfully for HD, extreme close-ups with the backdrop somewhat near the subject, being shot in HD, will yield a cleaner, sharper edge, and smoother overal color tone with this new dedicated HD backdrop.
The SD backdrops are perfectly suited for non-HD chroma key work, as was their intent. If you are shooting with a mini-DV camera, i.e. XL-2,
DVX-100/200, or other consumer/prosumer DV camcorder, the SD systems will work perfectly. The HD will, of course, be a little better, but you would need to decide whether your present or possibly future HD needs would be worth the extra $100 for an HD system.
The Retro-Reflective Material
Each system, SD or HD, comes with a 2.5m x 3m (8.2ft x 9.8ft) retroreflective backdrop. It is pre-sewn and fully bordered with black nylon. The top several inches of the nylon will accommodate a backdrop stand crossbar for easy setup.
Unlike some of the "off-the-shelf"
reflective fabrics I tested (such as the
infamous 3M Scotchlite series, which blows out horribly and desaturates when the output is pushed), this specialized
retro-reflective material offers exceptional
off-angle performance and optimal color
saturation. These fabrics are manufactured specifically for chroma key applications.
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