Quest for Plexiglass - Various types?? Which is best and why??

[mufutau55]

On my quest to purchase a Plexiglass, I went to Home Depot and discovered that there are different types as listed below, all made by GE:

Type #1.
LEXAN XL10 Sheet
Made with LEXAN Polycarbobate sheet with UV protective coating
Thickness: 3/32" or 1/8" (.093)
Size: 36 X 48
Price: $50

Type #2
CRYSTALITE ACRYLIC Sheet
Thickness: 3/32" or 1/8" (.093)
Size: 36 X 48
Price: $21

Type #3
ACRYLIC Sheet
Thickness: 1/4" (.220)
Size: 36 X 48
Price: $32

Please tell me guys, which is the real Plexiglass being used for studio photography that I should get and probably pro and cons of each? Thanks.

Mufutau

 

[slowhands214238]

depends...what do you intend to do with it in your studio?

I replaced the GLASS in a storm door with plexiglass after my son dashed out and straight-armed thru the glass faster than the door could open. BLOOD everywhere.

I use a surface-mirrored acrylic sheet for those shots where the subject/object and it's reflection must "meet" without that annoying gap caused by back-mirrored glass or plexiglass.

 

[Elizabeth Nelson]

I am not sure what kind I bought, but perhaps you can ask them which is most scratch resistant?

 

[photo_rb]

Are you looking for plexiglass as a tabletop/background or as a light modifier?

For a tabletop, there is a plexi that is glossy on one side and matte on the other. That is what studios use. You probably have to go to an exclusive plexiglass shop but maybe home depot could order it for you. I don't know if it comes smaller than 4x8 foot sheets.

If you can't get the glossy/matte plexi, try to get matte as you can always lay a sheet of clear mylar over it if you want reflections in your product.

Rick

 

[ed7929]

plaxiglass is a trade name of rohm hass

go to rohh hass.com to get more info on plastic

lexan is a trade name by ge general electric
lexan is not used as a defusser

to get better info on plastic . i would go to your yellow pages and look under sign supplies. they carry a better selection of plastics , have more product knowledge and the prices should be less then the box stores

 

[dogwood]

That's the size Home Depot sells, right? If you're shooting models on plexi, you'll want 4 feet by 8 feet sheets or you'll always be photoshopping the seam.

Check with Tap Plastics if you have one locally-- they have the 4x8 sheets of plexi. Scratches are not a problem with my plexi-- scuffs and black marks are though! And it can be a pain to haul to a rental studio (which is where I shoot my studio shots).

--
Pete Springer
http://www.petespringer.com

 

[mufutau55]

Thanks guys for your various replies. I will use the plexiglass just for simple photograph at my home hobby studio to photograph my babies. I guess I need the thickess one I can get then, which is the #3 with 1/4inch thickness. No, I do not plan to use this as a diffuser, but to lay it on the floor and shoot some reflections photographs.
Mufutau

On my quest to purchase a Plexiglass, I went to Home Depot and
discovered that there are different types as listed below, all made
by GE:

Type #1.
LEXAN XL10 Sheet
Made with LEXAN Polycarbobate sheet with UV protective coating
Thickness: 3/32" or 1/8" (.093)
Size: 36 X 48
Price: $50

Type #2
CRYSTALITE ACRYLIC Sheet
Thickness: 3/32" or 1/8" (.093)
Size: 36 X 48
Price: $21

Type #3
ACRYLIC Sheet
Thickness: 1/4" (.220)
Size: 36 X 48
Price: $32

Please tell me guys, which is the real Plexiglass being used for
studio photography that I should get and probably pro and cons of
each? Thanks.

Mufutau

 

[makkk]

If you live in the GTA or surrounding area and Etobicoke isn't too far. Acrylic Depot which sells off-cuts, ready-made good quality Acrylic displays and sheets.

Check out their websites for the address: http://acrylicdepot.com/

 

[Sailor Blue]

On my quest to purchase a Plexiglass, I went to Home Depot and discovered that there are different types as listed below, all made by GE:

Type #1.
LEXAN XL10 Sheet
Made with LEXAN Polycarbobate sheet with UV protective coating
Thickness: 3/32" or 1/8" (.093)
Size: 36 X 48
Price: $50

Lexan is polycarbonate plastic, not acrylic. It is harder and tougher as well as being much more expensive. It generally isn't used for photography.

Type #2
CRYSTALITE ACRYLIC Sheet
Thickness: 3/32" or 1/8" (.093)
Size: 36 X 48
Price: $21

Crystalite is just a manufacture's trade name for their acrylic plastic sheets.

Type #3
ACRYLIC Sheet
Thickness: 1/4" (.220)
Size: 36 X 48
Price: $32

Generic name for acrylic plastic sheets - truth in advertising.

Please tell me guys, which is the real Plexiglass being used for studio photography that I should get and probably pro and cons of each? Thanks.

Plexiglass is one manufacture's trade name for their expensive acrylic plastic sheets, which are just Poly(methyl methacrylate) plastic like all other acrylic plastic sheets. It is also know as Crylux, Acrylite, Lucite, and Perspex.

Buy low cost generic acrylic plastic sheets.

If you want to do seamless white then buy 1/8" thick white acrylic plastic sheets. These can be easily warped into the infinite cove for a light table.

For portraits you usually have a paper or fabric background and floor. You place a sheet of the acrylic plastic on the floor on top the background paper or fabric. If you have rugs then place a thin sheet of plywood on the floor first to keep high heels from breaking the acrylic plastic sheet.

Light the white background just barley enough to cause it to blink when your camera's Highlight Alert is turned on and it will come out of camera pure white. Use more light than this on the background and you will cause yourself problems with the light reflecting off the background onto the subject and overexposing the edges of the subject (the subject will "bleed" into the background) and causing broad light lens flare that shows up as a loss of image contrast.

Light the subject properly. Adjust the camera position so that the background reflects off of the shiny acrylic floor and the floor will also blink, indicating that it will be pure white. You can clean up the reflections/shadows in front of the subject if desired by burning them in (work on Highlights only if using the Photoshop Burn tool).

Note these contain glamour photos so they may not be suitable for work.

Bobby Deal - Cleaning up the Pixel Perfect Isolation Part 1 - Real Deal Photo

Bobby Deal - Cleaning up the Pixel Perfect Isolation Part 2 - Real Deal Photo

If you want a colored floor then use a clear 1/8" acrylic plastic sheet on the floor and the background will be reflected off of the shiny acrylic plastic sheet. You will get two reflections, one from each of the top and bottom surfaces. For portraits this isn't usually visible but it can be a problem for product photography.

If you want a shooting table for products it is easy to make one.

Set Shop Tutorials: "Learn How To Build A Light Table" Featuring Steve Sint - YouTube

 

[jazja]

For product photography, plexiglass is problematic because of scratches.

Black glass is the right stuff.

I do not know why Ikea does not sell Glasholm glass no more?

I have a question too.

Which material would you use if you wanted to hide the equipment (camera, stend, room…) before reflection?

I mean on plexiglas glass with a hole for lens. Any links?

 

[Sailor Blue]

For product photography, plexiglass is problematic because of scratches.

Black glass is the right stuff.

I do not know why Ikea does not sell Glasholm glass no more?

I have a question too.

Which material would you use if you wanted to hide the equipment (camera, stend, room…) before reflection?

I mean on plexiglas glass with a hole for lens. Any links?

I would use black foam core board with a hole in it for the lens. This material is flat black so it won't reflect light and the board will conceal the photographer, tripod and camera.

Controlling the room lighting as necessary is a given but sometimes you need black flags to conceal shiny light stands, etc.

Reflection of the light source is normal for shiny objects, the trick is to use the right placement and shape of the light source to give you a desirable reflection. If you are starting out in product photography I strongly recommend Light Science and Magic. Please note that this book covers just about every aspect of lighting, not just product photography, but it has all the basics for product photography lighting.

Amazon.com - Light Science & Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting: 5th Edition - Fil Hunter, Steven Biver, Paul Fuqua

 

[jazja]

But what if you want to lightening from the front through plexiglass (metal products, cosmetics …)?

And what if we want to use plexiglass as a reflector?

 

[Sailor Blue]

But what if you want to lightening from the front through plexiglass (metal products, cosmetics …)?

And what if we want to use plexiglass as a reflector?

If you are trying to light from the front then bounce your lights off of a white foam core board V flat with a hole cut for the lens in the center of the V.

Here is a video that shows the proper way to tape a V flat.

Set Shop Tutorials: "V-Flats, Wind Machines, and Full Length Posing" Featuring Steve Sint - YouTube