STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY: HOW TO MAKE A V-FLAT! (feat. Greg Murray) - The James Douglas Studio 

Thank you for the tutorial. Very helpful. FWIW I just made one v-flat using (2) 1"X4'X8' R-5 NGX FOAMULAR (would not recommend - horizontal lines / slits embedded in sheets), 1 roll of 3" white gaffers tape (30 yards) and 1 roll of regular black 2" gaffers tape. (20 yards) The space between the panels for the spine was 2 1/4". Also as shown in the video, the 'flap' for the spine is only on one side. I used the black tape to build the spine, and on the long sides next to the spine, and eventually covered it with the white tape. Also, keep in mind which color you want on the inside of the 'book' or on the outside. These boards bowed when taping so watch that as you go.

One word: Foamcore

Yesss Sick video !! Thank you so much this is exactly what I was looking for. Something affordable +last longer 🔥🔥🔥

Yo bro take them vflats and glue some magets in them on the white side then Buy some HIPS Sheets at 0.003" thick and paint those to change the color of your V-flat that way you can swap'em out and save space :D

Needed this!!!

I have to agree with many of the comments - a) the insulation flats are quite expensive. b) paint on the foil won't stick long. It will be flaking off in no time. -- however it is possible to buy insulation with no foil from 3M but it is a special order. c) gaff tape is shitty expensive - you guys must also be Cristal champagne drinkers. probably the best raw material is gator board - a 1/2 inch thick piece is very rigid and won't be bendy and doesn't need taping around the edges. I've used it for trade show booths for years. But it is extremely expensive stuff for a DIY project. 1/2 inch foam core is OK at first, but much too delicate even after taping the edges - you will very quickly get the corners kicked in and dings even with careful handling. Finally, the cost of paint has skyrocketed in recent years. We are paying $11.00/qt here in California for flat black paint. This project will likely need 2 qts of black and 2 qts of white.

It's time for me to refresh my studio reflectors, so after a search, I came upon this video. Nice work and entertaining as well. Sorry to see that it looks like you've given up on the YT videos(editing on this had to have been immense). But, you created a good foundation here. It would be nice to see it rise from the ashes...Thanks again for the ideas and best luck for the future! I've subscribed...just in case there's more to come.

A lot of studio equipment is pretty easy to make if one has the interest to build for applications or sized not readily available. I made a ceiling track system so flats with rollers hang from runners on the ceiling so they do not have to be self supporting, hanging from above. With a grid of slotted tracks I can hang everything from strobe, gobos, backdrops, ect, and they are easy to position than any where need if one has enough tracks installed, this way everything is off the floor so nothing can be tripped over. The one item not hung is a large crane with wheels to move it out of the way when not needed. Even the strobes, which I designed and built myself from surplus flash tubes from air force aircraft surplus sales. From my crude calculations they peak at 1200watts each and cost me about $80 each. My latest project not finished in a camera stand with a working height from 9 inches to 8 ft so there will be nothing to trip over, no wires or cords on the floor. During Covid lock down I used the time to make one end of the main studio into a 2 wall cyclorama, infinitety floor 29 feet wide. That was easier then I thought it would be. A local theater was remodeling so I was given their heavy stage curtains which after serious cleaning that can be slid from the ceiling tracks anywhere in the studio to wall off sections or act as flats or back drops. A further project with be to motorize them. I have designed a wireless control system where with new yet unbuilt light posts to motorize the strobe ceiling posts to change angles and direction of each strobe on the ceiling track rails.

Let’s go Cleveland Phototakers !

I fully agree on comments below regarding the expense. Gaff tape?? Really? You just had $60.00 worth of tape in your hand! $20/foil covered boards and as also mentioned, the paint is not cheap now days. Now we get into a photographer's most valuable asset - "TIME!" then you have the effort, the truck, the work... "Super cheap?" compared to 120.00 on line? Your "total" cost here is easily 120! just buy the shit and be done with it!

This is the best video ive seen on DIY vflats. Thank you so much

I'm just curious. Who use gaffe tape? It's so much more expensive and you don't plan to ever take it off. Is there a reason

This video is sick. Just found you boys, and subscribed off of this edit. Guess what I'm doing today for tomorrows shoot lol

I want to buy this board but the staff there said you can't paint over glossy surface. Could you please tell me what paint did you use? Thanks

Did I miss it...wouldn't hinges work better than tape and cheaper?

Interesting process and materials. I've always thought that insulation could come in handy for someone in a studio. But 1/2" thick foam core is $37.60 (Uline) -- for better or worse you have to buy 12. I just ordered 12 black($51.00) and 12 white today which is why I guess this popped up on my feed. I don't leave that gap either. Just tape inside and out of the two panels. The ones I have in the studio lasted so far for three years. Replacing them because they look a bit tattered. We have had a rental studio for 20 years and always the same process for v-flats (first NYC and now Chicago) and I want things to always look as fresh as possible.

Half the price? What's your time worth?

Jesus christ, you're so gorgeous

Way too much background noise bro.

Too muck background noise. And the video is a mess.

This sucks.