Today on The Slanted Lens we’ve got a QuickTip about how to make unwanted objects disappear on set! What is this magical solution to all your problems? It’s not smoke and mirrors- it’s duvetyne!
What is Duvetyne?
Duvetyne is a thick black cloth with a knap on one side that is highly effective at absorbing light. This quality makes it the perfect material to use on set! If you want to make a flag to block the sunlight coming into a shot, mask out an entire window on set, or eliminate the light reflecting onto your subject matter this is the tool to use!
The Many Uses of Duvetyne
It is also the perfect material to use as a backdrop when doing product work, because it just sucks up the light in the room. If you overexpose it just a little bit, it will completely fade from your shot and just become black. Duvetyne is also fire retardant- I have actually seen a woman light her hand on fire and then wrap it in duvetyne to put it out, which means it isn’t dangerous to use around lights on set.
I love duvetyne so much that I buy it by the roll. I use it ALL the time and it is an excellent tool to keep around in this business.
Make Things Disappear On Set
This is also a great way to cover up something that you just don’t like in the background of your shot. Maybe there’s a hole in that wall, put a piece of duvetyne on it. That person’s hand is in the way, but they’re handing in the product, well, wrap it in duvetyne. I mean there’s just so many ways to use it!
It’s the black on set that takes away the light, hides things, and becomes the perfect way to be able to get the image that you want and it’s an easy product to work with.Wrap it, cut it, rip it, and do what you want with it.
Let me know how you use this magical cloth in your work!
Keep those cameras rollin’ and keep on clickin’!
-Jay P.
We use it in theatre too. We also love it because it rips in a straight line.