Black table top for macro work

Black velvet, and a sheet of glass to put on top when you want it shiny.

Musou black paint is the blackest black.

Raising the board on suitable small pillars (egg cups) makes the table surface less hard to lose.

For a shiny black surface get a sample of Harlequin flooring, fabulous finish with no ghosting.

indemnity said

Musou black paint is the blackest black.

It's also not massively expensive for what it is. But from what I can gather very smelly, and like Stuart Semple's Black 3.0/4.0, apparently it does crack and rub off a bit too easily.

I am not sure I really want any of these deep black paints around cameras because of that cracking/powdering.

But maybe if you're painting on top of blackboard paint it'll be OK.

Unfocussed Mike said

indemnity said

Musou black paint is the blackest black.

It's also not massively expensive for what it is. But from what I can gather very smelly, and like Stuart Semple's Black 3.0/4.0, apparently it does crack and rub off a bit too easily.

I am not sure I really want any of these deep black paints around cameras because of that cracking/powdering.

But maybe if you're painting on top of blackboard paint it'll be OK.

There's also paint by dip my car, that's fine. 

For a reflection get a piece of black acrylic from ebay. Don't use glass, you'll get a double reflection.

otteypm Yes agree. Velvet absorbs the Light. Most black surfaces have a certain amount of reflectivity.

ClickMore 📷 said

otteypm Yes agree. Velvet absorbs the Light. Most black surfaces have a certain amount of reflectivity.

Thank you both for this.  I shall visit my local fabric shop at the weekend and see what they have.  And then probably look online anyway :)

Simon Carter said

For a reflection get a piece of black acrylic from ebay. Don't use glass, you'll get a double reflection.

Thank you for this.  I'd had the word acrylic in my mind already, but it's always reassuring to hear about specific reasons why one suggestion is better than another.

indemnity said

Musou black paint is the blackest black.

I'll probably not go for the paint, for the reasons Unfocussed Mike gave, but I noticed that they also do fabrics.  Sadly, that comes in at around €80/m² or more, with eye-watering prices for shipping, so I think I'll give that a miss too! :')

There is a black material used by Magic Men for their illusions.

I have some that I bought a long time ago.

It works well.

Better than velvet.

Sensual Art Musou black is used for all sorts of applications for outdoor use too, cars get sprayed in it, perhaps what Mike is referring to is a craft paint or a particular brand.

I use black Formica , you can buy it by the sheet or you might be able to find off cuts. It’s available in matt and glossy

For a 100% black non-reflective texture free tabletop I’d expect to do some work in photoshop. Even stage velvet has some texture close up.

I find that a piece of black laminate kitchen worktop works well - available in high gloss or varying degrees of matt finish to suit your needs. It also provides good flatness.

Simon Carter said

For a 100% black non-reflective texture free tabletop I’d expect to do some work in photoshop. Even stage velvet has some texture close up.

For black a fabric called "Black Molton" is available from theatrical fabric suppliers, up to 3m wide.
A 6m x 3m piece was about the cost of a roll of paper, and it's really black - paper can't be as black as this fabric, because the fabric has a furry surface and it really soaks up the light.
White Molton does exist but is less used.