So you’re wanting to build a studio?
Building a cyclorama studio where you can produce high-quality photography and video content is a great idea for all kinds of content creators. Whether you are a freelance photographer or filmmaker needing a place that is convenient to shoot your content, a business wanting to create content for advertising products or training employees, or a school looking to implement Film or Photography studies into your curriculum, it is definitely a worthwhile investment.
However, there are many factors that must be considered when undertaking a studio build project - and often these things tend to be overlooked! Fortunately, Dragon Image provides quality service and advice to help you get the exact studio solution you need. That said, here are 5 general things to consider if you’ve thought about building your own studio!
From the 3D design to the finished product, we are with you throughout the whole process!
Gyprock > Plywood
When it comes to picking what materials to use for your cyclorama, it’s important to know the difference in quality between plywood and gyprock curves. We’ve found that the plywood curves tend to be more prone to cracking when being installed, and so we often recommend the gyprock curves as a sturdier and longer-lasting solution. We’ve even had builds where the plywood had cracked before we’d even finished the job!
The reason this is important is because you need to consider the longevity of your studio. Whilst it is important to get regular maintenance, which is a service we provide, you don’t want to be having to repair cracks after they have gotten worse, and so gyprock is a much more reliable option. We sell our gyprock curves and corners in metre-wide pieces, making for a pretty simple conversion when calculating the amount you’ll need based on the dimensions of your space!
Has your builder built a cyclorama before?
When it comes to building a studio, most of the time builders don’t generally understand the precision that is required in putting one together. Whether it’s the smoothness of the curves, the specific way a cyclorama needs to be painted, or simply how clean the space needs to be, there are many things that need to be considered when it comes to the nuances of building a studio. Fortunately, we at Dragon Image have the knowledge and advice to ensure that your project will run smoothly and issues can be avoided in the building stage.
While we often recommend that customers let us handle the building side of things to ensure that nothing goes wrong, sometimes you will have already contracted a builder or have one in mind. If that’s the case, we can offer studio build training, where they can come in, see our in-house studios and we can go through the various aspects of cyclorama installation, painting and lighting to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to perform your studio as perfectly as it possibly can be!
Versatility vs. Specificity
It’s important to understand why you’re building your studio, as there are many different types of studios that have a variety of purposes.Are you planning to build a multi-use studio that can accommodate a multitude of different types of shoots, or are you after a studio for a very niche and specific type of shoot?
For example, we have built studios for companies such as Big Box Cars, who needed a space to photograph cars, and Winning Appliances, who needed a space to photograph their products on a spinning turntable for online advertising. These are two examples of niche studios with very specific purposes.
On the other hand, we often build studios for schools and companies that can act as spaces for different purposes. For instance, we installed a green screen studio space for Somerset College, that allowed them to get full control of the green screen and lighting, but it could also quickly turn into a regular classroom. Another example is ‘The Studio’ in Sydney’s startup hub, which is a green screen cyc studio with DMX lighting that allows for all kinds of video production such as advertisements, music videos and even VR.
Space Limitations
Next, it’s important to understand the limitations of your space. What are the dimensions of the space, and is it big enough for what you want? What type of ceiling do you have? Do you own the space or are you renting it out? These are all extremely important questions to ask, as they’ll be influential in determining what type of space we can provide for you.
For instance, if you are renting the space that you wish to have a studio installed and don’t have permission to screw into the walls, we can look at alternative solutions as to how we can mount lighting and backdrops onto your space. This might include mounting an expan backdrop support system onto autopoles, much like our Sydney Studio 4 space!
Likewise, whether it’s a floating ceiling that can’t have lights mounted to it, a space that doesn’t quite have the width or height to fit the exact sized studio you need or want, Dragon Image often has a workaround solution that accommodates for your space limitations. If you are interested in building a studio but are unsure about whether your space will be able to accommodate, please don’t hesitate to contact your local store and we will be able to help you out!
Do you need sound treatment?
Another big factor of studio production, especially for video, is the importance of sound treatment or soundproofing. Most people, when planning their studio build, don’t consider how sound treatment to a space can greatly improve the quality of your audio, and ultimately your video as a whole. Most spaces with concrete or wooden walls, floors and ceilings will generally contain a lot more reverberation, which is why it’s important to provide a space with as many soft surfaces as possible. This is why you often see sound and music recording studios laid with carpet on the floors and walls, with additional padding to deaden the acoustics.
As such, sound treatment to a cyclorama studio involves the installation of acoustic foam wedges on the walls and ceiling, designed to deaden the acoustics and reverberation around a room. However, to do so requires using a special adhesive to stick the wedges on the wall. This can create issues if the space is a rental and won’t allow things to be stuck or screwed to the walls, which is why it’s important to take that into consideration (see my previous point about space limitations).
It’s also important to consider how noisy the outside world is in your studio space, as a noisy location will provide a lot of unwanted problems for you audio recordings. Carefully considering this, as well as the space’s ability to be sound treated will greatly benefit your audio recordings, limit the amount of work needed to improve it in post, and ultimately improve the quality of your videos!
So, what are you waiting for?
If you are interested in building a studio and not sure where to start, you now have a few things to keep in mind when going through the planning process. As always, Dragon Image is happy to help in any way we possibly can with your project, whether you’re still in the planning stage or the studio has already been built and now you’re looking for lighting. Whatever stage you’re at, please contact your local store today!