Fabric backdrops have been making a splash since Shakespearean times as an efficient and highly effective way to set a mood, convey style, and make a memorable impression on audiences. Today you can quickly transform a space using a pipe and drape set up with a range of materials from versatile muslin to dramatic velvet, silk and satin, glitzy aluminum chain and metallics, and brilliant illuminated panels that use fiber optics or LED. If you can dream it, a backdrop can do it!

Read more

Any special event can benefit from a visually striking fabric backdrop. Backdrop curtains add depth and make it simple to enliven a plain or even industrial background for events ranging from weddings and other celebrations to performances, presentations, trade shows and much more. Because fabric is the perfect material to print on, you can maximize your impact by adding a logo, product image, and/or messaging — or simply embellish with valences or other stylish accessories to enhance your overall theme. 

There are many spaces that can be transformed using a backdrop, from a red carpet photo opp, to a meeting room, stage or trade show booth. You’ll want to use your backdrop to  cover the space between the floor and the ceiling, with typical heights ranging from 8’ to 10’ high, and 12’ to 16’ wide. The beauty of a pipe and drape set-up for your backdrop is it’s modular, and you can add as much as you need to cover a significant space, like a large stage or to act as an attractive room divider.

Backdrops are versatile, and whether you or not you should go for a pipe and drape rental or purchase your backdrop is a great question. Before you decide, however, it’s worthwhile to first consider your options in terms of backdrop materials.

To get started, here are a handful of simple questions to help you in the early stages of your renting vs. buying decision making process:

1) What’s the purpose of your backdrop?

If it’s to create a subtle background with no distractions, a backdrop made of classic black masking fabric is your best bet. It absorbs light and sound, and helps ensure that what’s going on in front of the curtain is the main focus.

If, however, your backdrop is there to help make an eye-grabbing visual statement, you have a wide variety of colors, fabrics and materials to choose from. Hosting a glamorous performance? Consider metallic eyelash curtains, mylar “rain,” or any other number of exciting and fresh looks. As mentioned, you can also print on or even paint fabrics to turn your backdrop into a unique, branded focal point.

2) Is your event inside or outdoors?

For indoor events, you have a huge range of backdrop fabrics to choose from in cotton, polyester, mixed fiber and other materials that are flame-retardant and durable.

When considering outdoor backdrops, you have a few other considerations, like weather, wind, and glare (from the sun, especially when using your backdrop as a photographic background) to factor in. Outdoor backdrops are typically made from polyester or PVC so they can stand up to any weather changes, yet still maintain their fire retardancy. For a windy situation, such as an outdoor music festival or performance, mesh backdrops like a Deauville mesh might even be the best backdrop option for you.   

3) Is your backdrop for a one-time event or are you taking it on the road?

This is an important question, as it may well influence your decision to go with a pipe and drape rental for your backdrop, which includes the backdrop panels and the hardware to hang your backdrop, or purchase the materials. 

If you’re using a backdrop one-time only, you may be less concerned about whether or not it’s extra durable and easy to transport. 

If you’re planning on using a backdrop repeatedly and are moving it around from place to place, you’ll want to choose your fabric carefully, ensuring that it’s foldable, crease-free, and rugged enough to withstand the demands of touring. Today’s digital fabrics are sophisticated enough that you can even have your printed backdrop folded and re-folded without damaging the artwork.

4) How are you lighting your backdrop?

Lighting is a key element for any event, so it’s important for you to consider the interplay between your backdrop and the lights that you are using. 

Brightstar supply professional and honest service.

If you’re backlighting your backdrop for a subtle yet dramatic look, you’ll want to choose a wide fabric that doesn’t have any seams. Different fabrics can help you maximize the impact of your backlit backdrop — for example, you can use a shimmering fabric like a metallic to reflect or spread the light evenly for a theatrical effect. And, like the shipping considerations in the previous point, projection fabrics can be rolled or folded to travel easily, as opposed to stiff vinyls, which crack and break easily.

If you are shining a spotlight, using bright photography lights or otherwise front lighting people or objects, you can go with a more cost-effective seamed fabric for your backdrop. There are also projection fabrics you can use as a backdrop to incredible effect for video or film presentations or as a compelling background for motivational speakers.

5) What’s on your backdrop?

As we’ve mentioned, today’s technology makes printing on fabric easy and effective for impactful branding opportunities not only for corporate events, but also for private parties that have a signature flair. You may want to use fabric for a clean, crisp glare-free step and repeat (a backdrop that has your brand logo and/or company name printed on it) for photo opps, a dramatic media wall in a trade show booth, or an engaging background for a registration desk, among countless other uses. 

This leads us to the big question: is it cheaper to rent or purchase a backdrop?

Backdrop vs Renting: Investing in a backdrop all you own

When planning an event—whether a wedding, corporate gathering, baby shower, or milestone celebration—a backdrop is essential. It helps set the scene, enhances the theme, and creates unforgettable photo opportunities. Although renting a backdrop may seem appealing at first, purchasing one of your own offers significant benefits that can save you time, money, and frustration that rental options simply cannot match. 

Here’s why buying a backdrop beats renting every time:  

Saving money in the Long Run  

Renting a backdrop may seem like the budget-friendly choice, but the reality can often be quite different. Rental costs can add up quickly, especially when planning multiple events. Depending on the rental company, prices may escalate based on the size, design, and duration of your rental. Additionally, many rental agreements come with hidden fees, such as delivery, setup, and damage waivers. These costs can accumulate, leaving you with a hefty bill that exceeds what you might have spent on purchasing your backdrop outright.    

Design Exactly What You Want  

Another drawback of renting is the lack of customization. Rental backdrops are often generic, offering little to no design options that may not perfectly align with your vision. You may find yourself compromising on aesthetics, which can diminish from the overall impact of your event. When you purchase a backdrop, you have the freedom to customize it to your specifications—colors, designs, and messaging to reflect your style and event theme.  

Sustainability 

Renting a backdrop limits you to a one-time use, requiring you to return them at the end of your event and incurring extra costs each time you need a new option. In contrast, when you purchase a backdrop, you can reuse it multiple times, keeping the original frame while simply reprinting new graphics to suit different themes and celebrations. This flexibility makes buying a backdrop a practical and cost-effective purchase for all your future events. 

Less Stress, More Convenience

Investing in a backdrop not only saves you money but also offers convenience. With your backdrop on hand, you eliminate the stress of rental agreements, delivery schedules, and return logistics. This allows for smoother event planning and gives you the freedom to set up your backdrop whenever you need it, ensuring everything is just as you envisioned. 

Although renting may appear to be an easy option, the hidden costs, limited customization, and lack of reusability often make it less favorable than purchasing a backdrop. By choosing to purchase a backdrop, you secure a versatile piece that can elevate multiple events while providing a unique and personalized experience. 

For more Custom printed backdrops(sv,sk,sl)information, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.