Short answer
Pick muslin for a painted, textured portrait background that travels. Get 6 x 9 ft for headshots and half length, 10 x 12 ft or larger for full length (the extra length becomes the floor sweep). Steam it while it hangs before each shoot, and store it rolled on a tube, not folded, in a cool, dry place.
Solid, dyed or hand painted
- Solid muslin: one even color. Cheapest, simplest, but every wrinkle shows.
- Dyed or tie-dyed: soft, cloudy variation. Hides small creases and marks.
- Hand painted: the traditional portrait look, darker at the edges and lighter in the middle. Each one differs.
- Crushed: deliberately wrinkled texture, so creases are part of the look.
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01Full length
Hand-painted muslin, 10 x 12 ft
Best for: full length portraits with a painted look
- Size
- 10 x 12 ft
- Material
- cotton muslin
- Stand
- two stands, 10 ft bar
- Long enough to sweep onto the floor
- Heavy: needs a full support system
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02Headshots
Solid or dyed muslin, 6 x 9 ft
Best for: headshots and half length, small rooms
- Size
- 6 x 9 ft
- Stand
- T stand or clamps
- Folds into a small bag
- Steam before each shoot
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03Less steaming
Wrinkle-resistant polyester instead
Best for: people who will not steam
- Finish
- matte
- Care
- machine washable (maker)
- Smoother than cotton out of the bag
- Less of the classic painted texture
Sizes
Muslin is sold width x length. Hang it with the length running down and onto the floor for full length shots. Westcott sizes from its own fabric line are a useful guide: 5 x 7 ft for headshots and three quarter, 8 x 13 ft for full length of up to four people, 9 x 20 ft for large groups (Westcott). Check yours with the calculator.
Hanging muslin
- Clamp along the top every couple of feet so it hangs flat, then clamp the sides to the stands to pull it taut. Tension removes most small wrinkles.
- Use a pole pocket if it has one: slide the crossbar through it.
- Weigh the sweep on the floor at the corners so it does not ruck up as people move.
What you need
Hiding wrinkles you cannot steam out
Improve Photography lists the photographer fixes: move the subject well away from the backdrop, open the aperture so the background blurs, and soften what is left in editing. Lighting the backdrop separately also flattens it. See how to get wrinkles out of a backdrop.
Storage
Roll it loosely on a tube rather than folding it neatly, which sets hard creases. Keep it in a cool, dry place in a bag (Westcott).
Questions people ask
How do you get wrinkles out of a muslin backdrop?
Hang it on the stand and steam it from the top down. Improve Photography recommends a steamer and warns that an iron is impractical on a large muslin and can leave shiny, glazed spots. Leaving it hanging for a few days also lets gravity pull out light creases.
Is muslin better than paper?
Muslin is better for texture, travel and durability; paper is better for a perfectly smooth solid color and for full length sweeps that stay clean. Many studios own both. See muslin vs paper.
Can you wash a muslin backdrop?
Check the maker label first. Hand-painted and dyed muslins can bleed or fade, so many makers advise spot cleaning or a gentle cold wash. If a label says dry clean or spot clean only, follow it.
How do you store a muslin backdrop?
Rolled loosely around a tube, such as a length of PVC pipe, so it does not set into folds. Westcott recommends a cool, dry place and a storage bag for protection.
Sources
Last reviewed October 29, 2026. Sizes, colors and listings change; check the product details before you buy, and follow the maker’s care instructions.