I need to know?
 

If you were painting a background wall. What color would you go with? Black seems the obvious color, what about gray?

Inacar

Are you thinking of people or animals against this wall, or....................? I am not sure what the purpose will be or where it will be used.

Norm D

Mostly people. Just a base wall to work against and add props. I will probably still have drapes to use as a background at times. I have noticed black being used also, gray, sometimes an off white. I want it to look like the person is floating in one color, floor and wall? How do I get that effect?

How about uploading your image in mind as an attachment.
Might help to see and then to suggest.

Sassan, I haven't an image to display, I have seen the pictures of others, and I want to get there. Usually there is a chair or couch used with a person sitting. It seems the couch almost floats because the background floor and wall doesn't have a break in color. It is usually a shot from 20+ feet back. Any suggestions on getting started with a room/studio to make this possible?

In general I would say, you can play with light and shadows better with black BG but gray has an overall more pleasant appearance (With out that mostly Wow factor that black can give).

I personally think a navy blue is a good colour for a background, not quite as harsh as black or even a very dark brown.

I think the effect you are referring to here is due to a background cloth/paper being used. This is a sheet of paper or fabric suspended from a testle and draped such that it gives a smooth curved transition from the vertical drop behind to the horizontal of the floor space. Have a search for "studio backdrops" in B&H or Adorama or similar. If you can find a suitable (very large) reel of paper, you could improvise something.

Simply painting a wall/floor in the same colour will not have this effect on its own, though a matt dark colour will go some way towards achieving the effect you are after.

Duncan

Thank you for all the help, it gives me more to think about before I jump in to this. I think I will go to the flat gray, since that will keep me in line with my colors then work out from there. Duncan, the draping effect sounds like the direction I need to go. I'll keep you posted as I work towards the goal.

In theory studio walls should always be painted black. however, in practice loads we see are white.
I guess you could have a go at painting it as near as you can get to 18% grey....then you could always use it as you would do a grey card to take exposures from?

If you need colours/ different backdrops for different effects, try Companies like Colorama or Lastolite. If you want a cheaper way of getting similar products those companies offer, why not try different linen and cloths for backdrops?

good luck