If you’ve ever wanted to create a quick flat lay scene or photograph a staged detail shot on the fly, you’ll know that sometimes it’s hard to find the right background or surface. Even if you work in a dedicated studio, having quality surfaces (and a variety of them) can take up space, add weight, or be cost prohibitive. Duo Boards provide a minimalist solution to these issues. Sold by V-Flat World, Duo Boards are small portable backgrounds that are durable, rigid, and even washable. No matter where you are, you can have instant access to a faux marble countertop or wood butcher block.
I evaluated the standard 24x24-inch Duo Boards; they’re also available in an extra-large 30x40-inch size. Made from durable polycarbonate, each board is UHD printed (300 DPI) on both sides, so you get two looks for each board. V-Flat World’s product description uses the term “hyper-realistic texture,” and based on my evaluation, the quality didn’t disappoint.
Duo Boards are portable and lightweight but sturdy enough to support small props such as this cutting board and the herbs (hung with thread and painter’s tape). This high-key combination of Duo Boards has an airy feel of a kitchen with window light.
The simplest way to use a Duo Board is for flat lay photography. Choose which side of the board you want, and lay it face up on the included microfiber cloth pad. This pad protects the backside of the Duo Board from getting scratched or marred by grit or other impurities on your work surface and doubles as a cleaning cloth for the board. From there, stage and photograph your composition as usual with the look of marble, butcher block, or whatever design you choose.
An alternate use for the Duo Board is as a wall, which is done by attaching two included legs. This would work well in spaces where you have a good surface to photograph over but the background might be distracting.
When you create a complete set with two Duo Boards, using one as the floor and the other as the wall, the legs are designed so the floor board can be flush against the wall board. On my first setup attempt, I didn’t realize the legs were marked left and right, so I had to remove and reposition them appropriately. This is only required when using boards as both floor and wall; the legs are interchangeable when a board is used as a wall only. Subsequent setups took very little time, and I quickly became comfortable getting boards assembled.
This pairing of darker Duo Boards helps draw your eye to the key elements—the knife and bread bowl. Even when you’re focusing on fine details, the Duo Boards look realistic with their UHD printing.
Working with the Duo Boards was a breeze. I covered them with bread crumbs, which later brushed off easily without leaving a trace, though the boards are washable if need be. I used painter’s tape and string to hang herbs from a wall board, and even leaned a small cutting board up against it. The only time I had any tipping issues was when I moved my soft box and knocked over a board, but it survived just fine.
A nice design feature of the Duo Boards is their glare resistance. Typically, when you’re working with a surface like marble, it’s polished and shiny and requires a little more finesse in light placement, use of flags, and other applications. Since Duo Boards are matte and slightly textured, these faux surfaces are much easier to work with than their real counterparts. And you can rotate the square-format boards so that pattern design is horizontal or vertical for your setting.
The standard size Duo Board weighs less than two pounds, and the extra-large is under three, making them much more portable than the surfaces they emulate.
I’d love to have a fabric carry tote for the Duo Boards, like V-Flat provides for its V-Flats (“Block, Reflect, Fill, and Fold,” December 2021). But since these boards are relatively small it’s not a must-have. Keep in mind that a Duo Board is a single board with two useable sides, so if you’re planning to do any full wall and floor setups, you’ll need two boards.
Duo Boards come in multiple patterns such as marble, subway tile, hardwood, slate, and butcher block. They’re priced at $74.95 for the 24x24-inch standard size and $119.95 for the 30x40-inch extra-large. Each board comes with a set of legs and a microfiber placement and cleaning pad. You can mix and match multiple boards to create a variety of looks. For more information, visit vflatworld.com.
Betsy Finn is a portrait artist. Her studio, Betsy’s Photography, is located in Dexter, Michigan.
