I designed a custom layout for a clapperboard using Photoshop.

Now I would like to get it etched or engraved into an acrylic board or a clapperboard.

A slate alone would work, too. I can simply use the clappers from an old board to turn it into a clapperboard.

So my question is where can I get this made?

Doesn't everyone use iPads for this anymore?

In my experience, putting all that detail on a clapboard and getting it on film, under lights etc usually means changing the exposure settings on the camera to keep the thing from blowing out and then having to put the camera exposure back before the director says "action". That's my experience anyway.

IMHO, I would think an assistant could keep track of all that data and log it in a way that you can look it up by Scene and Take numbers. YMMV

Seems to be too much info on the clapper board.

To be honest, I've never seen anyone adjust exposure for the clapper board when shooting video, only pull focus.

Anymore, I use it only in studio. Not only do I have to change exposure so it doesn't blow out, there's glare to deal with and if the camera isn't zoomed in far enough, the small written stuff isn't readable anyway.

You might try, nolaslates, iveyslates or movie-slates. All are .com

Regards,
David

Anymore, I use it only in studio. Not only do I have to change exposure so it doesn't blow out, there's glare to deal with and if the camera isn't zoomed in far enough, the small written stuff isn't readable anyway.

Could be our cameras have more knee being used in their set up and the clipping is often set at 108%. The white clapper boards our camera assistants use are translucent, so they're not a "pure" white like a whiteboard used by lecturers, but also allow a back light to be used to illuminate the writing on the slate.

Thank you all for the input.


David Rogers,

I wasn't able to find movie-slates.com.


Brian Drysdale,

Could you attach or link to an example of the type of translucent slates you mentioned?

They're supplied by Panavision, the board itself is made from perspex, fitted with a wooden clapper.

Panavision - Panastore (http://www.panavision.co.uk/panastore/default.asp?cid=14&clr=true#pdct477)

I expect you can get them in the US.