What is the prefered width of the stripes at the finish for a photofinish line. I plan to shoot a white line with black boarders.
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In my experiences with photofinish, the camera needs less than the full width of the standard gaffer tape layed on the ground to aim at for a proper picture.
If you want to lay white tape with black borders, I would first lay the white tape (standard gaffer tape width), then lay the black border so that it overlaps the edges of the white tape on either side. This would leave at least 20mm (sorry Australian means metric) of white in the middle for the camera to aim at. This is the way I set up the sprint/keirin finish lines at Vodafone/Dunc Gray/DISC/Supedrome velodromes in Australia.
Rememeber to use matt gaffer tape to avoid glare. Fred is a good source for this type of tape - it can be hard to get.
If you want to lay white tape with black borders, I would first lay the white tape (standard gaffer tape width), then lay the black border so that it overlaps the edges of the white tape on either side. This would leave at least 20mm (sorry Australian means metric) of white in the middle for the camera to aim at. This is the way I set up the sprint/keirin finish lines at Vodafone/Dunc Gray/DISC/Supedrome velodromes in Australia.
Rememeber to use matt gaffer tape to avoid glare. Fred is a good source for this type of tape - it can be hard to get.
I forgot to add that if you are using a timing tape under the gaffer tape (as is often the case in velodrome track timing), it generally should remain entirely under the white section of the tape.
The stipes are regulated by the UCI, if that's what your event ultimately falls under. I remember it's supposed to be 21cm white -- 4cm black -- 21cm white again.
But I agree with the previous poster that only a few centimeters or an inch is more than sufficient to aim a camera on, as long as you manage to apply your line properly straight.
For contrast purposes i've seen people cheat a little and aim the camera not on the middle of the black line but at the edge of one of the whites.
But I agree with the previous poster that only a few centimeters or an inch is more than sufficient to aim a camera on, as long as you manage to apply your line properly straight.
For contrast purposes i've seen people cheat a little and aim the camera not on the middle of the black line but at the edge of one of the whites.
Contrast is the reason for the UCI spec. It has been determined that the white stripes on both sides of the black offer the best background for human judges. The overall width of the finish line matches the average wheel.
We use a heavy vinyl roll as a finish line. We had it hemmed and sewed velcro onto each end. We carry 3- 10m sections and add them together as needed. It is 70 cm wide and has a black stripe painted down the middle. We use cheap "duct" tape to fasten it to the road. It is heavy enough to screw onto the asphalt with concrete screws if it is raining.
The only drawback is that it gets dirty. It is several years old now and it is really grey. Cleaning it works up to a point.
I would paint a line if it was a major one day race.
They paint everything at the Tour. The final person who follows the race every day is the road cleaner. This man has a steam cleaner in a truck who blasts all the painted advertising and finish line off the streets.
We use a heavy vinyl roll as a finish line. We had it hemmed and sewed velcro onto each end. We carry 3- 10m sections and add them together as needed. It is 70 cm wide and has a black stripe painted down the middle. We use cheap "duct" tape to fasten it to the road. It is heavy enough to screw onto the asphalt with concrete screws if it is raining.
The only drawback is that it gets dirty. It is several years old now and it is really grey. Cleaning it works up to a point.
I would paint a line if it was a major one day race.
They paint everything at the Tour. The final person who follows the race every day is the road cleaner. This man has a steam cleaner in a truck who blasts all the painted advertising and finish line off the streets.
Fred,
Where might one acquire a finish line like the one you describe (i.e., a heavy vinyl roll with black stripe)?
Where might one acquire a finish line like the one you describe (i.e., a heavy vinyl roll with black stripe)?
We had ours made at an awning shop. I would suspect that a tent repair shop would be able to hem the vinyl fabric as well. You need a really tough sewing machine.