Mardi Gras Digital Backdrops

What is in this collection

The party sets are a purple, green and gold balloon arch with ostrich feather sprays and fleur-de-lis ornaments on a deep plum set, and a shimmering curtain of purple, emerald and gold bead strands between black urns of feather plumes. The New Orleans scenes include a peach French Quarter townhouse with a lacy iron balcony hung with beads and bunting above a cobbled street, an ornate iron bench in a brick courtyard under glowing gas lanterns, and a low jazz stage with purple velvet curtains, festoon bulbs and brass instruments. For seated portraits there is a plum velvet sofa against an emerald wall with gold mouldings, beside a king cake iced in the three carnival colours.

Mardi Gras photo booth backgrounds and party ideas

Mardi Gras, French for Fat Tuesday, is the last day of Carnival before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, and New Orleans is its best-known home in the United States. Its colours come from the city's carnival tradition: purple for justice, green for faith and gold for power. For a booth at a carnival party or masquerade, use the bead curtain or the balloon arch; both have front light and an open floor. The jazz stage suits a band night or guests posing with instruments, and the French Quarter balcony gives a street-party feel. Photographers can use the courtyard bench and the velvet parlour as Mardi Gras photography backgrounds for couples and moody portraits. For more evening scenes, see nightlife, and photo booth backgrounds for print layouts.

Tips for using these scenes

• Add a gas-lamp glow. Every Mardi Gras scene is lit warm, by gas lamps, festoon bulbs or brass lamps. Warm your subjects' white balance and add a soft warm rim light so they sit in the glow rather than in front of it.
• Seat couples in the parlour. The balcony, balloon arch, bead curtain and jazz stage fit four to six standing. The courtyard bench and the velvet parlour are for one to three, and both work seated, which suits couples.
• Masks and beads are yours to add. Scenes have no people or text, so guests bring their own masks and beads, and you add the party name in the template. The bead curtain and balloon arch stay whole in the square crop, for invitations and posts.

Beads, feathers and masks have fine edges; the Photoshop guide covers cutting out and blending subjects so they do not look pasted on.