Originally Posted By: Greyhunter[The black steel was significantly hotter than the white steel to the touch, so maybe if you had a grass background or used something white or reflective behind it then it might work ok?
You just need the steel and the backdrop to have contrasting thermal signatures. As I stated before the white styrofoam I tried did not absorb any heat and I could see a steel plate in front on summer day without heating. The silver side of the same material was heating up and I could not see the plates against that backdrop.
In your case it sounds like the backdrop is about the same relative temperature as your steel plates when viewing in your thermal unit so I would try dipping the steel plates in ice water. I have done it before and it works. Just figure out what will give you TEMPERATURE CONTRAST.
