One approach to backdrops

Philosophy:

What I have done here is take the piece below I wrote from another thread. In it I am talking to some one who has asked a question about how to approach backdrops. In my opinion, backdrops are fraught with problems because so much skill can be demanded depending on your "given and druthers."

In this thread you will find a link to layout demo's of backdrop warehouse's stuff. You will see before and after pictures of the layout, pre and post commercial backdrop added. Some of the backdrops work very well. Others are jarring because the owner didn't incorporate colours from the backdrop into his fore ground and it looks disjointed.

I am not recommending commercial backdrop, nor am I recommending you don't get it. What I am saying in the piece below is that when I assessed MY skills, I made a decision to go with a commercial back drop for obvious reasons.

What I am suggesting to you, the layout owner who is struggling with what to do, is take my categories of backdrops, assess your skills - or those of your friends who would help out, or some one paid commercially - then decide which is the best way to go - painted, photo's, or commercial.

A backdrop is one of the most important items on a layout. Although it should not dominate, it should not detract either. There are three levels of backdrops - 1) the Wow! category where the backdrop knocks your socks off 2) the good category where the backdrop does a good job of setting the tone, atmosphere and location of the layout, but it doesn't dominate; and lastly - 3) the invisible category which is backdrop which is there but people don't become aware of it right away, but more importantly it doesn't detract from the layout either. For example, a good sky scene can be an invisible category.

The second step for me was to choose which category I wanted. Of course my first choice was the "Wow! category, but as you will see latter, this changed.

Next a serious assessment of my skills. Since I feel the backdrop should be so important, the question that comes to mind is - do I possess the artistic skill to pull off any of the above three categories. Well I felt I could do a category three backdrop, but remember I wanted a category one backdrop.

So I ruled out me doing the backdrop, which led me into either commercial backdrops or my photographic backdrops. I ruled out my own photo backdrops as I didn't feel up to the task. So a commercial backdrop it was to be.

So I decided on something from www.backdropwarehouse.com but that was when I learnt about another important aspect of backdrops - affordability. You see I was going to need about 65 feet of backdrop and to be honest I just wasn't going to be able to afford that much in Canadian dollars from backdropwarehouse.

I then looked at a local chap in Vancouver who does a good job, but I ruled him out due to cost and to the fact that I decided to change locations - he was going to shoot some local scenes for me.

So finally, finances being a harsh mistress, I decided on Faller's for my backdrop. I got the look I was after but I had to drop a category from "Wow" to "good." The only way you can see all of what is available from Faller's is to look at an older Walther's catalogue. Walther's still carries it all or will bring it in, but it no longer shows all of what is available in current catalogues.

So in the end, I installed 65 feet of Faller's (I had to order more since it comes in pre-determined lengths in various scenes). I ended up using three different scenes with three different heights to suit the area of bench work where it was going (double decker).

So this is how I reasoned out my backdrop. Of course I don't know what you are skilled at - art? photography? Or what your priorities are - wow, good, or invisible. But maybe my process of reasoning can help you out.

Do your backdrop early in the layout building. You'll be one of the only ones in your area with a finished backdrop and you will be amazed at how "finished" your layout will appear, with - if you are like me - you have no track laid yet.

Also, before anyone criticizes the commercial stuff from backdropwarehouse, check the demos out, I think you'll be impressed. My only problem with the company is the pricing, for those who need large quantities of the stuff.

There is also a chap in Australia who does some really good work and has some Canadian mountain scenes available (also scenes of Vancouver, BC). Unfortunately, I don't have his web address.

My intent is not to tell you what to do, but to provide a tool for you to honestly assess what you want versus what you can do.

 

Rick, thanks for your very comprehensive write-up on the backdrops. Would it be possible for you to post a couple of pics of your Faller backdrops? I checked Rail Images, and didn't see any of your pics there. I agree some of the commercially produced ones are very expensive when you have a lot of area to cover. How did the Faller prices compare for the 65' you needed?
Thanks,
Bill

 

BackdropWarehouse offers the photo to backdrop service. Check their website for pricing. (to varied to list here).
Bill

 

Wabash,
I am computer challenged when it comes to images on the net. In a leap forward in my life, I now have the pics you would like to see on my computer hard drive somewhere....and... I have taken out an account at rail images... but that was a month or more ago. But I haven't figured out how to get the pics into the image area.. so it may be some time.

I will post when the blessed event arrives of pics in the rail image area.

Faller's was significantly cheaper, even in Canadian prices. I had to get mirror images of scenes and I thought it wouldn't work well but I was very happy with the results and people take quite a while to twig that there are mirror images - some never figure it out.

I don't have an exact cost as I bought them in two different stores and at different times. I bought scene one first and put it up, then scene two and put it up, then scene three. I am guesstimating the total cost was around $250 Canadian which for you would be around $185 American.

Then you have to factor in the cost of hard board, glue (I used and recommend Modge Podge for glue - it gives you some working time - trust me, you need it). I also sprayed the backdrop with a paper fixative, then a matte spray. I highly recommend you also buy a hard roller (up here around $25 so for you around $18), you will need it to get wrinkles out.

Also when you install it, you will have bubbling (prick them with a pin and roll them down) and some wrinkles. The backdrop stretches when it is moist with glue; a day latter it will look significantly better. It is also a two person job, don't even think about doing it by yourself.

 

Thanks for the very helpful info Rick.
The nice thing about the RailImages is that it's pretty easy to use. Any help you might need to get going, just let me know. We can email off board to get your pics posted.
Thanks again,
Bill

 

So Rick, i made a litlle change in plans as to backdrop.i had my walls painted but have now decided that the tempered hardboard (1/8") is what i will attach my backdrops too as it will do the curve thing.SO,on to my questions.
#1what exactly did you do as far as attaching this,
#2 what did you do at the seams?
Thanks Todd

 

It's going to be interesting when I start working on my backdrop. Where I model, there are no mountains of any size! The Central Valley in California is about as flat as the plains in Nebraska.
I have Tony Danneman's book that desribes how to paint your own backdrop and he makes it seem sooooo easy. I just wonder if I could get away with just sky and a horizon line.

John

 

One thing to consider John is that painting a Backdrop isnt necessarily cheaper than buying some of them.Paint Unless you already have it isnt cheap to get the several colors you need, Brushes ,cloud templates etc.
The Dave frary method wasnt too bad as far as cost and it was easy to do.it doesnt have definitive clouds, its more of a hazy wispy effect of clouds.The backdrops i got for 9.98 each are 13x38" and they have some that are basic sky.others that are rolling hills.also a couple big city and several industrial.Also,rick used Some really nice backdrops from faller. They have 1 thts 10' 8" x 40" in 2 sections for 20-25.00 and its got nice clouds with a very low line thats fairly flat.

 

I could probably go the commercial backdrop route. My layout is still going to be on the small side, so cost shouldn't be too much of an issue. On my travels out to the Valley, I've taken quite a few photographs that will help me plot how to go about a backdrop.

John