I don't want my backdrop to draw attention so I opted for a flat, pale blue. I also didn't want my clouds drawing attention so rather than painting elaborate cumulus formations, I went with thin wispy cirrus clouds which is easy to do just by making swirls with white spray paint. All I want from my backdrops is the suggestion that the world doesn't end at the back of the benchwork. Backdrops are necessary to accomplish that but I would rather the focus be on the 3D scenery. I do of course have structures and hills on the backdrop and I try to blend them into the foreground scenery.
I used flat for the sky and clouds, and semi-gloss for the water.
Mike.
My You Tube
Absolutely flat, I don't think anything else would look right. Reflection would destroy the illusion of distance.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Flat, you see no shine in the sky and being a vertical surface, dust is not common on most layout backdrops.
I have searched the Forum and found lots of discussion about a good color of blue to use for the sky base coat, but no mention of the paint finish type used. Does anyone have a preference for flat vs satin vs gloss finishes? I suspect that a gloss finish would look odd, but can't decide between satin or flat paint. Thoughts/recommendation?