For me this is a bit of a paradox. I use Masonite or walls depending on the location) as the base for a skyblue coat of paint. I have since added hand painted backdrops that range from OK to pretty good depending on location and viewing angle.
I have seen lots of photo backdrops in pictures that look great but very few that look great in person. Most of the issue has to do with limiting the viewing angle so that the photo looks convincing – IMHO pretty hard to pull off.
I ended up using Dave Biondi’s videos to learn how to paint backdrops – They turned out well enough with lots of help from my wife the artist. Rob Spangler and Rick Sutton are two guys who paint their own backdrops with great results. I think Rob has a clinic/youtube on the subject that is quite helpful.
As long as it is subtle, even a light shadow of a mountain range or trees can be quite effective in creating a scene with more depth.
Have fun,
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
I'm modeling specific locations, so I tape photos of those areas and use them as backdrops. First I put up a skyboard of styrene and paint it a sky blue. Then I build a panoramic photo of the background scenery and have it printed. I cut off the sky and use wallpaper paste to stick the backdrop to the skyboard. Seems effective.
Area near Hudson WY on the layout:
Casper (the part below the upper fascia):
I like those backdrops a whole lot better than the plain blue skyboard...
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
To me the success of a photo backdrop is how well it blends with the foreground scenery. In most cases I am happy with the way my photo backdrops fit in with the foreground scenery. The one glaring exception is the photo backdrop I put behind the Blair-Line drive in theater. I put the movie screen much too close to the photo backdrop of a distant tree covered hillside. It makes the hillside seem very close and makes it obvious it is right behind the screen when there should be some distance to make room for the cars, projector, concessions, etc. I was looking at that a few days ago and got the idea to move the screen away from the backdrop to see if that will improve the illusion. As of now, it sticks out like a sore thumb.