Sky Board Color Test Your Opinion

[johncolley]

Here's a hint: take pictures of the sky you want to duplicate, print the best one on large photo paper, then take the photo into your layout area with the lighting you are going to use when you operate. Move it around to see if it changes with the orientation of your lights. When you are happy with the photo (in the layout room!) that's the colors you need to match, remembering that it fades to lighter shades ( more and more white) the closer to the horizon. The reason is because room lighting is quite different than outdoor sunlight.                          jc5729 John Colley, Port Townsend, WA

[C&O Fan]

I prefer your lighter version, but it's a good idea to graduate the colour from light to darker from the horizon up.  I bought a gallon of the colour that I wanted for my "lower" sky colour, then had two quarts of it tinted darker, for the "mid" sky, and the remainder tinted darker still, for the "upper" sky.  Most of us have inadequate layout room lighting (mine is about 1300 watts of fluorescent lighting in about 560 sq. ft., and I'd prefer more), so painting your sky lighter will brighten both the room and the layout.  I applied the paint with a roller, working horizontally and blending the different shades together while the paint was still wet.  I've yet to get around to adding clouds.

In the second photo, the colours on the far wall are closest to the actual shades, although still somewhat lighter.  The "gap" on the corner is to allow for installation of a second level of the layout.

Wayne 

 

Now this is what I'm trying to do

The second photo looks right on !

Hard to tell its 3 colors  you've done a great job of blending !

[C&O Fan]

Terry,

I went to the paint department and picked up paint chip samples in many different shades of light (sky) blue. I then taped them to the backdrop in different areas of my layout and after looking at them in the train room lighting, it was obvious to my eye which color looked the best. The color I settled on was named Utah Sky blue....go figure.

Just a suggestion,

Don Z.

Good idea Don !

I have to go back to the store anyway fopr more paint

i'll pick up some samples

Thanks !

[doctorwayne]

I prefer your lighter version, but it's a good idea to graduate the colour from light to darker from the horizon up.  I bought a gallon of the colour that I wanted for my "lower" sky colour, then had two quarts of it tinted darker, for the "mid" sky, and the remainder tinted darker still, for the "upper" sky.  Most of us have inadequate layout room lighting (mine is about 1300 watts of fluorescent lighting in about 560 sq. ft., and I'd prefer more), so painting your sky lighter will brighten both the room and the layout.  I applied the paint with a roller, working horizontally and blending the different shades together while the paint was still wet.  I've yet to get around to adding clouds.

In the second photo, the colours on the far wall are closest to the actual shades, although still somewhat lighter.  The "gap" on the corner is to allow for installation of a second level of the layout.

Wayne 

[Don Z]

Terry,

I went to the paint department and picked up paint chip samples in many different shades of light (sky) blue. I then taped them to the backdrop in different areas of my layout and after looking at them in the train room lighting, it was obvious to my eye which color looked the best. The color I settled on was named Utah Sky blue....go figure.

Just a suggestion,

Don Z.

[wjstix]

In the past I've used three colors - a medium/light blue, a light blue, and white, blending them together where they meet. Looking out the window now, the horizon is kind of a hazy very light blue - almost white. 20-30 degrees above that is light blue, and the sky straight overheard is a darker shade of blue.

[C&O Fan]

 In that case I'd go with what Philip said - lighten the darker shade and grade it down to the paler one.  Obviously your lighting can alter the appearance of the sky anyway. Who knows what your improved lighting will do to it? Chuck in a spotlight now and then, and you'll have quite a variety of skies and weather.

 

 Mike 

 

Sounds like a plan !

I'll play around with the short section then duplicate the method on the rest

[mikelhh]

 In that case I'd go with what Philip said - lighten the darker shade and grade it down to the paler one.  Obviously your lighting can alter the appearance of the sky anyway. Who knows what your improved lighting will do to it? Chuck in a spotlight now and then, and you'll have quite a variety of skies and weather.

 

 Mike 

[Gandy Dancer]

I always go at least one shade lighter than I originally like because they reflect more light onto the layout.  The layout room always seems to end up darker than expected. 

A richer blue is good if the layout is lit with normal light bulbs.  That way the blue "reflection" helps adjust for the lack of blue in a filament bulb. 

[C&O Fan]

 Getting the right blue is really hard.  I think the layout photo looks best because it appears the sky is slightly mauve, although that may be a trick of the light.  I think it's very compatible with your landscape colour too.

 It's impossible to say what the sky's like in your area, but generally northern hemisphere sky is considered to have a touch of ultramarine blue in it, which is faintly tinged with violet.  And before anyone jumps down my throat, let me repeat that it's very much a generalisation.  If the slightly warmer look of a mauvey blue suits you maybe you could track down something along those lines, but remember it would have to be a very subtle suggestion of mauve.

 

 Mike 

Mike It is a trick of the light because it's the same dark blue as the other picture

that was taken outside

It's just that it's indoors in a poorly lit room

My layout room has only three 100 watt bulbs one in the center over head fan

and the other 2 are wall fixtures

Someday soon i hope to have track lighting

[mikelhh]

 Getting the right blue is really hard.  I think the layout photo looks best because it appears the sky is slightly mauve, although that may be a trick of the light.  I think it's very compatible with your landscape colour too.

 It's impossible to say what the sky's like in your area, but generally northern hemisphere sky is considered to have a touch of ultramarine blue in it, which is faintly tinged with violet.  And before anyone jumps down my throat, let me repeat that it's very much a generalisation.  If the slightly warmer look of a mauvey blue suits you maybe you could track down something along those lines, but remember it would have to be a very subtle suggestion of mauve.

 

 Mike 

[stokesda]

Unfortunately, the server at work is blocking Photobucket, so I can't comment on the photos you posted.

However... I have heard that a good rule of thumb is to take one of those paint color wheels/strips/whatever, and go outside, then look up and try to get the closest match to the existing sky color. Then go one shade darker for your backdrop color. I forget where I heard this - maybe on the first Dream, Plan, Build video?

[loathar]

What it comes down to is What color is the sky in your world?(to quote Dr. Fraiser Crane)

[C&O Fan]

The last time i saw blue sky was 38 days ago so i can't trust my memory

the last 2 days were the first with out rain but still total cloud cover

[GAPPLEG]

Yeah I revised my stupid statement, That's how mine is painted on my walls , the correct way.

[pcarrell]

in the distance at ground level the sky is darker and as you look up more and more it gets lighter. I think the light blue you have is great for the upper sky.

You mean it's the other way around.  Towards the horizon it's lighter blue (you're viewing it through more atmosphere) and directly overhead it's a darker blue.

 

Personally, I'd go a little lighter on the left side color and put that at the top, then fade it down towards the bottom and end up closer to the right side color. 

But thats just my

[GAPPLEG]

I thought looking at it that the light blue is right on. The only thing I suggest is go out and look at the sky. in the distance at ground level the sky is lighter and as you look up more and more it gets darker. I think the light blue you have is great for the upper sky.

[loathar]

Top picture-Right side is way too light. Left side looks too aqua. But the layout pic looks really good. (proper color)

[C&O Fan]

The area on the right looks light blue to me, but color renditions are not very trustworthy on computer monitors.

 

I know ! That's what makes it tuff !

Outside the color looks much different than inside

and the photo is different than in person

 

[Pruitt]

The area on the right looks light blue to me, but color renditions are not very trustworthy on computer monitors.

[C&O Fan]

I am repainting my skyboards a lighter color blue

in a recent thread some one said 2 shades lighter than Sky blue soooooooooooo

thats what i had mixed

To me the right side looks white

the left side is the old color which is too dark

i sprayed some light tan for contrast on each side

The light color only looks blue in the can

What do you think ?

here's the old color on the layout