Help requested in making a backdrop.

[Anonymous]

I've got access to a large scale printer at work. It prints high color on 24" wide photo paper up to 50 feet long.

I'm thinking of useing it to make a backdrop for the layout I'm working on. But I need to find a good background picture. Does anyone have any idea where to get a hi res picture of the blue ridge mountains that would look good on the back of a train layout?

I should add that I have NO artistic skills whatsoever. So a picture or a commercially available product is my only answer. I'd prefer to find a picture.
Thanks
TPL

[Roger Bielen]

I don't know where you'd find the right one, but calanders are always a good source of photos.

[FJ and G]

I don't know if your method will work because of the difficulty in finding a photo of that dimension.

Better yet, use your digital camera (if you have one), mount on a tripod (if you have one), and take a "panoramic" shot using the camera's special settings of a beautiful scene (if you live near a beautiful scene). I'm assuming you live near the beautiful mountains, since the Hokies are Virginia Tech team.

But your idea is pretty good reg. using the large-scale printer.

[daan]

The main problem with using photo's as a background is that the background usually looks more detailled then your layout. The photo should not be picturing any house or building, no trees from closeup etc, otherwise your layout looks unrealistic.
In the CTT there was an article about painting backdrops, which didn't aquire more skills then to be able to hold a brush and add paint on the wall in a few colours. The result was fantastic, and no details where added. Just the boundaries of the next hills where painted and your emagination does the rest.
May be some calendar photo's or the shots which are loaded in windows xp as standard settings are usable, but it's hard to make usable pictures yourself which don't make your layout look funny.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by daan

In the CTT there was an article about painting backdrops, which didn't aquire more skills then to be able to hold a brush and add paint on the wall in a few colours.

Yes, but this may be past my skill level with paint....
...if it doesn't take a roller, I don't paint it.

Actually, I have considered this article for some time now, but I'm afraid it won't come out like the magazine. Also, the paints mentioned in that article are no longer sold (they're last years colors) and I'm not sure of a suitable replacement.