Just throwing my in. Take a look outside. See what you see not what you think you see.
The sky is not all blue nor all white. Clouds are not always 'fluffy'.
The different shades of gray in the sky are huge. It is not always sunny. The sky can be dull and overcast yet no rain in sight. Perhaps there are rain clouds. (That would be different.) Is there a mist lying over the river?
Greenery. As the song goes 'Fifty shades of green' (and no black.) Has it been raining? Are there any puddles?
Wildlife is there in abundance. Are there any birds on your layout. Cats and dogs?
Then add people. People standing talking to each other. People at the Mall. For some reason they stop as they come out. Are they at their car fumbling for their keys so they can load their shopping.
Look outside and see what you see not what you think you see. There are a million things going on. Look outside and you will see life differently.
Put it all together from the sky on the backscene to the front of the layout and you will have a living railroad.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
For my layouts, it depends on how far I can get the camera from the scene. I like sky in the background.
I have settled on 20 inches as a good height for the sky backdrop.
Your needs and preferences could be very different.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
DR DENNIS GORDANI am late to the discussion, but saw no reference to the fact that the sky is lightest near the horizon and actually gets darker as one approaches the vertical.
Very true, and the best backdrops use a light or hazy whitish blue. Ive notice a lot of dark blue backdrops in layout photos and they don't look right at all. Bleh.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
mbinsewi I struggled with the horizon on my painted scene looking over Lake Superior, and making sure it looked right with the rest of the lay out, and how it looked as you walk up to the lay out. but I think we all second guess our work. What you see in the picture took 3 tries. My back drop is all hand painted, from lay out to ceiling.
I struggled with the horizon on my painted scene looking over Lake Superior, and making sure it looked right with the rest of the lay out, and how it looked as you walk up to the lay out. but I think we all second guess our work. What you see in the picture took 3 tries.
My back drop is all hand painted, from lay out to ceiling.
Rich
Alton Junction
The sky is infinite. The blue sky of the backdrop should go to the ceiling, IMO. It helps to make the world look more immense relative to the trains.
I suppose doing that for the divider of a peninsula could get claustrophobic. 12 inches taller than your height should be minimum, IMO.
- Douglas