Is a glowing sky in our future ?

[up1950s]

There has been a few threads on sky's . I thought that crossed my mind was a back lit plexi that has a film on it of a sky , somewhat like a negative film or a xray transparency . The degree of daylight would be controlled by a variable transformer or whatever the type of lighting requires . I know it is do-able on a framed 3 foot painting sized deal , but could it be done on a mural , and what about joined segments and shadow lines at seams ?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Funny, I was just thinking about all this.

I'm thinking I'm going to try something similar. I've been thinking about trying something like mylar or something like that that I can light from behind, or simply just move around so it's all encompassing.

I think this is because I hate seeing the "corner" or having to photoshop out dark portions where the backdrop ends.

The tricky part is that we're going to end up having to fight with hot spots, where the lights actually are, so lots of diffusion might be needed.

[DKS]

I was planning a back-lit sky section three layouts ago. The whole section would have only been about 4 feet wide, and was going to be "framed" on one side by a steel mill stack and a tall city building on the other. I was planning on it having animated lighting effects for sunset and thunderstorm (lightning).

The problems with building anything bigger are 1) the cost of large sheets of translucent plastic; 2) disguising joints if multiple sections are used; 3) cost and complexity of providing enough even illumination across these large areas; 4) having the real estate for a backdrop that projects out from the wall by a foot or so to allow for the back-lighting gear; 5) what to do about corners?

A typical full sheet of Plex is, from memory, 4 x 8 feet and three digits of scratch. I still hope to make at least a small layout backdrop this way, someday. Maybe.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ever thought about real photographic backgrounds?

http://www.bdcompany.com/vinyl.htm
http://www.bdcompany.com/translum.htm
http://www.bdcompany.com/diffuse.htm

[DKS]

Ever thought about real photographic backgrounds?

Actually, the one idea I've had so far that seems worth pursuing (to me) is to create a continuous photographic sky image. You can order prints from high-end print shops that are 3 feet wide by virtually whatever length you need; I'd stitch together a nice, long sky image and have it printed on extra-heavy matte-finish stock. This is assuming I'll ever have a basement again.

[ljudice]

David,

Who needs a basement if you continue developing 1/32400th scale?

BTW - that was an incredible thing!

Lou

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I meant actual backgrounds for photography, not printed photos.

[DKS]

I meant actual backgrounds for photography, not printed photos.

Got it. Don't know; it might be a bit too "wimpy." It would require building something to hold it in the desired shape. Might also be too easily damaged. Someone would have to buy some and give it a try.

[up1950s]

If you had a kitchen table sized layout next to a scenic window one could rotate the layout so the photo shoot would include that outdoor shot . Which brings to mind , what about the dizzying photo possibilities of a layout in a gazebo . A mirror could prismaticly direct a sky image to any shot .

[wm3798]

That's what I was going to suggest.  You've got that window well in the front wall, I'd make that a very photogenic scene in front of that.  It's got a northern exposure, so a good diffuser in the window (to prevent the neighbor's cat from being in your shot) would give you a nice steady natural light, if not direct sunlight...

As for backdrops, for me it all boils down to a cost/benefit thing.  The printed panorama seems like a workable plan, until you get the price of the output for a 24' long banner.  And in the end, it will look like a 24' long printed banner.

And God forbid something should end up looking larger or smaller, or 2" to right of what you though it should.  Just way too expensive for a very limited use item.

Years ago, our up-in-November/down-in-January had a blue fabric sky.  Since the layout was temporary, we needed something that looked good, but could easily fold up and be put away.  I don't remember what the fabric was, but it was stretchy and thin, probably some sort of rayon or polyester. (it was the '70's, afterall)



You can see the bottom edge of it in this view, despite the dog's almost complete lack of interest.

Anyway, my brother rigged it up so there was a wash of light that hit the bottom of it from behind the layout, which he could dim from white to blue to do a day/night transition.  (This was done fairly primitively by turning two dimmers simultaneously)  I recall it being pretty effective, at least for a Christmas Garden variety layout.

It cost next to nothing, was seamless, and by angling it forward over the layout by about 15 degrees, it worked well to back up the whole scene.  I'm sure there's more pictures of it somewhere.

Anyway, all the gee whiz technology in the world might produce something attracts the eye which will then pick apart its folly, while something as simple as blue fabric stretched across the background will just be... in the background!



Lee

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Precisely my thoughts Lee. Except I'm shooting for white/gray, like I mentioned.

[wm3798]

Of course!  The blue should stay on the engines, where it belongs!

Lee

[Packer]

Of course!  The blue should stay on the engines, where it belongs!

Lee

That sounds like sucking up to me  ;D

[wm3798]

I prefer the term "pandering"...

Lee

[SkipGear]

One of the gentlemen in our N-trak club is an Architect and brought in a brouchure that a company had been courting them with. It was exactly what you are describing. They were using it as backlit artwork and also had a very interesting application on in a suspended ceiling above a dentist chair so the patient had something to look at.

This isn't the place but another that does the same thing...

http://www.theskyfactory.com/