WesternOutlaw

How to Make a Good Backdrop

Recommended Posts

As some of you are aware, over the past few weeks, I've been building a large Jungle Indy/Adventure Diorama (Jungle Adventure).

It got me thinking, how many of you have tried to make your own custom backgrounds for photos? Sure, one can photo-edit a background using Photoshop or other software program, and/or take images of their MOCs surrounded with white sheets, but how about a real background? Personally, I like the real thing, and it looks great when displaying your MOC.

As an example, I found this high quality image on the web: junglebacksmall.jpg

After re-printing the image a few times (and reversing/mirroring the image), then gluing the pages on some cardboard, this was the outcome:

Before:

crockattackwoback2.jpg

After:

crocattackback.jpg

Share your tips on creating backgrounds for your MOC displays.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

WOW! *wub* That looks incredible. You know, I've never created an actual backdrop for MOC displays. Actually, I did once for Cafe Corner.

Is used this official backdrop for making movies from the largest Studios set: http://brickset.com/detail.aspx?Set=1349-1

http://peeron.com/inv/parts/x252px7

It looked nice. *y*

Anyone, great job! I should do this more often! ;-)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Neat. How large is that? I did not know that a backdrop was included within the large Studio set. I'd love to see lego make some more of these.

You don't have an image with Cafe Corner, do you?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Neat. How large is that? I did not know that a backdrop was included within the large Studio set. I'd love to see lego make some more of these.

You don't have an image with Cafe Corner, do you?

No, I don't have any photos. :'-( It's probably, from memory, about 1 ft. x 2 1/2 ft. That's just an educated guess, though. ;-)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
WOW Brickster thats really cool *y* thats gonna be my inspiration for today!

Thanks HB. More pictures are also available under the Jungle Adventure WIP thread.

What are you planning on building/backdropping?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Thanks HB. More pictures are also available under the Jungle Adventure WIP thread.

What are you planning on building/backdropping?

hmm idno, mayby my latest alternate MOC, junchi's passage, or mayby one of my alternate oldskool mars mocs i guess it's a surprise.. 8-

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
This would be interesting to see.

yea it would, have you seen it?

exept it will be a bit hard because it is supposed to be a closed environment..hmm anyway i'mm figure it out..

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Since I don't own any complex digital photo editing programs I typically find a suitable image in a historical reference book to use a backdrop in a photograph, for the printing is higher quality than what my printer can print. Notable examples are as follows;

1604471064_e034573bb7.jpg

1465715128_5f55cf879f_o.jpg

1260841124_0ca34d408b.jpg

1444228711_e0d010044c_o.jpg

When I don't use a two dimensional printed ink as a backdrop, I usually use either authentic snow, rock, grass, dirt, or any possible combination thereof. Some notable examples of this as well;

2287008672_3607ca8af4.jpg

562253224_db5bb60621.jpg

562548979_0d267949a8.jpg

553843555_23d6189d6e.jpg

Plus, photographing MOCs outdoors guarantees an excellent source of natural, unfiltered light nearly every time. It makes tedious flash-less photography of plastic models much easier. :-)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Interesting. So you go for the more historic images.

I really like this one:

1260841124_0ca34d408b.jpg

I never tried photographing outside. Perhaps I'll try one day.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I know you can get some real good bacdrops at local pe stores. yor probably thinking What?! Its easy just get the sheets they sell that you put behand fishtanks or lizard cages ! they work well and are two sided with two seprate designs. You can get, Desert, forest,sky, sand, feilds and others depending on where you go. And its cheep but i dont remember the price. last time i got it was for my lizards :tongue:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I use picture backdrops, but since I use them in a comic strip, I have to be careful that they are either public domain or i have to get permission to use them. (or process them to make them mostly unrecognizable from the original.)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I used to use a white tarp I thought that was all to it but clearly I now know better. :classic:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Please do not revive a 2 and a half year old topic if your comment does not add anything to the discussion.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Please do not revive a 2 and a half year old topic if your comment does not add anything to the discussion.

I kind of enjoyed the Thread popping up again actually.

I built a background for my Xmas village last year and liked it so much I used it in the spring for a display (picture below) and will be putting it back up for Xmas in a week or so.

6991662785_bf47996914_m.jpg

Used up my entire stash of 1x medium blue bricks. :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Very nice backdrops... and very creative!!

For my 2800 page Unofficial LEGO Sets/Parts Collectors Guide (as DVD download)... my Table of Contents has as its' top image, a 1960s LEGO built building (made of original and often warped Cellulose Acetate plastic of that era) model of a hotel, with a plain blue background. I chose this image mainly because I liked how the background complemented the image. This was designed by Dutch collector Jeroen Van Dorst... and sometimes pure simplicity works very well....

8191802617_5950978843_b.jpg

All of these LEGO parts (some worth 200 Euro) date to 1960-65. My collectors guide can be found available in the Eurobricks Bazaar...

Edited by LEGO Historian

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

IMO the best backdrops would be something along the lines of the ones on the early Lego Pirate boxes, for example. Simple images that are a little blurry with large swatches of simple colors, they make the models stand out and complement them. The backgrounds are a little too busy and/or in focus in some of the images here.

Edited by bjtpro

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow Tedbeard... those tents in your big pic are absolutely brilliant... are they from a set that I've not heard of or are they home designed ?

I'm loving everyone's backgrounds... really good stuff.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    No registered users viewing this page.