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Flat Figures Painters Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: PauloLib on December 30, 2012, 05:42:52 PM

Title: Scenery background
Post by: PauloLib on December 30, 2012, 05:42:52 PM

Hi gents,

Can anyone make a topic about scenery backgrounds because I'm very green in this matter and I would like to move from the black\red background to something that would put the figure in a context.

Thanks.

Title: Re: Scenery background
Post by: marko on December 30, 2012, 06:20:20 PM

Great topic starter!


Here is something from the old site on using background images for photos - http://www.britishflatfigures.org.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3562&SearchTerms=background


and a Gred DiFranco article on a shadow box for his exquisite Madam Recaimer figure:


http://www.britishflatfigures.org.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1470&SearchTerms=background


What else do folks have?

Title: Re: Scenery background
Post by: blaster on December 30, 2012, 09:15:30 PM

Hello Paulo,
 
Sometimes a simple monochromatic colour works well for some figures, focusing everything on the painted pieces. This of course means that the pieces have to be well-painted.

Flat scenery background looks great in a photo with movable pieces displayed some distance from the background. This means that the pieces are not mounted permanently in a box frame.

I have the following link to a related topic on dioramas:

http://www.zinnfigurenfreunde-leipzig.de/g5.htm

Many of these dioramas are superb and give you some idea of display possibilities.

I do prefer to display my figures in a diorama setting with more depth. So  the scenery background usually has to be curved on the top and sides to fit into a box. I am also new at this and am enjoying myself figuring out how to best display my figures. I share the results on my blog on this topic:
http://zinnfiguren-victorwong.blogspot.sg/


Rgds Victor

Title: Re: Scenery background
Post by: Nicholas Ball on December 31, 2012, 06:33:48 AM

After doing Alls Well with the background, I too am now considering trying to do backgrounds.

I was just going to paint a scene and stick the figure on top, as it keeps the frame shallow.

Also, if there is a gap, does it cause a shadow on the background, and if so, how do you stop this?

Title: Re: Scenery background
Post by: blaster on December 31, 2012, 08:45:36 PM

Hi Nick,

I did a similar approach, puttingup pieces against a painted background. Minor shadows which helpd to delineate the pieces from the background.
http://zinnfiguren-victorwong.blogspot.sg/2012/11/gauguin-idyll.html

Rgds Victor

Title: Re: Scenery background
Post by: Ed Humphreys on January 01, 2013, 06:44:32 AM

Try replacing the upper face of the box with a sheet of transparent plastic, lightly sanded, to allow a diffuse light in from the top.
Ed H

Title: Re: Scenery background
Post by: Nicholas Ball on January 01, 2013, 09:02:47 AM

Thanks Ed, this would probably be the better option, so theres a slight gap between the figures and background.

Title: Re: Scenery background
Post by: willie on January 16, 2013, 09:30:56 AM

 
Don't forget Model Railroad books on backgrounds. Willie