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JL&T Railroad - L&T Branch - Photo Backdrops... Journals/Blogs
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Super User 2,492 posts JLandT Railroad Super User 2,492 posts
JLandT Railroad

Hi everyone, as part of my progression with the scenery on the L&T Branch I have started playing around with photo backdrops for the entrance to the L&T.

Over the last few days I have been scouring the internet looking for all manner of photos of industrial, commercial & residential areas to use as photo realistic backdrops.  The method I have been using is to take a photo of the area on the layout viewed from its most common angle, then on Pixelmator (OSX equivalent of Photoshop) I have been placing the backdrop photo into the actual layout scene.

One of the great outcomes is that I can play around blending the actual layout into the photo backdrop, cropping & editing all manner of things.  I can also quickly print off a rough colour copy at home, place it onto the layout and check the viewing angle and composition before getting a good quality print done.

I must say that I thought things start looking really good when scenery starts, but it looks amazing when combined with a photo backdrop!

Anyhow here a few comparison shots of two areas I have been working on, the photo on the left is the original layout photo, and the photo to the right is with the photo backdrop added in another layer and blended in.

These photos are to the right of the entrance to the L&T branch, this should be an interesting test as the backdrop here curves...

IMG_0373.jpg  op%20002.jpg 

The next two photos are to the left of the L&T entrance and will sit behind the existing JL&T module...

IMG_0372.jpg  op%20003.jpg 

And a slightly different angle, and different structure to finish...

IMG_0371.jpg  op%20004.jpg 

More to follow soon as I progress and start some test printing.

Jas...

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Web Blog: JLandT Railroad - BlogSpot
Facebook:  Jas Miller
Complete MRH Blog Index: JLandT Railroad - Complete Blog Index
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ratled Frequent poster 926 posts
ratled

WOW Jason !

You blended those nicely!  The color/colour is seamless and I like the way you did the angles.  Sometimes folks get them (and painted backgrounds too) where the angle is all wrong.  Yours is spot on. Great job!

 

Steve

http://klamathline.blogspot.com/

 
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Paulster Regular poster 201 posts
Paulster

WOW is right!  That is

WOW is right!  That is amazing!!  The last two "after" photos are like looking at photos of actual places.  Great job, Jas.
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JLandT Railroad Super User 2,492 posts
JLandT Railroad

Thanks...

Steve & Paul for the kind comments, I'm hoping they translate onto the actual layout backdrop as well as they have in these mock ups.

Jas...

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Web Blog: JLandT Railroad - BlogSpot
Facebook:  Jas Miller
Complete MRH Blog Index: JLandT Railroad - Complete Blog Index
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rfbranch Frequent poster 588 posts
rfbranch

Wow...

Jas-

The angle of the photo may help but the blend between street and backdrop is almost perfect.  No joking, that's some of the best backdrop work I've seen anywhere.  REALLY nicely done.

I need to blend a street scene like you are doing (but in a more residential setting) so I'm going to follow closely.  I hope I can get half as good a result.

 

~rb

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~Rich

20Banner.jpg 

Proto-Freelanced Carfloat Operation, Brooklyn, NY c.1974
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johnd New member 18 posts
johnd

Excellent work

These are among the best backdrops I have seen, please keep us up to date on your work! John
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JLandT Railroad Super User 2,492 posts
JLandT Railroad

Thanks Again...

Rich,

Thanks again mate for you feedback and great comments, as I mentioned hopefully it will translate from the computer to the layout backdrop as well. And yell out if you get Pixelmator, I'll help you out with it over a iChat session one day.

John,

Thanks again for the kind comments, and I will post for sure.  If I can find the time I'd like to do a video tutorial on it and using Pixelmator it is that easy when you know how.

Jas... 

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Web Blog: JLandT Railroad - BlogSpot
Facebook:  Jas Miller
Complete MRH Blog Index: JLandT Railroad - Complete Blog Index
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Nevin W. Wilson NevinW Regular poster 332 posts
Nevin W. Wilson NevinW

That is an exceptional job

That is an exceptional job with the backdrops.  Very well done.  Keep the pictures coming.  

Modeling the Maryland Midland Railroad circa 2006

Read My Blog

 
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LKandO Prolific poster 3,839 posts
LKandO

I see a difference

A difference I see between your backdrops and others is you have 3D scenery positioned so as to allow only small, narrow glimpses of the photo backdrop. I believe this may be the secret to success. Plus, you have the perspective nailed. The road angles and coloration are spot on. Looks great Jas. 

Alan

All the details:  http://www.LKOrailroad.com        Just the highlights:  MRH blog

When I was a kid... no wait, I still do that. HO, 28x32, double deck, 1969, RailPro
nsparent.png 
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richhard444 Super User 374 posts
richhard444

Photo Backdrop

Jason,

The photo back drop you did is extremely good, it looks so real. I too have some places where this technique would work out really well. Probably better then painting on a wall. Is the software you refer to easy to use for not really computer literate people like me? Also how difficult is it to find the type of pictures you used.

Richard Superintendent CNW Peninsula Div.

Richard - Superintendent CNW Peninsula Div.

blog - https://mrhmag.com/blog/richard_harden
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Paulster Regular poster 201 posts
Paulster

Ah, the after photo is not

Ah, the after photo is not actually on your layout...  These are photoshopped photos of what your background will be (correct?).  With your level of skill, I'm sure they will translate to the photoshopped versions with no problem at all.
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Jimbo 46 Active Member 59 posts
Jimbo 46

Thanks!

Your work as already noted is fantastic.  For us students it sure would be nice if you had a video made of just how you arrived at the finished backdrop.  I literally feel like I could walk the streets in your pictures.

Jim Miller
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CN6401 Regular poster 189 posts
CN6401

Wow!

 

Where can I find linking scenes like that to use on my street level scenes?

Ralph

 
Ralph Renzetti (CN6401)
Weathering - A Touch of Yesterday (FB)
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avrinnscale Regular poster 230 posts
avrinnscale

Great Work!

These look tremendous!  Did you take the photos you're using?  If they're from the internet, do yourself a favor and just be careful about copyrights.  Not doing so can be costly!

 

Geof

Geof Smith

Modeling northern New England in N scale. 
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kcsphil1 Prolific poster 1,233 posts
kcsphil1

The one behind the grade crossing

Are the better of the two.  I don't really buy industrial one, but perhaps if I could see it in person I'd be persuaded.

Philip H. Chief Everything Officer Baton Rouge Southern Railroad, Mount Rainier Div.

"You can't just "Field of Dreams" it... not matter how James Earl Jones your voice is..." ~ my wife

My Blog Index
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JLandT Railroad Super User 2,492 posts
JLandT Railroad

Thanks for the comments guys...

Thanks Nevin for the kind comments. Alan your spot on... I picked it up in the other photo backdrop thread about not showing to much and making the backdrop the visual focus. Now given that the height the original photo was taken from is the reference level, this is the going to be the view from different angles so I'll have to ensure it "looks right" from the majority of angles. I took the photos so that when I was scouring the Internet for the backdrop photos I could have the visual angle from the most common perspective to check that it was close to what I needed. Thanks for the comments too! Hey Richard thanks for the comments too, the software is actually pretty good to pick up. They have some really good tutorials on YouTube which is what I used to pick it up. So I'd say it might take a day or two to pick up, I can get one done in about and hour now, its all about using layers, and stacking the images. Paul yes your spot on, this is a process that I'm using to first test if the image will work for the given angle, the angle that the original is taken at is the most likely to seen, the majority of the time. I'm using the software to check the backdrop photo and how it works with that given angle. So it may look good here, but when I put it on the layout it may not, that's the next phase to check. Jas...

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Web Blog: JLandT Railroad - BlogSpot
Facebook:  Jas Miller
Complete MRH Blog Index: JLandT Railroad - Complete Blog Index
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JLandT Railroad Super User 2,492 posts
JLandT Railroad

Again thanks for the great feedback guys...

Jim, If the whole concept works, and it looks as good on the real layout and I can find the time (because video takes a lot of preproduction time & editing) I'd love to do one running through the process from start to finish. Ralph, There off the Internet and the major photo sharing websites, which ties into Geof's comment about copyright, the images I have used are allowed to be downloaded so long as there is no commercial gain. There are some scenes that I think I may have to go out and get my own though as its very hard to get the exact angle and composition I'm looking for. Philip, Thanks Philip, If you fly over and look me up your more than welcome to look at it in person, the industrial one is going to be very interesting actually because it sits right in the curve of the backdrop. I'll do a bit more with that one tonight and show what else I'm planning for that particular scene. Thanks again guys for all the great feedback and comments, its all greatly appreciated. Jas...

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Web Blog: JLandT Railroad - BlogSpot
Facebook:  Jas Miller
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John Winter Prolific poster 1,001 posts
John Winter

Looks Great.

PLEASE keep the pictures coming, thanks for sharing. John

My Layout Blog: http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/22280
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Alexedwin Regular poster 427 posts
Alexedwin

I would like to see this in person.

Hi Jas

I would like to see this in person.

I'll be down your way in October for about 10 days around the 5th to the 13th most likely.

Did not think it would happen because of the floods here in January, but we've been very lucky with family help.

Cheers mate,

Alex

One day I might be modeling the Puffing Billy Railway, Victoria, Australia.

My location - Queensland, Australia.
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caboose14 Frequent poster 647 posts
caboose14

Really Nice

Just have to echo everyone else's praise Jason. Those look really, really good! It's tough to get photo backdrops to look good from all angles. You can't get much better than that from the photos you took here. Well done!

Kevin Klettke CEO, Washington Northern Railroad
ogosmall.jpg 
wnrr@comcast.net
http://wnrr.net
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JLandT Railroad Super User 2,492 posts
JLandT Railroad

Your more than welcome Alex...

To drop in if your down our way, the 7th or the 10th during the morning will best for me. Send me a private message via the forum and we'll arrange it. Jas...

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Web Blog: JLandT Railroad - BlogSpot
Facebook:  Jas Miller
Complete MRH Blog Index: JLandT Railroad - Complete Blog Index
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JLandT Railroad Super User 2,492 posts
JLandT Railroad

Thanks Kevin...

Appreciate the kind comments lets just hope they look as good on the layout! Jas...

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Web Blog: JLandT Railroad - BlogSpot
Facebook:  Jas Miller
Complete MRH Blog Index: JLandT Railroad - Complete Blog Index
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James Leighty Jim Leighty Super User 230 posts
James Leighty Jim Leighty

Nice effect

I need to try this same idea to my railroad.

Jim

 

Jim Leighty

Central New York and New England Railroad

Blog: https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/jim-leightys-blog-index-12227310

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JLandT Railroad Super User 2,492 posts
JLandT Railroad

Testing begins...

Well tonight I printed out the various buildings & structures that I wanted to use for the photo backdrops.  At this stage they are all in black & white, and have not been altered in any way (yet) till I get the viewing angles and size right.

I clearly have to print some of these on A3 as even A4 wasn't big enough for some of the structures to look right.  so was the concept right and did the Photoshopped version prove to be right on the layout, as it looked from the renderings?

Well the proof is below:

This angle is almost the same as the rendered one from the original post.  And this is placed on the layout backdrop...

IMG_0388.JPG 

On an angle looking left, just to the right of the first position...

IMG_0390.JPG 

And from the opposite side on the left looking back towards the entrance to the L&T...

IMG_0403.jpg 

And looking back to the left again from the crossover, with the billboard back in position...

IMG_0398.jpg 

And an overhead view of the L&T entrance area...

IMG_0408.jpg 

And finally a little HD video showing the whole scene...

Cheers,

Jas...

 

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Web Blog: JLandT Railroad - BlogSpot
Facebook:  Jas Miller
Complete MRH Blog Index: JLandT Railroad - Complete Blog Index
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Dave K skiloff Prolific poster 4,030 posts
Dave K skiloff

It looks pretty good

from straight out front, but the side shots definitely show the distortion.  Some creative use of view blocks, like trees or signs to reduce the side angle site lines (especially at the road) could help.

Dave
Playing around in HO and N scale since 1976
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