I need roughly 35' of sky only backdrop.  Is that doable in a single piece?  If not, how successful have you and your customers been in hiding joints?

[edit] I just re-read the original post and saw that you made one 55' long, but the site recommends a sky backdrop not exceed 200" [/edit]

Also, can you make a backdrop less than 17" wide?  If I remember correctly, mine is only 14" high, so would you charge less for a narrower piece?

Kris, thanks for the kind comments.  I have spoken to a few people about the city scenes and often they find something they have been in before.  In the scene CITY003 I spoke to one man who had enlisted in the Boston Customs building in 1966 and shipped off to Paris Island.  His wife had actually worked for a company that had a part in the building of many of the other buildings in the same photo.   Its neat having one of the photos connect with people and mean just a little bit more.  

Ken, most of the lengths have become kind of a moot point with the addition of the larger printer.  I just need the time to get on the site for a few hours and fix it up to reflect the new possibilities.  Briefly, the site will no longer have separate sections for each scale.  I have found this actually turns away people who may do O Scale or S or even Z.  It also won't be necessary as I will simply be publishing the maximum size I can print based either on the limits of the printer or where resolution starts to break down.  I will also post a suggested maximum with respect to scale so street cars are not larger than locomotives for a given scale.  This will ease my workload which means I can get scenes up faster.  I have about thirty in various stages of editing.  

PayPal buttons will also go away.  I know a few people find them easy but the vast majority of orders comes from  a series of emails or phone calls to get each backdrop just right.  And again the buttons take an enormous amount of time which I can hopefully use to do other things that make the site better for my customers.

For the sky image you are looking at, I have to write a final paper for one of two remaining college classes tonight.  I will also take a look at what I can do with that image but I don't think it would be any problem to stretch that image for you.

As far as pricing goes, it is now going to be based upon square footage due to the much larger variety of sizes now available.  If you choose to go with one of our backdrops the price for using the enhanced matte paper is $6.00 per square foot.  If you choose the adhesive vinyl paper it is $7.50 per square foot.  Backdrops will still print on the 17" paper as that is about the smallest I can find with the brands I like.  I usually ship it with this border so you can cut it off or use it to temporarily mount the backdrop as many of my customers choose to do.  This way you are not taping to or putting thumbtack in the printed portion of the backdrop.  I also usually print a little more than I charge for, so that you can slide it one way or the other if you like and to account for any small measuring errors.

Feel free to shoot me an email with the details of what you are looking for.

Ken, I went ahead and cropped the sky backdrop to the dimensions you mentioned.  Basically I just expanded the whole thing to 35' long and then cropped out a 14" x 35' section.  It looked fine.  After that I cropped out a one foot section to print to verify the print quality would be okay.  It looks fine.

If you like I can send it to you to take a closer look at.  Just email me an address.

dave@backdropjunction.com

Hey folks, just got done posting 12 new backdrops to the site.  A bunch of new images from our trip to New Mexico.

Also made some changes to the site format.  A little simpler now, instead of pages for each scale I just have the images listed with their maximum sizes and if applicable, a recommended size for HO, N, and O scale.  Makes the process quicker so more time to concentrate on making backdrops.  

Let me know what you think of the new format and any suggestions you may have.  I am looking to add separate pages for the larger backdrops so you can view sections in a larger format.

Hey folks,

Did not realize it had been so long since I posted on here.  Lots of new backdrops have been posted to the site.  Got a bunch from Northern Ireland and Ireland in recent months.  

I have also started a line of the same backdrops but sized to work for modular railroaders.  

Finally, I have added a new page featuring decals.  There are two sheets featuring graffiti decals.  These are from photos of actual graffiti on trains.  

Let me know what you think.

Thanks, Dave

Thanks Dave, now I can have a close backdrop for my Cornish village I plan to have on my layout....cant wait...

Hi Folks,

We just got back from a trip to Scranton and Altoona, PA.  I shot a lot of backdrops while we were there including Horseshoe Curve.  The backdrop, designated MTN050 and available on Hills and Mountains Page Two of the site, shows the mountains on both sides approaching the curve, as well as the curve itself.  The curve portion also shows the rocky outcroppings just behind the tracks.  Like all the backdrops, this one is available for custom sizing to your needs.

Fourteen other backdrops have been posted from the trip and a few from some contributors.  All can be viewed on the Arrival Track page.

I have also added a third sheet of graffiti decals.  These are made from pictures of actual graffiti on rail cars.  They are available as waterslide decals on both clear and white paper.  Check them out here.

Thanks,

Dave

Here's a new video for installation of the adhesive vinyl backdrops.  Let me know what you think.  I know the lighting wasn't great, nor was the audio.  Fortunately I make better backdrops than I do videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqq6tJZqdg0