Evolution of a sky

[jacon12]

Today I was doing some photography on my layout and decided to get a shot of my Atlas GP7. I was pleased with the way it came out, but something was lacking. I have a blue background, solid blue, painted on masonite hardboard and you can see it in this picture.

it looks ok but lacks some realism. I decided to put in clouds using Photoshop on my computer and you can see the result below…

Looking at it I wondered it would look like if I’d painted that blue backdrop a darker shade at the top and lighter at the bottom, just like I should’ve done, so I did it in Photoshop…

I think I need to redo my sky.

So… what do you think?

JaRRell

[mikelhh]

Obviously it’s going to come down to personal taste. My pick is the third version, but they all look good. So does the GP!

Mike

[ARTHILL]

Good look. Now can you do that with a paint brush? I have found that to be more challenge than I expected. Bob Ross makes it look so easy.

[jacon12]

Thank Mike and Art. Yes, the trick now is doing it with a paintbrush, or airbrush… which I don’t own and have never used. [:O]

JaRRell

[loathar]

http://www.trains.com/TRC/CS/forums/465810/ShowPost.aspx

Here’s a post on using spray cans to do clouds. I’m at the same point right now. Just got my backdrop painted and need to practice my clouds. I wish I had a large format printer to do my own backdrops.

[jacon12]

http://www.trains.com/TRC/CS/forums/465810/ShowPost.aspx

Here’s a post on using spray cans to do clouds. I’m at the same point right now. Just got my backdrop painted and need to practice my clouds. I wish I had a large format printer to do my own backdrops.

Thanks for the link Loathar, those look good. I’ve got a can a white paint and I think I’ll get a can of cheap blue and a large piece of cardboard, paint it blue and practice makin’ some clouds!

Jarrell

[Milwhiawatha]

Personally either the 2nd or last one looks right. I have tried painting clouds with a paint brush and failed. But I used my airbrush and mine came out prety good for my first try. I didn tuse grey under the clouds I let the sky blue show through and it gives the illusion of shadow. Well guess its time for me to work on more soda machines and weathering the shops so have a good one and good luck.

[jacon12]

Yep, I like your clouds, they have the faint edges that I tend to like instead of hard edged.

JaRRell

Personally either the 2nd or last one looks right. I have tried painting clouds with a paint brush and failed. But I used my airbrush and mine came out prety good for my first try. I didn tuse grey under the clouds I let the sky blue show through and it gives the illusion of shadow. Well guess its time for me to work on more soda machines and weathering the shops so have a good one and good luck.

[jfugate]

One of the tricks is to make the clouds closer together as you get closer to the horizon. Also make the clouds closer to the horizon smaller and skinnier top-to-bottom.

If you look closely at the photoshop clouds, you will see this is how they look. Also looking at any photo with a sky full of fluffy fair-weather clouds, you will see this is how the clouds look. If you use these tricks, your clouds will look better.

[jacon12]

One of the tricks is to make the clouds closer together as you get closer to the horizon. Also make the clouds closer to the horizon smaller and skinnier top-to-bottom.

If you look closely at the photoshop clouds, you will see this is how they look. Also looking at any photo with a sky full of fluffy fair-weather clouds, you will see this is how the clouds look. If you use these tricks, your clouds will look better.

Thanks Joe. When I painted these in Photoshop that’s what I tried to do. I think I needed to get them a little closer together though. Anyway, it’s practice!

JaRRell