Photographic Backdrop Question

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Guilford Railman

Guilford Railman

Well-Known Member
I’ve ready to install the photo backdrops for my GMRC build. I will be using spray adhesive to adhere them to the hardboard surface. The backdrop images I have are designed to be connected to one another.

I looked through other threads about backdrops but didn’t see anything about my specific question. Should I overlap the images or adhere them next to one another? I’m thinking overlap is better but I wanted some feedback before I did that.
 
I would think the overlap of paper would result in a better appearance than trying to cut a straight line of two pages and hoping to get them exactly in the right place.
As for glueing the paper to the wall. I just survived an issue with applying a photo backdrop to my Masonite hardboard backdrops for my three modules. The mistake I made was applying the Gorriilla glue to only the hardboard. I figured the paper would stick to the glue on the hardboard well enough. It seemed fine when I was finished with the project, but a few weeks later when I uncovered the backdrops at a show, the paper had pulled away from the hardboard in lots of places. What a mess. I found a suggestion to use heat to separate the two which worked great. I used my heat gun that is normally used for heat shrink tubing. No tears at all. I reapplied the glue to the hardboard and the paper this time and it turned out well.
 
D&J RailRoad said:
I would think the overlap of paper would result in a better appearance than trying to cut a straight line of two pages and hoping to get them exactly in the right place.
As for glueing the paper to the wall. I just survived an issue with applying a photo backdrop to my Masonite hardboard backdrops for my three modules. The mistake I made was applying the Gorriilla glue to only the hardboard. I figured the paper would stick to the glue on the hardboard well enough. It seemed fine when I was finished with the project, but a few weeks later when I uncovered the backdrops at a show, the paper had pulled away from the hardboard in lots of places. What a mess. I found a suggestion to use heat to separate the two which worked great. I used my heat gun that is normally used for heat shrink tubing. No tears at all. I reapplied the glue to the hardboard and the paper this time and it turned out well.
Click to expand...
I think you’re right, overlapping the background would be best.

I did read your thread on that issue. Definitely sucks that it didn’t initially work out for you but I’m glad the heat gun worked for you! I’ll have to keep that in mind just in case. My plan is to spray the adhesive on both the hardboard and backdrop, then use a squeegee to flatten the background to the boards as I go along.

Thanks for the feedback!
 


Are the images designed to be connected to be butted up against each other, or will the overlap create an obvious scenic glitch?
I'm using the Trackside Scenery backdrops which are designed to butted up against each other. Any overlap just doesn't look right.
 
KB02 said:
Are the images designed to be connected to be butted up against each other, or will the overlap create an obvious scenic glitch?
I'm using the Trackside Scenery backdrops which are designed to butted up against each other. Any overlap just doesn't look right.
Click to expand...
Coincidentally, I am also using the backdrops from Trackside Scenery. I did watch the install video but just found an additional document on their site about joining two backdrops. I didn’t see it before when initially viewing the site.

When testing the position of the backdrops, it looked like they could overlap slightly but now that I know they are designed to be used differently, I’ll go ahead and adjust the positions of them before glueing them down.

Thanks for the help!
 
Guilford Railman said:
Coincidentally, I am also using the backdrops from Trackside Scenery. I did watch the install video but just found an additional document on their site about joining two backdrops. I didn’t see it before when initially viewing the site.

When testing the position of the backdrops, it looked like they could overlap slightly but now that I know they are designed to be used differently, I’ll go ahead and adjust the positions of them before glueing them down.

Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...
Here's what you need that should give you better results.
Laminating Hand Roller
 


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