Background illustrations for dioramas

[Paleomimi]

Hello,

I have an idea of printing out backgrounds to put behind my figures. What are some great illustrations where the main focus is the landscape rather than the animals? Since it's meant to serve as background it shouldn't be too busy (although some dinosaurs here and there are more than welcome, long as they don't steal the show).

[Over9K]

For years, I've been using digital wallpapers, and large landscape photos for backgrounds. I like to use photos of land, taken from the water. This provides an immutable horizon, for the purpose of forcing perspective, making the models appear larger as my diorama replaces the foreground. I get them from "Free Wallpaper" galleries on the web. I try and stay tropical Asia, Thailand, Viet Nam, Indonesia, etc. Anywhere in Southeast Asia with beach tourism is going to provide. Here are some examples.

Here's the background, Viet Nam this time...




Now, add the diorama and the CollectA Ruyangosaurus and...

[SBell]

Depending on what you're doing, aquarium and terrarium backgrounds can provide a variety of scenes to work with

[Monkeysaurus]

Great idea! I would like to try this. How do you make it so they're large enough for the purpose of covering the desired area?

[Paleomimi]

Great idea! I would like to try this. How do you make it so they're large enough for the purpose of covering the desired area?

I was thinking about using some third party printing service. Not sure yet if I'm gonna follow through on that idea but I though seeing some nice prehistoric landscape art would be great anyway 

For years, I've been using digital wallpapers, and large landscape photos for backgrounds. I like to use photos of land, taken from the water. This provides an immutable horizon, for the purpose of forcing perspective, making the models appear larger as my diorama replaces the foreground. I get them from "Free Wallpaper" galleries on the web. I try and stay tropical Asia, Thailand, Viet Nam, Indonesia, etc. Anywhere in Southeast Asia with beach tourism is going to provide. Here are some examples.

Here's the background, Viet Nam this time...




Now, add the diorama and the CollectA Ruyangosaurus and...

Oh this backgrounds is kinda reminescent of JW Rebirth

[Protopatch]

@Paleomimi I came across a website providing nice ancient forest environment wallpapers, such as the following ones :







But they will probably be pixelized if you try to print them in a larger size.
The choice of the illustration would also depend on which/how many figures you wish to display in front of it.
Maybe, it would be better to avoid the ones where the top of the trees is cut ?

In the example below, I could enlarge the initial picture by horizontally flipping its duplicated image :



However, for more realism, it could be interesting to combine a 2D background with 3D elements.

[Bergues]

You can also try AI tools and generate background as per your input. It's free and you can customise as per your liking.

[SBell]

@Paleomimi I came across a website providing nice ancient forest environment wallpapers, such as the following ones

However, for more realism, it could be interesting to combine a 2D background with 3D elements.

Do you have a link?

[Protopatch]

@Paleomimi I came across a website providing nice ancient forest environment wallpapers, such as the following ones

However, for more realism, it could be interesting to combine a 2D background with 3D elements.

Do you have a link?

Sure, please kindly find below the link to the website :

https://www.fab.com/listings/ac39619f-7d39-495b-8357-fe7fa4ea9e37

Even if it isn't specified, I assume that the paid versions allow to get high res pics.
On my end, I just clicked right and downloaded the illustrations for free on my desktop which would explain their "poor resolution" (and it apparently works under iOS and Windows).

[SBell]

@Paleomimi I came across a website providing nice ancient forest environment wallpapers, such as the following ones

However, for more realism, it could be interesting to combine a 2D background with 3D elements.

Do you have a link?

Sure, please kindly find below the link to the website :

https://www.fab.com/listings/ac39619f-7d39-495b-8357-fe7fa4ea9e37

Even if it isn't specified, I assume that the paid versions allow to get high res pics.
On my end, I just clicked right and downloaded the illustrations for free on my desktop which would explain their "poor resolution" (and it apparently works under iOS and Windows).

Thanks!

[Halichoeres]

I've often flirted with the idea of painting backdrops for my figures. I feel like I've seen another member here do the same, although I can't recall who.

[Paleomimi]

I found something quite interesting in that regard. Posted it in recent acquisitions too. A dino themed house!

[Paleomimi]

I've often flirted with the idea of painting backdrops for my figures. I feel like I've seen another member here do the same, although I can't recall who.

Environments are definitely the hardest part of drawing to me

[Protopatch]

Thanks!

No prob !

@Paleomimi I made an attempt today, and printed one of the pictures (actual x 2 + flipped x 1) onto A4 size photo paper.
It gives something like this :



Will try to set it properly behind my 1:35 figures later.
It shouldn't be too bad nevertheless, I have doubts about the relevance of this landscape in terms of scale.

[Halichoeres]

I've often flirted with the idea of painting backdrops for my figures. I feel like I've seen another member here do the same, although I can't recall who.

Environments are definitely the hardest part of drawing to me

Yeah, for me too. I have a hard time deciding how much detail to give plants, for example, or in what plane(s) I should start them.

[Over9K]

Thanks!

No prob !

@Paleomimi I made an attempt today, and printed one of the pictures (actual x 2 + flipped x 1) onto A4 size photo paper.
It gives something like this :



Will try to set it properly behind my 1:35 figures later.
It shouldn't be too bad nevertheless, I have doubts about the relevance of this landscape in terms of scale.

Forcing perspective can be a bit difficult at first. Took me a while to figure out that you must first choose a "viewpoint", from which the diorama is intended to be viewed. Once you have chosen that, then you can set your foreground. I usually try to take my photographs from the "human POV", as if I was literally there, standing in the diorama, in scale, taking the photo. You need to think about where you'd actually be looking, and take that vantage point. The Ruyangosaurus photo I posted previously in this thread is actually taken from "Pterosaur POV", as if the viewer is contemporary flying reptile, viewing the scene. This T.rex below is taken from the human POV. Note how we are at level with the knee. This helps make the figure appear larger.



Also, it helps a little bit to take some time and look at modern wildlife photography. I have even straight up tried to copy photos, or paintings, by imitating angles and perspectives.

[Protopatch]

Here is an overview by day and night :





The rendition is finally better than expected, considering also the fact that it cost barely €1 (the price of the 3 sheets of photo paper).

@Over9K many thanks for your enlightened advice, your dioramas are indeed an excellent inspiration for amateurs like me !

@Paleomimi, may I ask you where you found this cute dinosaurs villa and its price, as my research on the internet turned out to be unsuccessful ?

[Paleomimi]

@Paleomimi, may I ask you where you found this cute dinosaurs villa and its price, as my research on the internet turned out to be unsuccessful ?

Sure! I found it on temu
Also, your collection is looking nice!

[Elengassen]

I've added backgrounds to a few of my displays using images I've found online and printed out. Not sure if this is the sort of thing you're looking for, but here you go anyway (apologies for the terrible lighting):







Image links:
1
2
3

[Monkeysaurus]

@Elengassen
Awesome displays! You've inspired me to try this with my shelved dioramas.


And



I imagine getting the right size would be the biggest issue. I'll look for terrarium backgrounds. Where did you get the long necked fellow in your second picture? Like what company I mean?