Matching layout scenery colors adjacent to the backdrop help to connect your layout scenery to the backdrop scenery. If possible, before installing your backdrop, take a roll to Home Depot or similar retailer with computer paint matching equipment, and get a couple of liters of paint matched to some of the dominant colors in your backdrop. ( Or, if you will have some end scraps left over after installation, it would be easier to handle these smaller pieces.)

In my case, there were a lot of different shades of green trees. A couple of shades of green were dominant, so I got paint matches for these colors. While you are at it, get a match for the blue sky on your backdrop. Get a shade of blue slightly darker than the blue at the top of the backdrop, because the sky always gets a deeper shade of blue the further up from the horizon it is. A blue ceiling is very effective in the overall scheme of things.

Photos #1, 2 and 3 illustrate colour/texture matching, along with some other techniques. It is important that the relationship between your layout and the backdrop is logical and realistic. Initially, the trestles in the photo were going to be straight trestles, about 3 feet to the right of where you see them in this photo. Straight trestles, I figured, would obviously be easier to build than curved trestles. However, once I had the backdrop installed, I immediately saw the flaws inherent in the straight trestle plan. The only logical place for a river to exit the backdrop was right in the middle of the corner of the backdrop. Note (photo #2) the canyon hidden behind the hill (in the backdrop) to the right of the waterfall. This canyon was the only logical way for water to get down to my waterfall, from the snow/ice packs up in the mountains. So, the straight trestles became curved trestles, and I am pleased with the end result. The waterfall is logically located. If you look closely near the top of Photo #2, you can see where a furnace duct pipe comes thru the wall and into the ceiling. The pipe and adjacent ceiling has all been painted the sky blue colour, and it blends quite well.

Photo #4 also shows more colour/texture matching. The ground cover beneath the trestles is a close match to the ground cover in the backdrop. Similarly, the slate grey colours that predominate the mountains in the backdrop have been duplicated in the cliffs that form the waterfall. These techniques help to tie the backdrop and actual scenery together.

The back wall of my layout is 16 feet long, and the scenery is dominated by trees. Initially, I thought the best approach was to do all the trees the same shade of green that dominated the backdrop in that area. After that was done, I planted them all, and stood back to evaluate the effect. Something was wrong, but I could not put my finger on it. Then it came to me. The color match was not quite perfect (I do not think a perfect match is possible) and it was quite simple to look at the two dominant colors and see they did not quite match. So this is where the head games begin (what a hobby!!). I left about 75% of the original trees in place, and replaced the remaining 25% with new trees colored with different shades of green, and also some green/yellow.

What this does is it basically confuses your senses, because it makes it much more difficult for the mind to compare the colors. Its no longer just one versus another, but one versus several other shades of green. The 75% that are a close match to the backdrop tie the backdrop and layout scenery together, while the other 25% confuse the senses and also make the scene more interesting.

Photos #5, #6, #7, and #8 illustrate this technique. Note the 2 trees in the layout between the houses in photo #6. They almost match the trees in the backdrop (colour and shape), and they connect the layout scenery to the backdrop. The other trees of different shades add variety and make a direct color comparison more difficult. Note also the colour and texture match between the ground cover at the edge of the layout behind the red car (photo #6), and the ground cover in the backdrop. The road was relocated about 6 inches from my original plan, in order to have the road draw the eyes into the backdrop opening you see in this photo. This tends to tie the scenery and the backdrop together.

Photos #6,#7,#8,#9,#10 and #11 illustrate the different shades of green trees used, some matching the backdrop trees, and others not. They also demonstrate the visual benefits associated with using curved corners for your backdrop installation.

Photos #9, #10 and #11 illustrate the visual impact of the backdrop. Imagine these photos if the top half of the photos was blank wall !!

Photos #12 and #13 demonstrate a technique to exploit opportunities in your backdrop. Along most of this 16’ wall, the backdrop trees came right to the edge of the scene. However, in a few cases, there were opening into the backdrop scene, such as the one shown in photos #12 and #13. In photo #13, the most distant deer is facing the valley in the backdrop, as if it was looking into the valley. This again makes a connection between the model scenery and the backdrop.