The next step was to finalize the backdrop. Unfortunately, I neglected to take any photographs of how I made the cove between the vertical Masonite panels and the false ceiling under the lighting apparatus. However, to describe the process is not difficult.
I purchased 20 or 25 sheets of white Bristol Board from a dollar store. I painted each sheet with three very light coats of white paint primer, taking care to ensure that each coast was VERY light – if the Bristol Board becomes saturated it will warp and won’t return to its original shape when dry.
Using a pencil and straight edge I drew a line towards the top of the vertical Masonite and another pencil line along the false ceiling. These lines marked where I wanted the Bristol Board to align.
I then applied spray adhesive to two strips about 8 inches wide along each of the long sides of a sheet Bristol Board and carefully positioned it in place, lining up with the pencil lines. I overlapped the next sheet of Bristol Board about 2.5 cm (1 in) over its neighbour and continued on around the room.
I then applied two more very light coats of white paint primer to make sure the Bristol Board was extremely well sealed. Using drywall mud very sparingly using a smooth plastic putty knife I applied the lightest possible coat along the seams of the Bristol Board. When completely dry I repeated with one or two very light coast of drywall mud until I was satisfied it was smooth enough. I then gently sanding with fine foam sanding blocks until I was satisfied. I finished this off with two more very light coast of white paint primer.
The goal in each of the above steps is to not get the Bristol Board so wet that it warps, either from paint primer or drywall mud. I am pleased to report that after four years of summer and winter weather there are no cracks in this surface.
I then painted the entire backdrop with a light blue colour followed by a darker blue on the horizontal part beneath the false ceiling. I blended the two blues using an airbrush so there was not a distinct line visible. My rationale for using a darker shade of blue is to mimic nature – when you are outside on a perfectly sunny day the blue sky close to the horizon looks is a lighter shade of blue than when you look above your head. I was very pleased with the result.
For lighting I used double fluorescent strip lighting, daylight in colour tone.
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| wall showing partial paint application, showing two shades of the same blue |
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| note the curved corner and coved top |
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| Completed walls ready for backdrop. I painted the valence the same blue as the lower part of the walls. |