Photographic blow-up walls

lespaceplie · May 15, 2008, 10:53 pm

These flats were a regular part of the interior set in the early days even making minor appearances in some Pertwee episodes. Sometimes they were oriented the wrong way (horizontal rows of roundels instead of vertical rows).

What were these walls a photograph of? The design is not merely a photo of the set walls unless it is the back of them. It was probably easier to capture a smaller textured surface.

Also, does anyone have a high-resolution photo of these walls? I'd consider using photographic walls in a fan production. Trompe l'oeil might work well in addition to a model set.

Rassilons Rod · Jun 25, 2008, 06:24 am

I think they had three of these. 2 Large and a small one.

The 2 large ones can be seen in full on their sides in The Mind Robber - This should give a good idea of how big they were and how many roundels per sheet.

I think the little one sat next to the Fault Locator on occasion.

-Marc

celation · Jun 19, 2008, 02:21 pm

These walls were a photograph, I believe, of the piece of plastic that Peter Brachaki originally based the walls on.

As the wooden walls were quite expensive to build, and they needed more set area, they decided to use a photographic blow-up of this plastic.

I'm convinced I've seen a photograph of this in print somewhere, but I can't remember where. I thought I'd seen it in the Early Years book, but it's not there.

I too would love to get a high resolution photo of them. I've tried to make a composite picture of one in Photoshop, but I didn't get very far, due mainly to not having very good reference to start with.

Unfortunately, it's not as simple as copy-and-paste, as the shadows and shading change across the plastic, so the roundels in one corner are quite different from those in the opposite one.

C.

Sorvan · Jun 19, 2008, 04:38 pm

It's probably easier these days to make a 3D model and then render at a very high resolution than try to photograph something like that.

Colin

Rassilons Rod · Jun 23, 2008, 07:23 am

In an unrelated search, I found this which I think is a similar pattern...

Might make a good start to a "photo blowup wall" texture

http://www.stock-textures.com/wallpaper/Metals/

-Marc

davidnagel · Jun 23, 2008, 01:05 pm

Ooooh this is interesting conversation. I actually had wondered whether that wall pattern exists anywhere. But yes, maybe its more of a make a 3d model of it beforehand. Though it should be interesting creating something 2d in photoshop...

reference pictures anyone?

celation · Jun 23, 2008, 02:51 pm

reference pictures anyone?

I'll second that request! (While simultaneously not actually offering any myself...

Actually, there are some obvious ones on the BBC site from Power, albeit somewhat out of focus.

I'd like to give the rendering of a 3D one a go, but without decent reference, it's a bit tricky.

C.

Rassilons Rod · Jun 23, 2008, 08:28 pm

celation · Jun 24, 2008, 08:32 am

You certainly know your reference, Marc!

That's great. Should be able to do something with that...

Thanks,

C.

Rassilons Rod · Jun 24, 2008, 09:13 am

Well that site is awesome... Its like Tragical History with no spam!

Don't forget that some of those have secondary links within to larger images. Have a look at the top right of each page.

-Marc

davidnagel · Jun 24, 2008, 10:00 am

sweet!

you were fast to get this together werent you marc!

haha

celation · Jun 24, 2008, 10:19 am

What's the deal with Tragical History and spam?

Rassilons Rod · Jun 24, 2008, 10:52 am

Well I went there yesterday and it didn't seem half as bad as I remember...

But they have a history of hosting all their images on as many free sits as they can get accounts on and while thats all well and good, they used to have a million pop ups and so forth.

They seem to have a script now that works like uploading images here...

-Marc

celation · Jun 24, 2008, 11:23 am

Ah - okay, ta.

I think I'll be using that chronovore site from now on, though!

celation · Jun 24, 2008, 11:35 pm

After making a slightly dodgy 3D roundel, and duplicating it up as instances, I think I understand a little more about the image.

I believe that the roundelled piece of plastic was put on a mirror for the photograph. The roundels themselves are cut-outs in the hollows of the plastic sheet. Some areas of the plastic touch the mirror better than others, and where it doesn't you can see a reflection of the plastic in the mirror behind. The image is taken slightly to one side of the plastic, rather than face-on, to avoid seeing the camera in the mirror. The mirror can then reflect a lit/backlit piece of paper which shows up in the roundels.

At least, that's what I believe so far. How easy this will be to reproduce, is probably "not very". If I can create something similar, and use it as a basis for painting and copy/pasting on top of, that might work.

C.

News:

Photographic blow-up walls

lespaceplie

May 15, 2008, 10:53 pm Last Edit: Nov 15, 2010, 11:34 pm by Scarfwearer

Rassilons Rod

Jun 25, 2008, 06:24 am #1 Last Edit: Jan 25, 2010, 05:25 am by scarfwearer

celation

Jun 19, 2008, 02:21 pm #2 Last Edit: May 26, 2010, 09:55 pm by scarfwearer

Sorvan

Jun 19, 2008, 04:38 pm #3 Last Edit: May 26, 2010, 09:55 pm by scarfwearer

Rassilons Rod

Jun 23, 2008, 07:23 am #4 Last Edit: May 26, 2010, 09:55 pm by scarfwearer

davidnagel

Jun 23, 2008, 01:05 pm #5 Last Edit: May 26, 2010, 09:56 pm by scarfwearer

celation

Jun 23, 2008, 02:51 pm #6 Last Edit: May 26, 2010, 09:56 pm by scarfwearer

Rassilons Rod

Jun 23, 2008, 08:28 pm #7 Last Edit: May 26, 2010, 09:56 pm by scarfwearer

celation

Jun 24, 2008, 08:32 am #8 Last Edit: May 26, 2010, 09:56 pm by scarfwearer

Rassilons Rod

Jun 24, 2008, 09:13 am #9 Last Edit: May 26, 2010, 09:56 pm by scarfwearer

davidnagel

Jun 24, 2008, 10:00 am #10 Last Edit: May 26, 2010, 09:57 pm by scarfwearer

celation

Jun 24, 2008, 10:19 am #11 Last Edit: May 26, 2010, 09:57 pm by scarfwearer

Rassilons Rod

Jun 24, 2008, 10:52 am #12 Last Edit: May 26, 2010, 09:57 pm by scarfwearer

celation

Jun 24, 2008, 11:23 am #13 Last Edit: May 26, 2010, 09:57 pm by scarfwearer

celation

Jun 24, 2008, 11:35 pm #14 Last Edit: May 26, 2010, 09:57 pm by scarfwearer