• Location: Australia
  • Joined: May 14, 2014

Topic: some stills to check colour/contrast

So planning my first star wars comedy and I've a small delemma.  I have white troopers (of course) and after looking at my brick inventory I've discovered I have mostly black and white bricks.  No surprise huh.  So I need to build the interior of a space ship that is star wars-esk if you get my meaning.  No yellow or green thanks so white/black is fine.  I do have quite a bit of tan and light grey but not enough to be the principle colour.

Dilemma: if I use white walls I'm worried that my white troopers will get lost.  If I use black walls I'm worried the reflection will be obvious and my troopers will get lost..

https://imgur.com/a/TB7VX

I'll be using the same grey board but you won't see the road.  I'll be putting sparce decorations on the walls, some recessed alcoves and arches etc but I don't want this thread to be about the bland wall.  I'm asking if I should use white for the base wall or the black.  The set will be well lit.

There will be large sections of wall so whatever I decide, I'll be committing to big sections of that colour, putting pressure on my ability to break up the blandness while staying in theme.

Thoughts?  Tanks.

Aka Fox
Youtube: My channel   Twitter: @animationantics
Best brick films: My selection
  • Location: Middle Zealand
  • Joined: July 6, 2011

Re: some stills to check colour/contrast

Go with white for the base. Black doesn't work for a base wall color for brickfilming, especially if the walls are fairly flat, because it's just so darn reflective. It will lead to extra light flicker, and reflections in the walls can be a massive pain. If you're really into Star Wars I'd say that it would be a good idea to invest in a lot of dark grey, that's sort of the best color match to the interior of imperial star ships. What I'd suggest for now, though, is a white base with some sort of black accent pattern, like I've done here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXMXeqotBnM
That way you have the cleaner white walls, but with some black to separate the walls from the characters. mini/smile

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7340/16345454720_e04c98539a.jpg
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  • Location: Australia
  • Joined: May 14, 2014

Re: some stills to check colour/contrast

Thanks for that.  Ive taken your advice and made up some white and black walls/corridors.  See my attempts on the same link:

https://imgur.com/a/TB7VX

If you look close enough, I have about 5 variations there.  Sometimes the black is higher, sometimes lower.  Sometimes two black rows.  Some have recessed alcoves and some have little buttress sticking out.  I didn't spell out every change I made - I'd rather you guys naturally pick out the easiest to look at.


This is done outside my studio, that is, on a table near a window so dont pay too much attention to lighting.

Appreciate any tips you guys have.

Aka Fox
Youtube: My channel   Twitter: @animationantics
Best brick films: My selection
  • Location: United States
  • Joined: June 21, 2011

Re: some stills to check colour/contrast

I like that wall in "Still 1" and "Still 3" but something needs to block that light coming through the top.
Another layer of white or black should fix that, but a 2xWhatever on top of the wall would both close the gap and help connect everything together well. And I think the indented part should be all black, not just the bottom half.

The wall in "Still 11" (And others) looks basic, but nice. Obviously the back wall needs to be higher, and I'd make the door way at least one brick taller, but that's a good, less parts intensive, way to go.

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  • Location: Australia
  • Joined: May 14, 2014

Re: some stills to check colour/contrast

Thanks for that.  I'll try some more variations on still 1 & 3 and repost.  mini/sunnies

Still 2 is the same as still 1 by the way so double check that one.

Last edited by togfox (May 19, 2014 (08:01pm))

Aka Fox
Youtube: My channel   Twitter: @animationantics
Best brick films: My selection
  • Location: Australia
  • Joined: May 14, 2014

Re: some stills to check colour/contrast

I think I'm getting close to something I like.  mini/smile

Look for the last 6 images.

https://imgur.com/a/TB7VX

I'm on a tablet until next weekend and not starting on this immediately is killing me.  mini/madhead

Aka Fox
Youtube: My channel   Twitter: @animationantics
Best brick films: My selection
  • Location: United States
  • Joined: June 21, 2011

Re: some stills to check colour/contrast

Better, but there's still a lot of nasty gaps around.
And after a layer of black on top of the indented part, I'd personally switch back to white.
Also, be sure in the short to get the cleaner, brighter lighting of the first few shots. This batch has a yellow, weathered look that isn't pleasing to the eyes and doesn't look like a cutting edge space station.

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Pritchard Studios's Website

  • Location: Australia
  • Joined: May 14, 2014

Re: some stills to check colour/contrast

The gaps will be easy to fix with backfill.  The real sets will be tidier.

I've stuck with the black recesses and mixed up the top a bit.  See images 20 -> 23.  I added descriptions so you know what to look for.  mini/smile

http://imgur.com/a/TB7VX

You're right abou that light.  The first batch was in natural sun and the second batch done under a yellow light.  I thought it was just me and my monitor but after seeing on different screens - that yellow light really makes a difference.  This third batch was done in the "studio" with a single lamp so it better reflects the final 'solution' (but I'll have a second lamp later on).

I'm still working on a tablet (driving me mad) so I can afford to mess with the wall a bit longer while I type up the script and storyboard - which I intend on sharing in the pre-production forum.  mini/smile

Aka Fox
Youtube: My channel   Twitter: @animationantics
Best brick films: My selection