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One of the most iconic images that resonates with people, sometimes striking fear, is the motorcycle gang insignia on the back of their vests or jackets.
Using digital assets, a custom “leather” backdrop can be created to give the illusion of actual leather. This can be aged or new, scuffed or polished.
The possibilities are endless, depending on what you’re looking for. The artist’s logo or tour theme art can be designed and sewn on to look like a biker gang insignia, with patches to give it attitude. Complete the look with rips, tears, skulls and anything else that says “You came to Rock.”
So you want to create your own downtown scene and make it either quaint or edgy, uptown or downtown, back alley or main street. This is not a problem.
We recently created a downtown scene for a theater group in Deadwood S.D. for their Christmas show, and the end result was impressive. The objective was to make a believable looking street in Downtown Deadwood. The problem was they needed stores and shops that are not necessarily in the same proximity to appear on the backdrop as if they where actually there.
Using several provided digital assets, we created the new custom street digitally, complete with window decorations, snow, wreaths and the like to make the audience feel like they where standing in the actual street days before Christmas.
The end product was not only believable, but it put you in the mood for the holidays at first glance.
In the United States today, and maybe across the world, nothing is more beloved than a good pair of jeans. That emotional attachment can be used on a grand scale on a backdrop, without having to rip up the entire crew’s wardrobe to make it happen. Why not use digital denim?
Illustrated or photographically rendered denim can be created to whatever custom color or texture, stone wash or weathered style that fits your needs. Illustrated seams and rivets can be added to add accents in just any way your heart desires. Actual rips and tears can be added to areas to reveal back graphics or add a glow of light.
It’s all about capturing the essence of the artist and emotion at your show.
One thing I do as an illustrator is mixed media. The thought occurred to me that this might be a great approach with soft goods. I mean, why not mix printed pieces with fabric that is lush or textural? Mixing things up opens creative doors and makes things possible that aren’t possible with just one fabric or process.
Thinking out of the box like an interior designer/decorator. Create an experience and mood with your far out ideas, mixing smooth printed pieces with textured lush fabric, cutouts or icons or logos tour theme art will give your backdrop dimension and set you apart.
Sometimes you want your show to convey an urban edge. Nitty Gritty, concrete and steel, graffiti and decay. Attitude! I recently designed just such a graphic for a touring band. Using several concrete photographic assets, I created a 40′ wall that looked like it was straight out of south Detroit.
We added the band name in chipped paint like it had seen seven years of rain and snow. The thing that I think would put it over the top would be to have custom cut graffiti letters sewn to sharks tooth scrim and drop down over the wall like the logo and wall had been tagged.
The power of the progressive unveil. Something to think about when planning your show.
For a versatile and affordable projection screen option, Cambio! is a great alternative to traditional projection screen material. With its slight sheen, it lights beautifully and is suitable for both front and rear projection.
As the fabric is 10 feet wide, a seamless screen can be made up to 10′ x 10′, and larger screens can be made with minimal seams (that typically disappear when projected on). Webbing on all four sides minimizes “hourglassing”, and the addition of grommets and ties allows the screen to be hung from the top and, if desired, tied to fixed uprights on the sides. Screen too large to tie off to uprights, or no room on the stage for uprights? Strategically placing a sandbag on each bottom corner will keep the screen taut.
A Cambio! projection screen can also be complimented by coordinating stretch shapes, also made of Cambio! Stretch shapes are available in a variety of shapes, from triangles to stars to batwings, and in sizes up to 24′ x 40′.
This summer and fall, we worked with Faith Bible Church of The Woodlands, Texas, on just such a project. We created a 19′ h x 32′ w Projection Screen in Cambio!, accompanied by three Triangle Shapes, 18′ x 18′, also in Cambio! The pieces worked great for the church, and we were so pleased to be mentioned in the church’s blog. Want to see a Cambio! Projection Screen in action? Check out their blog.
