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Star Ceilings... Painted or Fiber optics? - Page 11

post #301 of 675
3/30/11 at 9:33pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xzener View Post
Real quick?!?! You wrote a novel!! HAHA!!
Yeah, I know... it's a problem that I have. I always over-explain things. Sorry! :-)
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post #302 of 675
3/30/11 at 9:39pm
Night I sent you an email and left a phone message. I was wanting some info.
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post #303 of 675
3/30/11 at 10:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NightSkyMurals View Post
Glad to hear that you got the stencil and paint.

I would say that half the size of their holes is probably a good rule of thumb. You might want to even make some even smaller. But, if you stick with stars that are right around half of the size of the stencil holes... then that will be a good start. Then, I would add in a few extra ones when you are finished and have taken down the stencil.

Please keep in mind that you DO NOT want to try to put in as many as I do. It will be way too easy to screw it up. Put in a few extra stars from what the stencil has, charge the paint, turn out the lights, sit back and check it out... then see where you might put a few more. But, I really wouldn't go for the look that I create. I use tools that I make myself (for the most part) and I know where to put the stars so they look random... and not evenly spaced.
If you will paint the stencil and then add in a few extras... you will have a nice mural.

The Milky Way is the scary part. It took me years before I would add one to a mural... and then, only because I was begged to do it by a customer. Since then I have added it to all of my murals.

For the beginner, to end up with a nice Milky Way... I would say use the Tooth Brush or sponge that Tom Harness suggested. Again, the way I do the Milky Way is different and too hard to explain here (plus I couldn't because people pay me to teach them)... but if you stick with a tooth brush then you should be fine. I would keep the tooth brush between 6 inches and 10 inches from the ceiling.... and COVER EVERYTHING within a block of the room!!!! You also might want to wear some cheap goggles too. Trust me...

Good luck... and email me if you get stuck.

Jeff
Thanks Jeff,

I will be filling the stencil holes half way, and stagger the sizes a bit here and there. I will follow your recommendations to a "T", you seem to know what your talking about... Your making a living doing it. After the stencil is completely filled in, I will take it down and throw up a few more as I see fit. I'd really like to paint a Milky Way too... But, for my final product, don't feel will be needed. Besides... How often do you get to see it?? I've only witnessed it once in my lifetime. But what a site to see... I will never forget it.

Thanks again for all the tips, if I have any questions, I wont hesitate to ask. I will post up some pics too for sure.

Xzener
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post #304 of 675
3/30/11 at 11:04pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by trenter33 View Post
Night I sent you an email and left a phone message. I was wanting some info.
Hi... and sorry for not being able to get back to you yet. I am going to try and get all of my voice messages written down tonight and then start on the emails tomorrow. My voice mail is at capacity (I keep getting warnings) and my emails are overflowing. Hopefully by Monday I will be caught up completely. At least, that's the plan.

If I haven't called you or emailed you back by Thursday afternoon... try once more if you would. Sorry about this. I used to sit by the phone like the Maytag repair man. Now, I long for even one of those days. :-)

Jeff
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post #305 of 675
3/30/11 at 11:09pm
Thread Starter 
You know... the Milky Way is such a critical part of the mural and if done right is so, so cool. If you can be patient... and email me once a month until I get out there, I can probably stop by and paint that for you (if you'll put on a movie afterwards and cover everything up prior).

I love the Milky Way and think that everyone should have their own... so I will try to help you out. Just please keep emailing me to keep it at the top of my mind. Be the squeaky wheel.

Jeff





Quote:
Originally Posted by xzener View Post
Thanks Jeff,

I will be filling the stencil holes half way, and stagger the sizes a bit here and there. I will follow your recommendations to a "T", you seem to know what your talking about... Your making a living doing it. After the stencil is completely filled in, I will take it down and throw up a few more as I see fit. I'd really like to paint a Milky Way too... But, for my final product, don't feel will be needed. Besides... How often do you get to see it?? I've only witnessed it once in my lifetime. But what a site to see... I will never forget it.

Thanks again for all the tips, if I have any questions, I wont hesitate to ask. I will post up some pics too for sure.

Xzener
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post #306 of 675
3/30/11 at 11:51pm
Wow... You gotta deal. Thanks Jeff... You are another reason why this is such a great forum. Always willing to help out and answer questions.

Hope to see you soon.
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post #307 of 675
3/31/11 at 12:28am
Thread Starter 
Thanks... but you guys are seriously awesome. Other forums are so different. Ya'll (just got back from Texas a few weeks ago and getting ready to go back again.. thus the ya'll) are willing to help everyone else out and you have great questions. Plus, whenever I've met AVS members... they are all awesome! Haven't met one yet who wasn't extremely nice. Or, even some I haven't met yet. So, thanks... but the credit goes to everyone who jumps in to help.

And, no problem on helping you out. I'd really like to get back out to my redwoods in June (before the schools let out)... but we'll see. I want to pick a moonless night. There's nothing like the night sky in the redwoods!

So seriously... bug me (almost) to death and I'll get you taken care of.

Jeff


Quote:
Originally Posted by xzener View Post
Wow... You gotta deal. Thanks Jeff... You are another reason why this is such a great forum. Always willing to help out and answer questions.

Hope to see you soon.
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post #308 of 675
3/31/11 at 10:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by NightSkyMurals View Post

THREE TIMES!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!! *$#@ &#(@##@@!!! I wrote THREE REPLIES, clicked away without thinking (it's really late) and then came back to finish up... only to find what I had written gone.


Yep, Jeff that has happened to me as well---super aggravating.

What I've started doing is the following: Every time I leave a post I'm writing, even for a moment, I always highlight everything I've written so far, right click on the mouse and then "Copy" (which goes to the computer's "Notepad). That way, if something happens while I'm away, I can just right click and "Paste" everything back into the reply box, just as it was before I left. Sometimes, if I expect to be away for an extended period, I simply paste the content in a Word document and save it, so it can be retrieved and finished later.

Those tactics have saved me a lot of grief!


Quote:
Originally Posted by NightSkyMurals View Post

You know... the Milky Way is such a critical part of the mural and if done right is so, so cool. If you can be patient... and email me once a month until I get out there, I can probably stop by and paint that for you (if you'll put on a movie afterwards and cover everything up prior).

I love the Milky Way and think that everyone should have their own...

Jeff


I couldn't agree with you more, Jeff. The Milky Way is a very special part of our mural---viewing it is always striking. We're so glad you included it in the painting!


Tom
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post #309 of 675
3/31/11 at 12:03pm
And away we go...

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post #310 of 675
3/31/11 at 1:17pm
Thread Starter 
Tom... I told myself to do that after I lost it the first time, but never did. I love it sometimes when I don't listen to myself. You'd think I'd learn... or at least hope I would.

Glad you like the MW too. I think that you two are so nice that you would be happy with anything I did. I love to lie down under my MW (in bed) and drift off to sleep while looking at it.
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post #311 of 675
3/31/11 at 1:19pm
Thread Starter 
OK, now that turned out dang nice!!! That looks incredible! And it'll be even more incredible when you see that in the light and then the night sky in the dark. Very nice!!!


Quote:
Originally Posted by xzener View Post

And away we go...

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post #312 of 675
3/31/11 at 2:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NightSkyMurals View Post

Tom... I told myself to do that after I lost it the first time, but never did. I love it sometimes when I don't listen to myself. You'd think I'd learn... or at least hope I would.

Yes, you have to maintain discipline with those "Copy" or "Save" procedures. I learned that if I forget or if I start making exceptions, the Law of Unintended Consequences is downright uncanny about targeting my brain cramps.


Tom
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post #313 of 675
3/31/11 at 8:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NightSkyMurals View Post

OK, now that turned out dang nice!!! That looks incredible! And it'll be even more incredible when you see that in the light and then the night sky in the dark. Very nice!!!

Thanks Jeff. I'm a bit surprised with myself. I haven't touched a brush since I discovered Photoshop. I'm glad I still have it. Can't wait to see the star mural... This room has become more than I ever dreamed it would be.
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post #314 of 675
4/1/11 at 5:25am
That is some very nice work xzener. Do you mind sharing your methods for making it look so realistic? Did you freehand with a brush or sponge or is it airbrushed? I would love to create something like this when I get to that stage in a couple of years...
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post #315 of 675
4/1/11 at 5:56pm
Thread Starter 
Tom... The funny thing (now) is that I kept thinking "how stupid" it was that it would disappear on me. But, it happened 3 times. So, at some point the finger needs to be pointed right back at me... and I can do that now. I was such an idiot the 2nd and 3rd times it happened! :-)

Xzener... I just made you an offer over on your thread. Teach me to do those clouds and I will add in the important small stars and MW for you. Deal?
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post #316 of 675
4/2/11 at 3:14pm
You gotta deal Jeff. You'll be amazed how easy the clouds are to paint.
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post #317 of 675
4/4/11 at 6:43pm
Okay I'm sure it's been asked before (and forgive me for asking again)

But my wife wants to know if you can combine painted murals with fiber optic ceilings? Does anybody have any examples of this?

We are trying to make a decision what to do with our setup before we hang the ceiling.
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post #318 of 675
4/4/11 at 9:14pm
Thread Starter 
You know... that is something that I have thought would be kind of cool. If a person really, really wants to see stars on the ceiling while watching a movie, and not put on black lights... then Fiber Optics is the way to go.

For realism... (with a little inconvenience of needing to be charged with black lights) a painted mural is the way to go.

So, if someone wants to put a lot of money into the ceiling by putting in Fiber Optics and a painted ceiling... then why not. Turn on the lights during the movie... and then charge up the stars and relax under a realistic country night sky the rest of the time.

Sure, it would work. But, for me as a painter of the night sky... I think that I would want to get in there after the ceiling is painted... and before the holes are drilled and the fibers are put in. Unless the lights could be turned on ever so dimly (is that a word?) so that I could see where the fibers are... it would be a pain to try to paint and watch out for them. By the way... I paint in the dark, so that's why I was wondering if the fibers could just barely be turned on?

How would you paint first though? Would you need to hang the boards, take them down, put in the fiber optics and then rehang them in the right order? That would be the easiest for the painted mural... but not a must.

Sure, I like the idea... but there would need to be more coordinating on the job, but it's doable and would be nice.

Jeff



Quote:
Originally Posted by DigitalGriffin View Post

Okay I'm sure it's been asked before (and forgive me for asking again)

But my wife wants to know if you can combine painted murals with fiber optic ceilings? Does anybody have any examples of this?

We are trying to make a decision what to do with our setup before we hang the ceiling.
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post #319 of 675
4/4/11 at 9:23pm
Thread Starter 
I'm excited now too! Not that I wasn't in the first place... but I've watched videos on YouTube too and tried to learn... but I am a slow learner. I have only one talent... and that is putting little glow dots in the right places. Clouds are different. So, to watch someone do it would be nice.

I'm working on a California trip now. Starting in Sacramento and then hopefully finishing up in Marina del Rey (still need to talk with the customer there). Then,
if I'm driving... I could see about setting some up in Las Vegas (before summer hits).

Hope to see you soon.

Quote:
Originally Posted by xzener View Post

You gotta deal Jeff. You'll be amazed how easy the clouds are to paint.
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post #320 of 675
4/4/11 at 9:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by vanice View Post

That is some very nice work xzener. Do you mind sharing your methods for making it look so realistic? Did you freehand with a brush or sponge or is it airbrushed? I would love to create something like this when I get to that stage in a couple of years...

Sorry Vanice, I didn't see your question. It was painted freehand with a brush. I thought about having a friend airbrush them, but got anxious. I watched a couple YouTube videos and voila... clouds. I wanted them to look as though they were moving across the sky so I painted them kind of enlongated. I ended up with the look I wanted, and am very happy with the results. There was only one cloud I didn't like and simply painted the sky blue over it. That is one cool thing about painting a mural... If you don't like it, just paint over it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by NightSkyMurals View Post

I'm excited now too! Not that I wasn't in the first place... but I've watched videos on YouTube too and tried to learn... but I am a slow learner. I have only one talent... and that is putting little glow dots in the right places. Clouds are different. So, to watch someone do it would be nice.

I'm working on a California trip now. Starting in Sacramento and then hopefully finishing up in Marina del Rey (still need to talk with the customer there). Then,
if I'm driving... I could see about setting some up in Las Vegas (before summer hits).

Hope to see you soon.

Looking forward to it Jeff.
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post #321 of 675
4/6/11 at 9:57pm
Thread Starter 
The look of the clouds moving across the sky is the first thing that I noticed and I love the look. And... it's your first try at it, that's what blows me away.
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post #322 of 675
4/6/11 at 10:04pm
Well art has always been a passion for me, I dabble in Photoshop from time to time. But, that was the first time I put paint on canvas (the ceiling being the canvas) in over 15 years if you can believe that. I will say that painting clouds on a ceiling is easier than you think. You'll see Jeff... When you leave my house, I guarantee you will be able to start charging people for the extra cloudy effect.
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post #323 of 675
4/7/11 at 5:16am
Thanks for the info xzener. I have watched a few of those videos as well. Not sure I could translate them as well as you have. Looking forward to seeing the final product.
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post #324 of 675
4/7/11 at 8:03am
what about black textured ceilings?
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post #325 of 675
4/7/11 at 5:01pm
Thread Starter 
There would be no real problem with the mural showing up on a black, textured ceiling in the dark. That seems to work as well as if it were on a lighter colored ceiling.

The problem (for some people) is that you would still see some of the stars when the lights are on. I'm not sure if you see fiber optics sticking through a dark ceiling... but the paint usually shows up some. And, it is usually the slightly larger, constellation stars and a handful of smaller stars. I say "handful" because a typical mural that I paint has at least 2000 stars in it, plus the Milky Way and crescent moon, if the customer wants. So, when 60 stars show up in the light... that's kind of a handful.

Now, what a lot of people will see in the light (and there are people I've painted for on here with dark ceilings who can jump in here to keep me honest) are things like the Big Dipper, Little Dipper, Orion, Leo, Cassiopeia,
Gemini... and constellations like that. And, on a black ceiling it doesn't look that out of place... kind of like, "Hey, cool, you have a night sky up there" type of thing.

Man, can I ever just answer the question in one or two sentences????? (No wonder I am behind on answering emails and phone messages!

Black ceilings are fine in the light if you don't mind a few stars showing up. And, the texture will probably hide a few that might show up in the light if it were on a smooth ceiling surface.

Jeff


Quote:
Originally Posted by arc trooper View Post

what about black textured ceilings?
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post #326 of 675
4/7/11 at 6:17pm
I have my ceiling painted black with a flat paint and if not charged the some of the stars and the shooting star can be seen as glossy specks. With the projector on more can be seen but nothing too obtrusive. I always keep the black lights on so the stars close to my lights shine and where my projectors light hits some of the specks can be seen. These stars shine nice when dark scenes are displayed however. This takes my eyes off the screen and look up and I say "wow". They bring a smile to my face.
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post #327 of 675
4/7/11 at 6:41pm
Thread Starter 
Let me ask this... Is most paint in theater rooms, or any other room in the house, usually painted with a matte finish? I can probably get more of a matte medium, but I have done other ceilings that had a slight sheen to them. If theaters are using a matte finish, then I can try for a matte medium. Suggestions?
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post #328 of 675
4/9/11 at 3:55pm
Thread Starter 
xzener... I just got a pretty decent camera (at least for me). I got a Canon 20D and as long as I can get this figured out, we can hopefully get some shots of your ceiling. If nothing else... we can take some cool pics of your clouds. :-)
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post #329 of 675
4/9/11 at 10:22pm
Now thats a nice Camera. I bet you'll get some AWESOME shots with that thing. I was gonna try using a tripod and Photoshop to get the results I want. But looks like I should just wait until you show up. Great buy!
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post #330 of 675
4/9/11 at 11:22pm
Thread Starter 
It is a pretty cool camera... and WAY over my head right now if I want to venture off of the "Auto" mode. BUt, we clicked a few shots today and they
turned out pretty nice. I think I'm going to like it.

I'll hopefully have time to practice a few night shots before I get out there,
or if you want to download the instructions for that... then you can show me
how to do it when I get there. And, if you have a Trip-pod... then I may
leave mine home when I come out.

Photoshop is a great tool.. but I've been blown away by the pictures these guys have been posting of the murals. So, I'm excited!

Anyway, we can try and see how it goes.



Quote:
Originally Posted by xzener View Post
Now thats a nice Camera. I bet you'll get some AWESOME shots with that thing. I was gonna try using a tripod and Photoshop to get the results I want. But looks like I should just wait until you show up. Great buy!
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