Purchasing Backgrounds

Krafty · Post by **Krafty** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 5:13 pm

I've been giving some thought to backgrounds recently. Mostly because of the Beta Awards category and the number I see on YJ among the general cel section.
We often describe our favourite CELS because the characters are what we remember most, but the BGs also help us understand more about the mood and environment while we're watching and are important in every anime.

For those who purchase animation art backgrounds, what are your motives for doing so?

I'd be interested to know so please give some descriptions and examples

kittens · Post by **kittens** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 6:36 pm

I voted for the first choice but I would like to say the last one as well

(also I would like to choose all of them

)

DBZ Cel Maniac · Post by **DBZ Cel Maniac** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 7:04 pm

****************

monkeyboy · Post by **monkeyboy** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 7:20 pm

I voted for #1 but would have clicked one that said all of the above!

Personally a good background anchors a cel.
Original matching is best (of course). One from the same series is awesome too! Since I frame some of my cels, I think a background makes the cel, no-matter what it is. The white of a sketch behind the cel is very distracting to me.

<---2 sented

graymouser · Post by **graymouser** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 10:06 pm

I picked number two. Most of my miscellaneous backgrounds just happened to come with BGs of CG shows I like. I do have a few that I bought because I thought they were pretty, but they are a small part of my overall BG collection.

Total BGs: 237
BGs matched with shows; 172 (one unplanned)
BGs that are unknown but came with known BGs: 53
BGs bought for looks alone: 12

I am not counting BGs matched with cels in this count.

syan · Post by **syan** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 10:09 pm

I like stand alone bgs of forests, cityscapes, etc.

So, 3 and 4 technically (voted 3). When I purchase backgrounds, I usually don't have a cel in mind. I buy the background cause I like it for it (the scene, the colors). If a background later works for a cel I have, all the better.

Keropi · Post by **Keropi** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 12:48 am

What's generally MOST important when buying a Background?

1. To accompany an exisiting cel & enhance it (even if it's out of context)

Not really. I've never bought a background to accompany a cel. One time I saw a nighttime cliff background that looked like it would go with my Refrain Blue cel:

But the perspective was off so I decided not to buy it. I've never been much interested in buying backgrounds to go along with my cels.

2. The BG is from a series I already collect and I want everything I can get from that anime

Sort of. I have backgrounds from computer colored anime I've gotten because there wasn't much else around from the series (none are up yet on my website). But I got those sets mainly because the sketches and not because of the backgrounds.

3. I like BGs as stand-alone images.

Kind of. I bought this because I liked the background as a stand alone scene. When it arrived I realized it had a cel to go along with it. I couldn't see the cel outline in the YJ auction picture:

But this is not a background by itself so it doesn't really count as a true example, but it demonstrates my thought process. I don't have scans of any of my backgrounds.

4. It shows my fave kind of scene i.e. Cityscape, Woodlands, Homely setting...

Nah...not at all.

shellie · Post by **shellie** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 8:31 am

I mostly buy backgrounds to enhance backgroundless cels. But once I have my cels all prettied up, I looove buying backgrounds just because they're beautiful all on their own. I have a "thing" for moons... and temples... and RX knows that he could own my soul (or at least my next little paycheck!

) every time he does one of his massive background sales!

Keropi, that background of yours is MAGNIFICENT. Thanks for sharing it!

Ronin · Post by **Ronin** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 3:20 pm

I don't really buy many extra backgrounds, but when I do, I opt for option one really...but sometimes if they're nice enough they can influence a purchase. Depends really, lol I guess that doesn't help huh!

Startyde · Post by **Startyde** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 3:26 pm

If you collect shots or setups of scenes, then the backgrounds to that's scene are key, as they define the moment just as much as any character would/does. As for stand alone BG's, just go with what suits you, be it theme, artistic quality or it's potential paring with another cel you may have.

...I like stars ;P

birdie · Post by **birdie** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 3:51 pm

I love backgrounds!

I wish I could have had to option to vote for all three. I like the way they bring cels to life, I'd love to find every matching background for every cel I own but I know that is impossible. So I chose buying them as stand alone art pieces. I have some that are just plain silly - there was a set I bought with the words "Boo" floating across them. Some that are beautiful moody pieces - one of a rainy city street or a starry night sky (my personal favorites) or bubbles - gotta love the bubbles. After cels and sketches I love getting Background/layout sets.