If you have ordered from us before, please put the date of the previous order in the order notes when you check out.

Due to the printing process, we cannot guarantee we can blend with your previous order or match the colors exactly, but we will do our best. If you notify us of a previous order, we will contact you for any special instructions to match things as closely as possible.

All of our backdrops are custom printed after they are ordered. Under normal circumstances, a standard backdrop from our catalog will be shipped 3–5 business days after your order is received.

If you ordered multiple backdrops that need to be blended together or you need a custom backdrop, the timeframe depends on the size of the order and the complexity of customization. For custom blends, we will email you a digital proof as soon as the design is ready. Once you have approved any customizations, we usually print and ship within 3–5 business days following your approval.

We are NOT responsible for damaged, lost, or stolen packages once shipped. All orders are shipped via USPS Priority Mail, and the USPS automated shipping software sends tracking information directly to your provided email.

It is almost always best to install the backdrops BEFORE you start to build the railroad so that tracks, scenery, and benchwork structures do not get in your way or accidentally broken.

Don’t worry about harming the backdrops during your build: our Polypropylene and Vinyl backdrops are protected with a premium matte finish laminate that shields them during layout construction. This coating even allows you to use painter’s tape on the face of the backdrop WITHOUT DAMAGE to provide extra hands while installing!

In most cases, our backdrops are best installed using a professional-grade vinyl compatible wallpaper paste, PVA glue (such as Elmer’s White Glue), or mechanical fasteners (double-sided tape, Velcro, grommets, screws, nails, staples, etc.).

Our Peel & Stick products adhere best over a 100% acrylic primer. Please review our Installing Backdrops Page for in-depth step-by-step videos and tutorials.

• Presentation Paper: Speedball Art Products Paper Cement, tacks, staples, double-sided tape, or Velcro. DO NOT use water-based or liquid adhesives, or the paper will crease and pucker. Spray adhesives work if you follow manufacturer directions precisely in a well-ventilated area.
• Polypropylene or Vinyl: Professional vinyl-compatible wallpaper paste, PVA glue (Elmer’s White Glue), heavy-duty double-sided tape, Velcro, or mechanical fasteners.
• Polypropylene Peel & Stick / Vinyl Peel & Stick: The commercial-grade peel-and-stick adhesive is already factory-applied to the backing. Simply peel and apply over a properly primed 100% acrylic surface!

(A) Presentation Paper Backdrops: Unlike Polypropylene and Vinyl, you should NOT get glue, plaster, paint, sculpt-a-mold, or tape on Presentation Paper—it will ruin them. Keep liquid adhesives, solvents, water, alcohol, and household cleaners completely away from Presentation Paper.

(B) Solvents & Cleaners: On our laminated Polypropylene and Vinyl backdrops, common household cleaners, rubbing alcohol, and mild paint thinners will NOT cause damage. However, aggressive industrial plastic-dissolving solvents (such as M.E.K.) must never be used.

(C) Liquid Adhesives on Paper: Never use wallpaper paste, contact cement, or white glue on Presentation Paper backdrops.

(D) Rubber Adhesives on Latex Paint: Do NOT apply self-adhesive peel & stick backings directly over standard household latex paint. The rubber adhesive requires a 100% Acrylic primer coat to bond properly.

(E) Trapped Air & Moisture: Do not let adhesive cure before squeegeeing out all air bubbles. When using paste or PVA glue, re-squeegee every 15–20 minutes until set to prevent evaporating water vapor from creating latent bubbles.

• (A) Clean Surface: Apply backdrops strictly to a smooth, clean, dry, and properly prepared substrate.
• (B) Acrylic Primer: When using Peel & Stick over painted drywall or wood, always apply a clear coat or primer of 100% acrylic over latex house paint.
• (C) Smooth Substrates: Masonite (hardboard), styrene, and rigid expanded PVC sheet (Sintra) are the premier backing surfaces.
• (D) Squeegee Method: Properly squeegee to eliminate bubbles, excess paste, or creases. Re-squeegee every 15–20 minutes until the glue cures.
• (E) Follow Instructions: Strictly follow adhesive manufacturer instructions without skipping steps.

Our backdrop materials do NOT cause bubbles when properly installed. If bubbles occur, they are typically caused by:

• The mounting surface had dust, grime, grease, or uncoated latex paint.
• Lack of an acrylic primer coat prior to installing Peel & Stick adhesive.
• Using the “wet” method with inconsistent squeegee pressure, trapping soapy water pockets.
• Using the “dry” method without keeping the roll taut and squeegeeing evenly.
• Uneven adhesive spread leaving dry voids.
• Extreme temperature and humidity fluctuations (e.g., non-climate-controlled garages or basements) causing differing expansion/contraction rates between the backdrop and wall.

Yes! Both our Polypropylene and Vinyl backdrops can be wiped clean gently using a damp cloth or sponge with mild soap and water, 70% isopropyl alcohol, or most standard household cleaners.

Yes. Windex, Formula 409, and most standard household spray cleaners will not harm our laminated Polypropylene or Vinyl backdrops.

Protective matte finish lamination is now INCLUDED STANDARD on all Polypropylene and Vinyl backdrops at no extra cost!

With our Custom Blending service, we seamlessly merge two or more scenes into one continuous, natural-looking horizon just as you would see in real life.

Basic blending (which covers 99% of all orders) is included at no additional charge. For complex photo manipulations or extensive scene restructuring, a modest artwork fee may apply. See our Custom Blending Page for examples.

Yes! We can produce custom backdrops from your own high-resolution photography or AI files for a nominal fee depending on artwork setup.

We have an extensive photo archive with thousands of unlisted scenes! Call us at 800-216-9202 and we can locate the exact landscape or railway setting for your layout. We also offer professional on-site photography sessions for layout owners seeking exact geographic locations.

You can easily order multiple backdrops to reach your required length (e.g., six 10′ or five 12′ backdrops for a 60-foot room). Using our custom blending techniques, we can create seamless continuous scenes of unlimited length that butt-seam together perfectly.

Yes. Our materials can be cleanly cut with a sharp hobby knife or scissors into shorter panels that suit your comfort level. When we provide your digital proof for approval, you can specify your desired panel cut lengths.

These margins are required by commercial wide-format printing equipment to feed and tension the material. You can trim them easily with a straight edge and hobby knife. Most modelers leave the bottom border untrimmed because benchwork scenery covers it.

We also offer a White Border Trimming ($25.00) option during ordering if you would like us to factory-trim the borders for you.

Because trimming the border reduces nominal size slightly (approx. 3/8″ to 1/2″), customers requiring exact finished height should order the next size up (e.g., order 30″ height if you need a finished 24″ full bleed print) and specify “Full Bleed [Exact Dimensions]” in the checkout order notes.