What kind of background to use


In a multiple image super-imposed, the background being used will depend on the aircraft color. But one thing in common is: the aircraft photo shall use a plain background with even color. No ornaments, textures, or any other variations.
Before deciding the background color, you should look at the aircraft. If the aircraft color is bright, then use dark background, and vice versa. The most common background for super-imposing is blue color, but yet, if the aircraft's color is blue, then it should not be used.

Below are some examples:


1/48 scale model of F/A-18A Hornet
photographed on a sheet of white paper,and then super-imposed into a photo of a sea,
to create a flying Hornet.
The initial background was white since the aircraft's color is flat grey which will be contrasty against a white background.
The left photo is a 1/48 scale model of F-4U-4 Corsair.
Photographed against a sheet of white paper. The plane's color is dark blue, therefore a white background would be better than a dark one.

The picture below is the result after super-imposing with a landscape background. It shows a Corsair from VF-53 flying low over the sea in preparation for a landing into a carrier.
(The flap and hook were not deployed, this kit does not give any option for that, and I was too lazy to modify)
1/72 scale model of a T-38A Talon, it has a white color, therefore the background shall be dark.
The photo was then super-imposed to a photograph of a building. A shadow was added to create an impression of a plane flying nearby. Note the consistent direction of light, the shadow on the plane's body shows the same light direction as the shadow on the building. And since the building's shape is circular, so the plane's shadow was bent and slanted as according to the direction of light.

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