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Demystify the Bluescreen and Greenscreen Process, and Achieve Professional-Looking Composite Effects
By Staff
posted May 12, 2010, 09:49
Try These Steps for Setting Up Simple Chroma Keying
Check out this article in the print edition of StudentFilmmakers
Magazine, January 2010. More photos and illustrations in the print
version. Click
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Demystify
the Bluescreen and Greenscreen Process, and Achieve Professional-Looking Composite
Effects
Try These Steps for Setting Up Simple Chroma Keying
by Saro Varjabedian
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Here to Read the Full Article >>
(Download PDF, 1.05 MB)
Embarking on a bluescreen or greenscreen shoot might be a scary proposition. However,
with the right preparation, and following these simple steps, you can pull off
some composite effects that could rival professional productions.
The first step to the chroma key process is to select the appropriate
screen. In theory, pretty much anything can act as a chroma key screen, and in
fact, it doesn�t necessarily have to be green or blue in color. However, there
are two very good reasons why green and blue are the standard colors used in the
industry. In the early days of compositing, blue screens were the first to be
used because at the time, all compositing was done on film. Because film renders
colors using the primary colors of red, green and blue, there was a process developed
which could key out an image placed in front of blue colored screen. Later with
the advent of video, it was discovered that video responds better to green screens.
Since the industry has been using green and blue screens for many years, advances
in technology have pretty much perfected the process making green or blue screens
completely interchangeable for film or video. The other practical reason with
going with a green or blue screen is that, in general, you can get away with using
one of those colors, and for the most part, the colors will not be part of your
subject. This is the main deciding factor when choosing a screen color. If your
subject will be wearing dark blue jeans, then go with the green screen.
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(Download PDF, 1.05 MB)
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