Blue screen

jwreese wrote on 7/2/2003, 11:15 AM

I thought that this summer I would like to play around with a traveling matte. I want to paint an area in my garage but I am not sure what paint to use for the screen. Blue screen or green screen, type of paint, flat, semi gloss, gloss etc. Maybe someone has an actual brand and color code for the paint. I know lighting is important and that the actor can not wear the color of the background. I would appreciate any suggests in this matter with respect to Vegas 4.0.

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 7/2/2003, 11:23 AM

Vegas doesn't care what color you use. The only important thing is to make sure it's a color that doesn't appear in your subject, including clothing, jewelry, accessories, props, etc. Typically a bright/light bluish or greenish color is fine. Flat paint would be best so that you don't get any glare. Lighting is definately the most important part. Use multiple adjustable lights to avoid shadows. Use a light meter to check various areas of the matte to make sure they're equal brightness.

mikkie wrote on 7/2/2003, 2:42 PM

I've read of folks having the paint mixed at the local hardware etc., getting a flat finish they can be more certain doesn't contain any other tints. You can buy paint, matts, fabric specifically for this, & if it applies, don't forget to add a bit of molding or similar where floor meets wall and such to avoid the sharp corner. Interesting aticle on this at dv.com, might also be available at http://www.johnjackman.com/ who's also written a couple of books on lighting etc.

One tip that makes a lot of sense from the article was to backlight your subject using a gel -> the gel itself should be opposite your screen color on the color wheel.

RBartlett wrote on 7/2/2003, 4:42 PM

green has better conveyance onto DV tape than blue, whether 4:1:1 or 4:2:0.
Uncompressed, then it matters less for chroma what you choose.

Lighting is important for even chrominance and reducing any spill, subject being a few metres in front helps also.

Spill can be offset using the opposite vector color in the downlighting.
Some tolerance can be handled in post, but this is about as enjoyable as noise reduction. Remove as much as you can before you start.

Auto-que needs care too to stop that lens avoidance stare!

richard-courtney wrote on 7/2/2003, 5:59 PM

Green is my preferred color.

I know you mentioned to experiment with keying but look at the following:
http://www.reflecmedia.com/Chromatte/chromatte%20template.htm
download a short video at http://www.istudiostv.com/Products.Chromatte.htm

It is a reflective screen with a ring of blue or green LEDs placed around the camera
lens. Expensive but the video is fun to watch and import it to V4 to try keying without
getting a paint brush wet.

Zendorf wrote on 7/2/2003, 10:06 PM

I have had good results using the chromakey paints made by Rosco (www.rosco.com)...mainly used the blue paint, but they also sell a green which is actually better to use with DV.

jwreese wrote on 7/2/2003, 11:47 PM

Thanks to everyone for all the great information. It sure helps to get additional input. I will check out the sites/links listed and will probably stop by my local paint store Friday.

Thanks again,

John