Green Screen Effect

Gollum wrote on 1/14/2004, 8:06 AM

Can someone tell me how to use this effect?? I cannot even find it, even though the site says you can use it. Is it like a video effect or solid picture???

Comments

ChristerTX wrote on 1/14/2004, 8:29 AM

I have not used it yet, but it is also called Chroma Key.

The effect you get is that you have e.g. a person that is filmed with a green background. The effect will then replace the green background with something that you put on the overlay track.
Again, I have not played with it, but that is the basic explanation.

/ Christer

Steve Grisetti wrote on 1/14/2004, 8:40 AM

Chromakey is very effective in MS3.

Just put the clip you want chromakeyed on an upper track and the background on the track below it.

Drag the chromakey effect onto the upper clip and a control panel will open. Assuming you've shot the clip you want to "key out" with a solid color background (often green -- hence the term "green screen"), you can either designate that color be removed by using the color sliders or you can use the eye dropper and simply click on the background on the preview screen.

This is a cool feature, virtually unheard-of in a program for under $100!

dsimonetta wrote on 1/14/2004, 10:17 AM

Following your comments Grisetti, what’s the cheapest but most effective material to be used as green screen? Does it really matter? How about lighting, what’s the best to use? Please consider that I’m not a professional; just do this for small project.

Any body?
Thanks,
Daniel

ChristerTX wrote on 1/14/2004, 10:42 AM

A friend of mine had a piece of cloth that was delivered with another program. It was a felt like material. I would guess you could experiment with any type of material you have around the house.
I think the main goal is that it will not produce any glare so the color is consistent, as the program keys on the color. So I would assume that it is important that the light is not reflected off the surface.
Diffused light would probably be best so the color of the background that is keyed out will be consistent over the surface.

mmreed wrote on 1/14/2004, 10:55 AM

do a search on ebay for chromakey

you will find many tarps for sale... green and blue.

Blue is easier to filter without leaving harsh halos...especially around skin. However blue is also commonly used in clothing and could filter out unwanted areas.

Steve Grisetti wrote on 1/14/2004, 11:35 AM

Finally, I'd add that the reason blue and green were initially chosen for background colors was because they generally aren't found in skin color. And, likewise, your TV weatherman has to make sure he doesn't wear the same color as the "blue" screen behind or his clothes will become transparent and he will become part of his weather map!

Any non-reflective, consistent color will work -- just make sure that your foreground object doesn't have that color in it.

Gollum wrote on 1/14/2004, 11:35 AM

ok one more question....... is there any way to make the green background turn into another video clip?

Gollum wrote on 1/14/2004, 11:51 AM

ok nevermind my last post i figured it out. does anyone kno of a good place to find background video like traffic, etc?

dsimonetta wrote on 1/14/2004, 11:54 AM

Thanks guys!
Daniel

Steve Grisetti wrote on 1/14/2004, 12:38 PM

Look no further than www.screenblast.com!

It's got some free clips of the White House, flyovers of LA, etc.

Their subscription service is pricey but promises access to many more clips. They can be a bear to download though.

I'm sure other posters will have more cost-effective solutions.

mmreed wrote on 1/14/2004, 1:29 PM

if you are doing any pro level work - or just have money to spend for home use - check out www.digitaljuice.com they have a complete line of video clips and backgrounds.