Worst Green Screen Ever?

BowmanDigital wrote on 9/6/2008, 8:42 PM
Hi everyone

Having not even done a google search on how to do this, I stupidly attempted to do get green screen shot because the lounge setting I was working in wasn't appropriate.

Looking at it, the lighting is pretty bad with some bad shadows.. So... Having already done this, what can I do with this? Any thoughts?

Here is a render from the original footage 1440x1080 25p
http://christianbowman.com/media/cosima-test.m2t

Here is what my setup looked like: Any thoughts on this? Would love your help with this also.

http://christianbowman.com/media/cosima-green-test.jpg

Film on a Sony S270P in 1080i 25p mode

I've had a go at using the keying function in vegas, but its hard to get consistent results with inconsistent lighting... help!

Comments

ushere wrote on 9/6/2008, 8:54 PM
well, there you go - answered before you even start....

meanwhile posting a 100mb clip isn't the answer - how about a frame grab at full res so we can see if it's worth perusing any further?

leslie

btw. what model camera are you using? you refer to a laptop with your ref...
farss wrote on 9/6/2008, 8:59 PM
First mistake. The subject is WAY too close to the screen.
Second mistake. It looks like you're using incandescant fresnels to light the screen. Daylight fluro lights would be better in several ways.

I'll download your clip and see if I can rescue it. Going to be much easier using a better keyer. Might take a while though.

Bob.
TheHappyFriar wrote on 9/6/2008, 9:18 PM
if vegas can't get a key with this (it should, at least with the clip you posted), try cinegobs.

but, eigther way, I got a GOOD key with that in less then 5 minutes. I WISH I had your setup!

here

maybe a little tinkering will help, but it looks pretty good to me, unless I'm completely missing something.

EDIT: don't forget you can keyframe any of the FX. That makes a big difference (you can change the color, move around the curves, etc).

when using the curves, keep them a distance away from the subject or else you get "haze" on the edge.
BowmanDigital wrote on 9/6/2008, 9:39 PM
Hey Leslie

Thanks for that, sorry camera model is hvr-s270E not P...

umm here is a screen grab, any tips or comments would be great

http://christianbowman.com/media/cosima-green-grab.jpg

Cheers

Christian
BowmanDigital wrote on 9/6/2008, 9:41 PM
Thanks Bob

I've been looking at some stuff on online about this, and as you said, having the subject that close makes it diffcult for a few reasons including bleed of the background onto the subjects hair...

I didn't know about those, lights so thank you for your comments there

Cheers
Christian
BowmanDigital wrote on 9/6/2008, 9:43 PM
Thanks happy- that veggie file didn't work, i'm using vegas 7.0 are you using 8.0? is there an effect in 8 that "autio fix crappy green screen" ? :P

Cheers
TheHappyFriar wrote on 9/6/2008, 9:54 PM
i'm in 8 yes. Here's what I got:
http://img355.imageshack.us/my.php?image=greenscreenfw9.png[/link]

http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=croppedrz3.png[/link]

http://img296.imageshack.us/my.php?image=keysettingsvy4.png[/link]

use the settings & the estimated cutout I used & you should get the same results (I used a red & blue generated media as the background to see how things looked)
Cheno wrote on 9/6/2008, 9:59 PM
Christian - I just sent you a pm - I've got a .veg in Vegas 7 for you to try

cheno
BowmanDigital wrote on 9/6/2008, 10:00 PM
Oh thats great, really appreciate it! cropping with a mask is great, because the bottom right corner is where i was having all the dramas... I tried using two chroma keyer fx on top of each other, one for two tones ... but it made it a litle complicated i think
TheHappyFriar wrote on 9/6/2008, 10:07 PM
i had an issue in the upper left, that's why I cropped. :D

You'll have a slight green highlight on her right (our left) shoulder & maybe around her hair. using cinegobs might be better to get rid of that.
BowmanDigital wrote on 9/6/2008, 10:10 PM
great, i'm downloading now to check it out

Thanks again

I'll be using this for cut shots and the audio for voice over footage previously shot. She does get her hands in the shot sometimes and i think i'm just gonna not use those shots to save on having to keyfram crop around them


Butch Moore wrote on 9/6/2008, 11:04 PM
Unfortuantely, sometimes you just gotta fix what'cha got.

A multiple filter approach worked good for me..

1. Levels - Bring the frame up to 100%

2. Secondary Color Correction - Use the "Select effect range" to select the green background. You'll have to play with the Limit controls to select it all. Then, using the color wheel and saturation controls, change the background to a "more keyable green".

3. Apply the Chroma Key filter and adjust accordingly. You may also apply a matte to clean up the fuzzies. It looks pretty good here.

I hope this helps.
BowmanDigital wrote on 9/6/2008, 11:06 PM
Hey butchmoore

Thank you for that, that sounds like great advice, good idea to get the footage to a more keyable level
rmack350 wrote on 9/7/2008, 12:48 AM
What Cheno and Hap are showing you is a garbage matte. Very standard practice to just matte out what you can and then just pull your key on the rest. This can make the rest of the work you do easier.

For that matter, with a garbage matte your blue or green screen doesn't even have to fill the frame. It just needs to be behind your subject.

Rob Mack
farss wrote on 9/7/2008, 2:18 AM
Having some real fun with this and Keylight in AE.
Apart from the spill from the screen around the edges there's possibly a green caste to her skin. To be expected as the screen is brighter than the subject which is a bit of a no no.
The flyaway hair has some compression artifacts in it too I think. If you're only delivering SD not an issue.

To light the screen all you need are daylight flourescent lights. Even normal 4 foot fixtures from your local hardware / light shop with daylight (cool white) tubes would do. If you want something a bit fancier checkout the lights from China on eBay, no need to spend up big on Kinos.

Bob.
BowmanDigital wrote on 9/7/2008, 3:33 AM
Thanks Bob

Supercheap auto in qld here have them quite cheap.

Thanks for your help with this

christian
dibbkd wrote on 9/7/2008, 4:01 AM
This is my little tutorial on green screening:

http://myhax0r.net/videos/howto-green-screen.htmHow to Green Screen in Vegas[/link]

It's nothing fancy, but walks you through it.

Edit: used AlanC's link creator to make the link good. :)
farss wrote on 9/7/2008, 4:34 AM
Didn't realise you're in Oz.

You could try these, they've got a store in Brisbane: http://www.dragonimage.com.au/product.asp?id=559
There's also a smaller / cheaper one with 2 tubes.

Bob.
ushere wrote on 9/7/2008, 6:49 AM
dead link to screen grab, but hey, you've got the best vegas has to offer helping out, so i wouldn't worry - with the wetwear you've got working on it right now you've no problems!

good luck

leslie