Green Screen

[Mike Buckles]

Later this year, i want to get a green screen to do matte shots....I'll be working in both dv and film...I want to do full body shots (including feet), so I need a set up that is above the head, and runs to the floor under the feet. Saw a pretty nice sized set up from Westcott for about 400 (for the screen and support stands)..anyone see anything better or for less? Also, I have 3 light stands with lights...should i point a 500 watt at the screen, and use the other two to light the subject? Or should I light the screen with 2 photoflood worklights and use all three stands for the subject...is that overkill? mike

[Alex]

I am a complete non-expert on this.

The key (no pun intended) is how far away from the green screen that your action is.

The farther away from the green screen that your action is
the easier it is to light the action without getting a shadow on the screen...HOWEVER..the size of the green screen needs to be real big the farther away from the screen your action is.

Before buying a green screen, just experiment with a white backdrop. Can you light the action without getting a shadow on the white backdrop?

If you are certain that the action will only be waist up, then a shadow on the backdrop may be acceptable if it is below your frameline.

Flood lights are tricky to use. If the light is not equidistant to the green screen, it is possible that the green screen will not be evenly illuminated, the greenscreen closer to the light will be significantly brigther than the screen farthest away from the light.

So then you would need to do two spot lights, equidistant to the green screen on opposite sides of the green screen.

A focuscable light might work better, zoom out the light to the wide position, and evenly fill out the green screen.

The other idea would be to shoot your green screen outside! Just be careful your backdrop can be held firm against any wind blowing.

Perhaps you have access to a wall that can be painted a solid color, and preferably faces the sun and won't have shadows cast across it's surface by trees or other buildings.

[Mike Buckles]

I'm probably going to shoot in the garage, so I think I can get the subject a bit away from the screen. Painting a wall won't work, because there are no available walls that can be painted that color, and I need to get the feet in. I may have some waist shots, but i will have full body shots as well. I wonder if lighting the screen with one of my photoflood light stands set at 500 watt would give me more even light coverage, and just stay away from the corners? Mike

[Alex]

Here is what is difficult to overcome. The ideal spot for a flood light is excactly where the actor would stand, about halfway up the screen.

The other way to go is to create as soft a light as possible by using as big a light source as possible.

[crimsonson]

shooting GS/BS is very technical.

First - what background are you going to use? indoor or outdoor? If outdoor you will need to use HMIs or need to gel your tungs to look like daylight.

Second you will need to balance the light output so you have no shadows whatsover visible on camera.

third you need a camera with great registration or you will have problems in post.

fourth you will need to use the least grainy of all film stocks (K40). Grain is an enemy!!

watch out for hair strands, fibers or anything thin and small that will cause jaggidness!!

The best cheap way to light is to use one on each side and add diffusers on your lights. If you have access to a video camera and a waveform monitor you can check out the eveness of your lighting. its more accurate than a light meter.

You will probnably want to add hair and kicker lights to give definition to your subject.

[Scott Spears]

Green screen is a challenge, but not all that hard. Talk to you effects guy and see what they need.

One thing I've done in the past is get a hunk of linoleum and paint it a green that is close to chroma key green. It can be rolled out almost anywhere. It can go on the floor and the up behind the actors, that way you can get the actors feet in the shot. Remember you can shoot off the edge of the green, as long as the actors don't go off the green. Then you can create a garbage matte to extend your green to fit any frame.

I usually light the green screen a stop over the main action and like was said before, put in a kicker/backlight to help seperate the actors from the keyed in background.

Scott

[Mike Buckles]

This is for my own projects, not a client, so I can take my time...I do have Adobe after effects production bundle, which has a matte choker and other refinements which you can tweak a matte. The linoleum is not a bad idea at all...how do you suspend it? Mike

[Scott Spears]

There are many ways to suspend the linoleum. You can roll the linoleum on a pole, then suspend the pole on two heavy duty light stands. Roll it out with the light stands high and make sure to clamp it down so it doesn't come off the pole. Get some heavy duty spring clamps.

A final option is just to nail it up in the corners, but that will start to eat the corners of the linoleum.

Scott

[Kerniol]

Το air condition στο σπίτι χάλασε μες στον καύσωνα και χρειαζόμουν λεφτά για τεχνικό χωρίς να περιμένω μισθό. Τα βράδια έψαχνα κάτι να κάνω από τον καναπέ. Βρήκα το afkspin και άνοιξα λογαριασμό. Είναι σελίδα από την Ελλάδα και σου δίνουν 100% μπόνους στην πρώτη κατάθεση μαζί με 110 δωρεάν περιστροφές. Μετά παίρνεις κάθε μέρα μικρά δωράκια γύρω στα 400 νομίσματα και κάποιες φορές cashback. Οι πληρωμές με ελληνικές τράπεζες βγαίνουν γρήγορα. Με κράτησε απασχολημένο μερικά βράδια χωρίς να ξοδέψω παραπάνω από όσα είχα. Απλό και βολικό για χαλαρό χρόνο.