I've been doing some experimenting with Greenscreen effects. I'm shooting my second feature on DV, and would like to do some greenscreen stuff. I did some tests with green fabric. I know the screen has to be lit seperately than the talent, and I did the best I could with the lights I had.

Anyhow, the results were mixed. Using an outdoor shot of the sky as the background plate, and myself as the key shot, there was a little green outline around my body. I used the CHROMA setting in Premiere. I tried the greenscreen setting but couldn't make it work. Obviously I'm doing something wrong there. The results were pretty good with the chroma setting, but there were still those tell-tale greenline outlines, despite extensive tweeking.

As I said, the screen was only moderately lit, and the subject (myself) was poorly lit at best. Does the ligting of the subject make a huge difference in getting rid of those outlines? Have y'all gotten better results with bluescreen or blackscreen? I have a building I was going to covert to a "greenscreen studiio" of sorts, by painting sheetrock...but is it worth the expense?

Also, has anyone ever done any outdoors green/blue screen shooting?

sorry for all the questions. There will be many many more. I apologize for those too...lol

Do a search, there were a few recent discussions on this ;)

Here's that recent topic ...
http://indietalk.com/showthread.php?t=4539&highlight=greenscreen

To make it look like you want it, you definitely need to light it right. You shouldn't have to light the screen and the talent seperately, but you're key and light should be strong enough to light the green up nice. Also, are you using flourescent green? That or true blue work best.

Poke

In the test we did, we lit the screen seperately to avoid casting shadows on the screen. The results were quite good, except for that little edge around me. I do think greenscreen is the way to go with DV. Premiere seems to handle green better, using the "chroma" setting. Good tip about the flourescent green. We used a sheet of fabric, but I'll bet painting something flat would work even better.

Just the idea of greenscreen and key effects has given me countless ideas for this project, such as having the lead demon having flames dance in his eyes.

On a similar subject, I bought those effects cds over at Detonation Films.com. If y'all haven't gotten those yet...DO SO...they have explosions, mist and smog, gunshot FX...and dirt dirt cheap. Very easy to key into footage (at least in Premiere). Great stuff, for the price.

Still waiting to see that cat blow up! :lol:

Lighting is kinda important, yes. Much more than getting an exact shade of green (or other colour) to chroma.

"greenscreen studiio" of sorts, by painting sheetrock...but is it worth the expense?

No idea on the cost of sheetrock, but paint is cheap. Real cheap. Make sure you don't get a glossy paint.

It's probably easier, though, to build a frame like King Goldfish showed. Semi-portable & light. I think that thread also had the links to other people who made frames... larger ones, which spread out over the floor.

Using a greenscreen outside sucks. You have very little control over the light, if it's windy your frame screen can take off like a sail (or at least flap a lot), and seriously... there's not a lot of point to going to an exterior location to end up removing it anyway.

Unless, that is, you are using the side of your house as a handy place to hang a large screen. That's what I did a month ago to test doing it outside. It was kinda successful... but not practical with all that time waiting for the sun to dip beyond the house completely. That eliminated most of the visible shadow, but then there was no backlight to give nice sharp edges to the talent. (My mom dropped by for tea)

Actually, that time I used green plastic party tablecloths (sorta matte on one side). The brown paint on my garage door really dulled it down, 'til I added a second layer of plastic.

___________

I'm just rambling now. :yes:

Go to these ...

http://www.jushhome.com/Bluescreen
http://www.rewindvideo.com/artman/p...printer_894.php
http://www.multiply.org/notebook/archives/000577.html

They're all simple and cost affective ways to build a bluescreen/greenscreen.

And this one ...

http://www.gregssandbox.com/bs/bs.htm

... is more of a "What is a bluescreen/greenscreen, and how do you shoot it?" page.

And let me elaborate on this ...

You shouldn't have to light the screen and the talent seperately

First of all, the screen should be well lit, but it doesn't have to be lit seperately. If your key light is high and shooting down towards the talent (with a filler or bounce coming from below) it should light the screen fairly well and cast all harsh shadows down. I'm wondering if you used a back light on your tests. If not that might be why you're getting the ring around the Jay.

Poke

Good point about the backlight. I've never used backlight before. Dawn was all front lit, but then I know greenscreen is a totally different deal.

I mentioned doing outdoors greenscreening because there is a rather elaborate chase scene we've dreamed up involving a truck and a car (a hearse no less). Much of what we have in mind would be dangerous or impossible without stunts or greenscreen. With a total budget of just under three grand, stunts are out. Some things can be "faked" with tight shooting, adjusting speed in post, and editing in general, but only so much.

Here are some shots that may be of interest then, for vehicles and greenscreens (http://homepage.mac.com/scottchernoff/harper2/PhotoAlbum142.html).

This was from a very low budget (but absolutely classic) entry to Channel 101.

The finished cycle scenes are found in this short flick, The Harper Teen Mystery Files (http://www.channel101.com/view.php?media_id=11). (There was a sequel (http://www.channel101.com/view.php?media_id=179), too :cool: )

Dang Steve, if you were female, with a least a passing resemblence to Lindsey Lohan, I'd marry you.

Ooooookay, then. :seeya:

Just my attempt at humor. I mean, thanks for all the advice. I'm very early into this project, and the tips have been invaluable. I just hope I haven't been bombarding y'all with the questions. My first indie was pretty much point and shoot, and this is quite a bit more involved.

Gracious, Merci.

Gah! Does this mean I'll have to return that wig and mascara I just bought?

(Can I keep the engagement ring?) http://www.stevenrichards.com/images/smiley_ninja.gif

I'm not touching this one.

Poke

I want to redo mine.

But i still have no real place to put it :(

Maybe I can make it so it can assemble and be disassembled and an area for hanging flourensant lights.

Maybe I can make it so it can assemble and be disassembled and an area for hanging flourensant lights.

I think that's the best idea. Make the portable one so you can shoot it anywhere: outside, inside, a friends house, Delaware ...

Poke

About the flourescent lights:

I understand you are lighting the greenscreen and not the talent with the flourescents, so I'm assuming you have no problem with that blueish wash color that flourescents cause when shooting with video?

My humble apologies for probably abusing the spelling of the word "flourescent".

I'm from Mexia, as I say.

I want to redo mine.

I thought it looked pretty good for a first try.