The green screen is a neat special effect that can add production value to a video. In the digital age, superimposing background images in post-production has become as simple as pressing a couple buttons. Shooting remains a bit tricky, but I am going to tell you the easiest and cheapest way to use green screen technology in your video.
Purchasing a screen.
Green screens can be purchased online for around $20 at the low end. What you’re essentially buying is a thin sheet of fabric. The advantage of buying a screen designed for video as opposed to a green sheet at a fabric store is the precise color. Most digital editing programs will allow you to use any color. The shade of lime green, however, is ideal for contrasting people and their clothes.
Hanging the screen.
The screen needs to be as flat as possible. I recommend ironing it or using a steamer. You will want to place the subject at least 5 feet in front of the screen.
Lighting.
The lighting is the trickiest part of the process. To get a clean foreground image the subject and the background must be lit separately. Ideally you would use at least two points of lighting on both, however, you can get away with one high wattage flood light on each. Simply place the lights at a distance of around 8 to 10 feet.
Shooting.
While the camera itself will affect the video quality, it will make no significant difference to the green screen effect.
Editing.
How you add this effect in post-production will differ depending on your editing software. It is usually as simple as applying the “green screen” or “keying” effect to your clip and then dropping your desired background (usually a still image) behind it.
As you can see, there is no need to be intimidated by the green screen. It can now be a simple process for amateur videographers, and remember – as with most video techniques a little trial and error can go a long way.