Digital Audio and Video (CT018-3-2)

Chapter 5:

Green Screen Technology

Prepared by: AQ First Prepared on:1st September 2007 Last Modified on: -nQuality checked by: -nCopyright 2007 Asia Pacific University College of Technology and Innovation

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this lecture YOU will be able to: Demonstrate an awareness of green screen technologies.

Digital Audio and Video (CT018-3-2)

Digital Video Primer

The Green Screen

Digital Audio and Video (CT018-3-2)

Digital Video Primer

The Green Screen

Chroma key compositing (or chroma keying) is a technique for compositing two images or frames together in which a color (or a small color range) from one image is removed (made transparent), revealing another image behind it commonly used in video production and post-production. This technique is also referred to as color keying, color-separation overlay (CSO), greenscreen, and bluescreen.
Digital Audio and Video (CT018-3-2) Digital Video Primer

The Green Screen

Green screen technology is the basis of the effects seen in everything from the latest Hollywood blockbusters to the weather forecast. Make sure that you have a good background, contrasting colours for clothing & props and good lighting.

Digital Audio and Video (CT018-3-2)

Digital Video Primer

The Green Screen

Digital Audio and Video (CT018-3-2)

Digital Video Primer

History
For filmmaking, a complex and time consuming process once known as "travelling matte" was used prior to the introduction of digital compositing. One drawback to the traditional traveling matte is that the cameras shooting the images to be composited can't be easily synchronized

Digital Audio and Video (CT018-3-2)

Digital Video Primer

History
Some films make heavy use of chroma key to add backgrounds that are constructed entirely using computergenerated imagery (CGI). Performances from different takes can even be composited together, which allows actors to be filmed separately and then placed together in the same scene. Chroma key allows performers to appear to be in any location without even leaving the studio.
Digital Audio and Video (CT018-3-2) Digital Video Primer

The Process
The principal subject is filmed or photographed against a background consisting of a single color or a relatively narrow range of colors, usually blue or green because these colors are considered to be the furthest away from skin tone.

Digital Audio and Video (CT018-3-2)

Digital Video Primer

The Process

Digital Audio and Video (CT018-3-2)

Digital Video Primer

The Process

Digital Audio and Video (CT018-3-2)

Digital Video Primer

Blue vs Green
COMPARISON

Green Screen
On film, the green layer has the finest grain structure. Image sensors in digital video cameras are most sensitive to green.

Blue Screen
Is least prominent in skin tone. The blue layer of film is sharpest but is also the grainiest layer.
Digital Video Primer

Digital Audio and Video (CT018-3-2)

Lighting Techniques
The key to lighting a green screen is consistency. The whole point is to create a single, consistent shade of colour across the entire screen. Diffusion filters are very handy when lighting green screens. Diffusion helps create more even lighting and reduce the impact of shadows.

Digital Audio and Video (CT018-3-2)

Digital Video Primer

Digital Audio and Video (CT018-3-2)

Digital Video Primer

Question and Answer Session

Q&A
Digital Audio and Video (CT018-3-2) Digital Video Primer