How to get down to green screen?

S

spaghettijohn

Hi guys,

I've become interested in green screen just a few days ago, and I did some research, there are plenty of toturials for setting up the green background for shooting, but what I'd appriciete a pro dude telling me about is the software part, particularly. So there's After Effects which I gather is somewhat more difficult, also other editors that can handle it. I have no experience with none of the green screen post-production business, and not much with editing itself. I have Vegas Pro and AVS on my Windows 7, don't think they're any good when it comes to this.
So what software would be recommended for me to start with?

Thanks
 
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I'd be really surprised if Vegas Pro didn't have what you're looking for. The effect you're looking for is called "keying", and it's rather standard these days (and Vegas is legit).

Much more important than what you do in post is what you do in production. I recommend you devote a good deal of time to researching how to light a green screen, and doing multiple practice shots before production.

In a nutshell, it's gotta be evenly-lit (which ain't so easy to do), and your subject needs to be far enough away from the background so as to avoid color splashing.
 
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Vegas will do chroma keying even the cheaper version will easily do it. Lightworks which is a great free video editor will also do it as well. Fairly easy to start. you place your video w/ the green screen on the top layer and the video with the alternate footage you want to show underneath and put the chroma effect on the track w/ the green screen and then you play w/ the settings and the color you select will be transparent.
 
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Adding to what people say here, it's also important which camera you are using. The cheaper cameras will usually create artifacts around the edges of your subject.

This will be especially problematic between hair and other very thin subjects.
 
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Danielassault said:
Adding to what people say here, it's also important which camera you are using. The cheaper cameras will usually create artifacts around the edges of your subject.

This will be especially problematic between hair and other very thin subjects.
Click to expand...

Having good lighting is also an important consideration. If the light isn't consistent or placed properly you could have too many color shades and completely screw up the keying in your software.
 
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ClockworkNinja said:
Having good lighting is also an important consideration. If the light isn't consistent or placed properly you could have too many color shades and completely screw up the keying in your software.
Click to expand...

Very true, this becomes even a bigger problem when doing full-body greenscreen. Since you need characters to cast shadows on the ground and use them in post.

However, skillful keyers can work well even with chromakeys that aren't 100% properly lit.
 
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