Green Screen Photography???

[DawnBrandon]

Hey everyone!! I recently have begun buying props and backdrops and found the green screen interesting I would really like to start using it and digital backgrounds so I have more creative control instead of all portraits looking the same when not shot in a natural scene but....do they really work?? What is the best program to use??? Do they look real??? Or is it just a big waste of time and money??? Please help me out here!!

[NicoleScraps]

I am curious about this as well. Every example that I have seen of a photograph with a green screen looks ridiculous and fake. I would love to see example of this technology used in a nicer way.

[Murtasma]

Works awesome, having a good background to replace the green screen is key. You will likely need 2 lights to properly light the green screen, then lights for your subject. You also needs enough distance between the subject and green screen so you don't have any light from the background lights spill onto your subject.

How realistic it looks completely depends on your lighting skills and photoshop skills. Perspective needs to be taken into account when replacing the background as well. You also might need to gel the lights to make the color match the background your going to use to replace the green screen. Also take into account the apature you use. If the persons nose and tips of the ears are blury, (I.E: you shot wide open or close to wide open) the background you use to replace the green screen should also be blurry. I've used photoshop to do it with a simple color range selection and some feather then going back in by hand and touching up some details on the mask. It's really not that difficult.

Also remember that the closer you get to the green paper the more green will be reflect back onto your subject so green screens don't work well if you want to lay people down on the green screen and do a shoot on the floor since there will be a green color cast all over them but if your putting them into some grass that might actually work pretty well.

Here is a picture I made with a green screen, not the best background but I was really just messing around and practicing with the the selection methods.




And what the green screen looks like (lighting isn't properly placed here)

[DawnBrandon]

Thank you Murtasma alot that really helps me thanks a million for the informative pics as well!

[scootermcq]

I agree with Murtasma's points. My avatar was shot on a green screen. I have used it a fair amount and do like it for some applications. Personally I use FXhome and find it very easy to separate the subject from the background.... FXhome.com :: Products :: PhotoKey 3

Here is a picture I did on green screen of my kid