marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

Another option is Green Screen Wizard which does the same thing. It requires little to no touch up after the background is inserted if you lighted the green screen correctly. I've also flood-filled a white background with lime green before and then let Green Screen Wizard remove it which worked well. It will also remove blue instead of green.

Before


After

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

Very nice pics. Can you shoot the portrait on the green screen, put it through post processing in PP or Portrait Professional, and then put in Photo Key?

Jason-X Loc: Central Mississippi

You can, however, there would be no need to. With the program I use, or the one that Marco uses, both are fantastic programs, I have never used Morco's program, but I know of it by research. Both have fantastic post processing capabilities and effects. If you are more comfortable with PS or PP, you can certainly do your touch ups there, then load in the others. The beauty of the ones that we use is that there is no tedious "magic wand" work to remove the background. It happens for you in about 1/2 a second. What I like best is that after the shoot, the client sits down with me at the computer for touch up, color, etc. Then, we scroll through the background JPG's. They choose one, click click print - money in pocket right then, and you have a happy client that got exactly what they want. And it all takes about 5 minutes!!

Here is another cool feature of Photo Key Pro, and I think Marco's will do it also... Let's say you have a client having a big party, say a Sweet 16, or some type of fund raiser. All you would need is a background JPG of the clients choice, like what you see at red carpet events with the logos, or some type of overlay text, whatever. As the guests file in, have them stop for a photo. The program will be set with all your parameters, snap the pic, then it will ask for the party go'ers email address. Put in the address and it will be waiting for them when they get home. That is alot better than having to tote around a photo all night. Or, they can stop by your booth for the print.

Price it several ways: 1)Charge to your client a larger price for the entire night regardless of photo count. 2)Charge for the event and a set price per photo, say $5 for the photo - but if you email it to them you loose out on reprint income. Or, 3)Charge the client for set up, have the attendee stop by your booth for a print as they leave, and give them a card to contact you the next day for reprints. All up to you. If it is a fund raiser that you believe in, donate the setup and shooting fees, and keep the $5 per, or donate it all - that is a great way to get your name out to alot of influential people!!!! Think about it.

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

Does Photokey 5 have backgrounds built in or must you use your own?

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

Thanks so much Jason for the info. Much appreciated.

Jason-X Loc: Central Mississippi

I think it came with 3-4 samples, don't remember. A few years ago I bought several CD's full of back grounds. I have portrait size all the way to full length. With the full length, have your model stand on a green floor and have a green wall behind them, load the full length and it will look like you had a huge muslin draped on the wall and floor. You can get them on Ebay. Search for "Digital Backgrounds". All will be either TIFF or JPG usually, and are always great quality. I have muslin's, solids, grunge, brick, scenic, flags. Photokey will also handle overlays such as you would use for sport teams. You can also create text to be printed on the photo. Sometimes I will do a translucent "PROOF" in red across it, or you can put your studio name in the corner, many possibilities.

With quality muslin's priced around $200 each, this is a great way to do it.

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

GSW has post processing but it's not very advanced and is rather crude so I prefer using something else after I create a GSW TIFF file. And yes, there is an "enterprise" version of GSW which allows the bulk event work you are discussing. You can tether your camera to a laptop so the files drop into the folder of your choice, and every time a new photos shows up GSW will print it automatically with a chosen background. I haven't used it for that although I bought it with the plan of possibly doing so. I don't believe it does the email thing you talk about though.

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

GSW sells a disk of backgrounds but I think it's over priced for what you get. I bought a big package of backdrops from PhotoBack for $100 a couple years back. It includes everything from studio painted canvas type things, to curtains, to indoor scenes, to outdoor scenics.

It's important to remember that you can shoot your own backdrops in your local area, such as scenics when it's Fall colors or Summer greenery, then use them during cold dreary seasons to achieve time shifting to a different time of year. Take scenics while on vacation in other parts of the world and use them as backdrops for local work. You can also sandwich a person between a backdrop and a front layer in GSW or insert the background in GSW and add a front layer in any layer-based editing software.

djculver Loc: Wisconsin

The great thing about Chroma Key is that if you light the screen properly, you can use a larger aperture and don't have to worry about the rule of thumb when it comes to DOF. 1/3 in front-2/3 in back. This is why I favor a green (or blue) screen. It all depends on what the client is wearing when you shoot. It also gives you the flexibility to put almost any background in place to accommodate the ethnicity and skin tone of the client or their wishes. The fun thing is to actually key in some live video that you have taken of a beach or waterfall to give some motion to the video. There are endless possibilities with the right keying software. Photoshop does ok, but there are a plethora of other programs that deal specifically with keying.

Jason-X Loc: Central Mississippi

So correct. Lighting the green properly is usually what someone struggles with when just getting into it. Takes a lot of light, and don't get any shadows on it. Keep the subject well away from it too.

Jason-X Loc: Central Mississippi

If anyone is wondering... for my green screen wall, I paint it on. Through testing and research I have found that the perfect paint is from Lowes. I use the Valspar Ultra Matte Interior and the color code is: 103-4Y 113-1Y 114-5Y32. That code is for a gallon. Just show that to the paint guy at Lowes, he'll know what to do.

billybob40

You hit the nail on the head with this one. I shoot GS every week end in the summer. At eventws and fairs make from $500. to over a $1,000 for 3 days. Set up are from $10. to $300. for the event fee.
After the event you can set up appointments to do on week days. Every day I read on here HOW DO I MAKE MONEY in photography? Well heres a way.
My set up is 10x10 or I can set up 20x20 tent. At times I use costumes have over 200, it takes more time to get the shot. But in street cloths I can give them an 8x10 in 10 mins. The photos show you banners I use for prices. I have 1000s of backdrops, laptop, a PC, two printers, two cameras always a back up. I use 8.5 x11 gloss photo paper 260gm, I can also make a 13x19 print for $35. but in takes about 15 mins to print it.
All states have a Fastival Guide you can set up you event you would like to work that year. I start in Feb to set up my year. I have a web site (www.snapshots2010.com cost me $40. a year) that people can but extar prints from if they want to.
I hope this will help in some way. If you need help with this in any way send me a PM and I will do what I can. Good luck at what every.

djculver Loc: Wisconsin

Paint is a great option Jason...if you are willing to live with a Chroma Green wall! LOL There are many, many sites out there for Chroma key screens. some better than others. I bought mine as a 12'X12' backdrop that has loops and it fits on my backdrop stand perfectly. There is a problem with a Backdrop cloth though. It wrinkles easily! The smoother the screen, the easier it is to key. I end up steaming mine each time I use it. You don't have that problem with a wall, but it is not portable either. I use mine for Stills as well as video and love the portability. I have seen this formula for the paint before and have heard good things about it. It IS expensive (last I heard about $35-$40.00 per gallon), but a good alternative to a backdrop. The other problem with a backdrop is unless you get a heavy thread count (thick) muslin or canvas drop, Light WILL shine through it in the sun. My backdrop from Adorama cost $79.95 (free shipping). I use it in After Effects and us Red Giant Keying software which is a perfect match.

northsidejoe Loc: pittsburgh

Thank you everyone
this was a very informative thread not much in to portraits
I plan on making the leap in the near future.
And this information was very helpful.
saying hello from Pittsburgh
p.s on the handsome part I would say yes but I am a kind person lol
saying hello from Pittsburgh

creativ simon Loc: Coulsdon, South London

Thanks for all the info chaps