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green screens
Jun 18, 2012 11:59:31 #
I take photos for my town's high school dance team. Last year we did lots of traditional shots (parents love those) and a few artistic and fun shots (the girls loved those). I need to come up with a few new ideas for this year's shoot. I thought of using a green screen to put the team shot over the school mascot or school logo. I know a bit about PS, removing subjects from background, etc. but nothing much about shooting with a green screen. I can see that it would make selection easier and faster. Is there something else about green screens I should know or is using a plain wall for a background just as effective?
Also, any ideas for the group shot? I'm open to all suggestions!
Also, any ideas for the group shot? I'm open to all suggestions!
Jun 18, 2012 12:16:31 #
Jun 18, 2012 13:32:52 #
I've tried it both ways and the green screen is the easiest to use for me. I have not used a green screen program yet, just photoshop. Make sure you have even lighting on the green screen and the person is far enough away from the background so you're not contaminating them with it.
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Jun 18, 2012 14:16:29 #
Thanks for the advice. The girls' uniforms have green in them, will I have issues with that? (You always make it look so easy.)
Jun 18, 2012 14:25:33 #
i use a greenscreen plugin for photoshop called primatte by digital anarchy.............it doesn't care what color you use for background...you select it and it removes it.
greenscreen technique is pretty awesome if you learn how to use it. as stated above....secret is to make sure subject is a good distance from screen (or you will get green contamination on edges).
there is also bluescreen available if you have green in your subjects.
also if you have some green in your photos and greenscreen software removes it...you can paint back in with your history brush if you are using photoshop.
greenscreen technique is pretty awesome if you learn how to use it. as stated above....secret is to make sure subject is a good distance from screen (or you will get green contamination on edges).
there is also bluescreen available if you have green in your subjects.
also if you have some green in your photos and greenscreen software removes it...you can paint back in with your history brush if you are using photoshop.
Jun 18, 2012 14:34:37 #
here's a greenscreen example from 2 years ago that i did. actually, this was my first expedition with doing greenscreen
original green screen shot
background added
middle girl removed because these 2 are sisters
Jun 18, 2012 14:36:04 #
https://digitalanarchy.com/primatte/gallery.html
(copy & paste the above...can't get this to link from here)
Even batch processing!
You really have my attention now.
Every year, our department does about 200 head shots that heve to be finished in a day or two.
We have to process two ways:
1. one with a graduated blue background
2. one with a very light grey background in black & white.
Presently, we shoot on a graduated blue background because that is the image we need first. Then we go back and work the blue out.
This might just be the ticket.
(copy & paste the above...can't get this to link from here)
Even batch processing!
You really have my attention now.
Every year, our department does about 200 head shots that heve to be finished in a day or two.
We have to process two ways:
1. one with a graduated blue background
2. one with a very light grey background in black & white.
Presently, we shoot on a graduated blue background because that is the image we need first. Then we go back and work the blue out.
This might just be the ticket.
Jun 18, 2012 14:36:29 #
Thanks...I think I'm gonna try the PS route with the plug in. sounds like the solution to green uniforms. Thanks for the reminder about the history brush. You both talk about the distance from the subject to the screen...I'm positive you both just saved me from making some big mistakes! Now, if you'd just kindly show up to the shoot...haha
Jun 18, 2012 14:41:25 #
GoofyNewfie wrote:
if you try primatte...you will never try anything else. it's by far the absolute best....plus i like to work inside photoshop. that's where i can shine!!
plus digital anarchy has great videos on learning primatte!!
Jun 18, 2012 14:43:06 #
Sistermoon wrote:
Thanks...I think I'm gonna try the PS route with the plug in. sounds like the solution to green uniforms. Thanks for the reminder about the history brush. You both talk about the distance from the subject to the screen...I'm positive you both just saved me from making some big mistakes! Now, if you'd just kindly show up to the shoot...haha
hahahahaha...by the looks of those beautiful girls in your photo, if i was 40 years younger, i'd volunteer to come and take the pics for you!!! hahahaha
Jun 18, 2012 14:43:19 #
jimberton wrote:
quote=GoofyNewfie https://digitalanarchy.com/prim... (show quote)
Photoshop plugin, another plus!
Ok, I gotta change my avitar.
This site is going to the dogs!
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Jun 18, 2012 14:44:45 #
GoofyNewfie wrote:
quote=jimberton quote=GoofyNewfie https://digita... (show quote)
hahahahaha...my pups were so bad this weekend, i am thinking about changing my avatar!!!
hey...you are the only non-dog avatar on this thread!!! i guess we are going to the dogs
Jun 18, 2012 14:46:00 #
If there is green in the uniform, you do not want a green screen. In fact, one of the best background for extracting people is a medium/light gray. White can bloom around the subject, black can make it tough with dark hair folks, and the green screen can contaminate your colors. Although I realize lots of folks like the greenscreen.
Jun 18, 2012 14:54:10 #
CaptainC wrote:
If there is green in the uniform, you do not want a green screen. In fact, one of the best background for extracting people is a medium/light gray. White can bloom around the subject, black can make it tough with dark hair folks, and the green screen can contaminate your colors. Although I realize lots of folks like the greenscreen.
i totally agree with the captn!! green can easily contaminate. the secret to green screen is making sure the screen is evenly lit and the subject is at least 5-6 ft in front.
the medium/light gray is an awesome color to use. i mostly use gray now for 90% of these type of shots.
i think the reason most people use green because there are inexpensive stand-alone green screen software that require green or blue. retouching green contamination is time consuming.
this is why i use primatte....background color doesn't matter.
oh, and another cool thing with gray...is that if you get a middle gray 128/128/128...you can use it with backgrounds without a green screen software just using blend modes. overlay, softlight, etc..does not see middle gray.
Jun 18, 2012 14:54:37 #
CaptainC wrote:
If there is green in the uniform, you do not want a green screen. In fact, one of the best background for extracting people is a medium/light gray. White can bloom around the subject, black can make it tough with dark hair folks, and the green screen can contaminate your colors. Although I realize lots of folks like the greenscreen.
Think the primatte would work with a medium/light grey?
We would be shooting people who may be wearing the colors used in the green or blue screen. The batch processing is the thing that intrigues me.
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