Basic Green Screen Set-up
Of course finding a studio with a built-in green screen is the preferred method, but for many of us, our
subjects just don't have the time to travel to a studio.
For a
recent Corporate Video I brought the Green screen right into the office, and set it up with the following tools.
- 4 C-Stands
- 4-8 Sand Bags
- 4 Kino-Flo Diva or LED Light Packages
Note: You can use almost any Soft lights for the two front Key Lights (LED, Soft Boxes), and other hard lights for the rear lighting of the Green Screen (Arri 650).
I just love the Kino Flo DIVA lights and other LED fixtures. They are soft, fast and easy to control.
At times
I also use a teleprompter to make things go faster.
Step one:
Set up the green screen using Two
s
tandard
light stands
and clamps, or
C-Stands.
Step Two:
Hang Rear Kino lights ( with C-Stands ) and point towards middle of the Green Screen.
Make sure the Dimmers are set at the same
value.
If you don't have C-Stands use standard
Light stands on each side and point at the
screen.
Optional "Hair Light" You may also use a
C-stand to hang a
Back Light that will point towards the rear head and shoulders of your subject.
Step Three:
Set up the
Key Lights in front to light your subject.
Notice in the picture below how I
position the DIVA lights to "Wrap around" the subjects face
..,
This is
preferable to "Hanging"
the lights from above.
If the lights are too high above the subject,
it can create "Racoon Eyes". I also suggest using Flozier ( Diffusion ) on your Front Kino Diva Lights.
Flozier is a piece of diffusion that wraps around the Kino Flo Diva Lights.
I use Grids to control the "Spill" coming from this light. Grids help control and focus the light and add some diffusion.
Make sure your dimmers are set to the same value.
TIP- Make sure your lighting's color temperature matches that of the room where you are shooting.
Since there are windows in this office, I used the "Daylight" bulbs for the Kino Diva Lights to match the Daylight color temperature of the room.
I just closed the shades and used the window "spill" as "Fill" on my subject.
When shooting inside with daylight coming from the windows,
set LED Light's color Control to Daylight 5500-5600K.
Step Four:
Tweak the lighting to
even out the Green Screen
...then we are ready to go!
The Final Result
A good quick trick is to shoot outside and use the natural Daylight for your Green screen (it's even), Just add a key light and a
Reflector and you're ready to go!
The Final Result
Green Screen Summary
- Portable Green Screen Solution
- Use Light Stands and Clamps to position Green Screen
- Set up C Stands or Light Stands
- Light the Green Screen evenly with 2 Lights
- (or use Natural Outdoor light)
- Set up Soft Key lights for Subject
- Diffuse if needed, many LED Lights are so soft, no diffusion is needed.)
- "Wrap" the light around the subject instead of lighting from above.
- Use a teleprompter
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