How Does A Green Screen Work?

By Phil Guye

A lot of the movies and television use the green screen technique. A lot of the times, this method is occasionally used for stunts in Hollywood movies and television. Usually,when directors aren't able to go to the shooting location, and when the opportunity arises that this location can be created, this technique of green screen is used more often than not. The usage of animation or graphics on backgrounds needs the help of green screens as well.

In the movies today, special effects have a big impact on the industry. Movies or television shows that great special effects have become really popular to the viewers. A certain amount of natural element for almost impossible stunts done in the movies have been brought about special effects. Making the almost impossible look possible is the main key idea of the special effects. The green screen has become one of the most common, prominent and easy use of the special effects. The movies Dark Knight, Fantastic Four, The Hulk, Spiderman and more are just some of the examples of movies that used special effects.

This is the least expensive and the most accessible special effect. The only thing that you will need is a background that is of green color. It can be placed on any surface possible - canvas, sheet or even just with plain painting the wall green. The only thing that should be considered is that the surface has to be even. Other equipments needed are the right lighting, a camera and any software that edits videos.

In order to get a natural effect using this method of green screen, the more significant aspect to be used is the lighting. Proper lighting should be used to achieve such effect. There should be an even lit green background in order for this to work. No object or dirt should be placed on the backdrop itself. No crumples on the ground or background either or else it will result in unnecessary shadows. Carefully make adjustments to the lighting equipments so that shadows would not form at all. The lighting on the subject should also be done properly. A lot of experts would recommend shooting outdoors for the green screen method because of a more natural even amount of lighting that will be achieved. Shooting indoors and doing it at night usually provides blockade and hindrance to the photographer and takes up a significant amount of time when the lighting switches should be done manually.

In this type of special effect, the color blue is used more widely. When this special effect was introduced in the beginning, the colors blue was used more often. After a how many years, It was replaced with the color green. This is mainly because the digital cameras keep the detail in the green color channel. Because of this major reason, lesser light is required to make the subject stand out in the green background. Still, blue color is used but not as much as before. The movie Superman was actually the first movie to the green screen method rather than the blue screen in the movie industry. - 30542

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