Tutorial 2
How to use a greenscreen with Filmora
In case anyone here doesn't know what green screen (or chroma key to give it it's technical name) is, it is a
technique for shooting an actor or presenter against a green background, and then later replacing the green
background with a video, animation or image during the video editing stage.
Why this colour green? In theory, any colour can be used, but this colour green (and blue) is the least like the
colour of human skin tones (Any similar colour on the foreground subject or presenter to the chroma key green
back-drop colour will also show the video or image added in the editing stage).
It is used widely in Hollywood blockbusters and on TV shows to create sets and backgrounds that would be too
costly or even impossible to build. Some movies, like 'Sin City' and '300' were shot entirely using this technique
(Film makers actually use a blue screen as it better suited for that medium).
The weather person on TV performs in front of a green screen, pointing to the large map behind them. They are
actually pointing at a blank wall and looking at the image you see on the TV through a monitor (Which is why you
often see them looking to the side off screen, when pointing at the map, to make sure their hands are in the right
place).
Chroma key is actually quite easy to do. However, it is not easy to do well. There is a lot of very poor chroma key
videos out there, and as we say in my industry "Poor video is worse than no video at all".
Green Screen Tutorial - Part 1
The first thing you need to have is a green background, and there are several ways to achieve this.
The best (and most expensive) option is to buy a green screen cloth or 'pop up' type back drop. For this option, you will
also need to get a frame to hang them on (although the 'pop up' type green screen can be lent against a wall).
You can also paint a wall with special 'chroma key' green paint and shoot your video in front of that, but make sure you
use matte paint, as you don't want a shiny surface that will reflect lights etc.
The cheapest way to create a green screen is to buy large sheets of green card and stick them together on a wall. I
recommend using a proper chroma key cloth or a 'pop up' back-drop if you want the best results.
Green Screen Tutorial - Part 2
The next thing you will need is the one thing most people tend to forget and try to do without. And it always results in
very poor results.
Lighting. You will need at least three light sources, preferably soft boxes or 'umbrella' reflector lights. Two of the
lights will be on the green screen (One either side at 45 degrees facing the back-drop).
For more information on three point lighting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkUqBJoxZ-I
The presenter needs to be at least three feet from the back-drop, so they do not cast any shadow onto the chroma
key background (Shadows in the back-drop will make it harder to get a good chroma key effect when we start using the
video editing software later on).
Green Screen Tutorial - Part 3
Your are now ready to start shooting, but the last very important thing to remember is NOT to wear anything that is
similar in colour to the green back-drop.
If you do, when you add the chroma key effect in your video editing software later, the background video or image you
add will be seen on that item of clothing as well.
My lesson – Greenscreen
1. Now that you have some background information about chroma key, let's try working with Filmora.
2. Launch Filmora and select a new project.
3. Next import the background videos and Green Screen footage to the media library by choosing Import. -
>Import media Files
4. Then, place the Green Screen video clip to the track above.
5. Right-click on the green screen clip and then select Green Screen from the menu to access the Chroma
Key feature.
6. After the Edit settings window is displayed on the screen, click on the Video tab and scroll down to Chroma
key green screen feature and choose it. Make sure it is green if you are looking to create the Green Screen
effect, and Filmora will select the green screen color in the green screen footage and make the green color
transparent automatically.
7. Offset, tolerance and alpha channel will allow you to adjust the clarity of your background, and edge
thickness and edge feather will fix the edges of the subjects. adjust the levels of transparency, shadows,
and borders. The flip option that enables you to rotate the clip is also available.
8. Once you've completed all of the above-mentioned steps, you are ready to export the footage you created.
Click on the Export button and select some of the supported formats such as WMW, MP4 or MOV or select
a video sharing platform you'd like to upload your video on and proceed with the process.
