16.7.

2019 Six Tips for Shooting with a Portable Greenscreen [Video]

July 15, 2019

Jo Light

Six Tips for Shooting with a Portable

Greenscreen [Video]

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Green screens can be beneficial on many types of video projects, but only if
you know how to use them correctly.
Maybe you're a YouTube vlogger or a Twitch streamer wanting to key out your background. Maybe you're shooting a film,
and you need to change the view out a window or composite in some driving footage for a car scene.

These are just a few of the ways you can use a green screen professionally, but unless you know what you're doing, you
might run into some problems. Lighting and camera settings can be especially tricky.

The Slanted Lens (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUbAIlQq6qdOCW7nURh9Qog) has put together a six simple tips
for shooting with portable green screens. They're specifically looking at the Valera Creator 95

(https://streamvalera.com/products/valera-creator-95) and the Valera Explorer 90

(https://streamvalera.com/collections/explorer/products/valera-explorer-90).

Watch their video below.

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 16.7.2019 Six Tips for Shooting with a Portable Greenscreen [Video]

1. Don't over-light the green screen

The Valera green screens have a ChromaBoost wrinkle-resistant screen, which they claim will allow you to achieve a

great chroma key even in low light.

But in general, if you put too much light on a green screen, you risk getting a lot of reflected green that will show up in

your talent's hair and skin. It can be torture to fix in post.

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2. Use the green screen in the context of your background or scene

What this means is that you should set up the scene and the subject first, then place the green screen within that setting.
You are lighting the subject so they match the background you want to place them in, not lighting them for the green

screen.

3. Use minimal light to reduce shadows on the green screen

The video says you should use a "kiss of light" on the screen, just to get an even finish and reduce shadows.

If you do this simple step, you will get a clean enough outline that will allow you to work with the footage in post.

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 16.7.2019 Six Tips for Shooting with a Portable Greenscreen [Video]

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4. Match the subject's lighting with their background

This is another big reason for lighting the subject first. You need to keep in mind where the subject will "appear" when
you replace the background. Are you editing them into a sunny day at the beach? What direction will the light be coming

from? How hard is that light? How deep are the shadows?

If you're in a studio, your lighting setup will need to match the conditions of the scene you're trying to achieve. One easy

way to do this is --

5. Take your green screen on location

Since these Valera screens are portable, you have the option to simply go outside and set up your shot within the lighting

you're trying to match.

For the scenes in this video, the subject was acting against himself. He was able to shoot outdoors, in the same setting,

for both parts. Keep in mind that you still need to be aware of light and shadows so that both subjects can appear to be
standing together at the same time.

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 16.7.2019 Six Tips for Shooting with a Portable Greenscreen [Video]

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6. Match the motion of light with the background

If you're shooting in a studio setting and want to create some dynamism, consider using light to tie together your

foreground (subject) and background (green screened footage).

The video suggests using a light to simulate a passing car or traffic signal. These kinds of simple effects can add to the

illusion of your scene.

What's next? We've got more tips for working with green screens
Although the concept of using a green screen is easy, everyone can hit the occasional snag. Here are ten more tips for
green screening like a pro (https://nofilmschool.com/tips-help-you-green-screen-champion), four things you should know

about lighting a green screen (https://nofilmschool.com/2016/11/4-things-you-should-know-when-lighting-green-screen),

and five secrets for a great chroma key (https://nofilmschool.com/2015/09/5-secrets-pulling-hollywood-level-chroma-key-
besides-good-lighting).

You can also enjoy these viral Russian green screen videos (https://nofilmschool.com/2017/05/grandma-teaches-herself-
and-you-chroma-key-greenscreen).

What are some of your go-to fixes for working with green screens? Let us know in the comments!     

source: The Slanted Lens (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l578qdYcJmM)

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 16.7.2019 Six Tips for Shooting with a Portable Greenscreen [Video]

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