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Roy Alexander · February 24th, 2014, 09:38 AM

I am just starting to use the Ultra key with Adobe CS5 premiere pro and am wondering if a normal fluorescent tubes fitted vertically each side of a green screen would light the screen efficient. I have heard of softbox lighting using fluorescent bulbs and wondered if the vertical tubes would spread the light more evenly. Would the colour temperature be correct for a HDV camcorder or would the auto system of the camera make any correction needed. Advice appreciated.

Finn Yarbrough · February 24th, 2014, 10:01 AM

Vertical fluorescent tubes may create their own problems with unwanted light spill unless you flag them. The closer you place them to the screen the brighter the screen will be, but the more contrast there will be between the center and the edges of the screen.

I wouldn't worry about the fluorescent temperature as much as the evenness and brightness of the light across the whole screen. Two regular tubes may no provide enough illumination in the center of the screen, where it is most important because you can't mask there as easily (assuming your talent is somewhere in the middle)

Softboxes are hard to beat for lighting green screens. Kino-flos work, too, but they use more than one tube apiece for sufficient illumination...

At your own risk, I would say. Do you have the time to test it out?

Roy Alexander · February 25th, 2014, 02:39 PM

FINN thanks for your input. I only want the talent to be seen as head and shoulders so If needs be I could mount a third tube horizintally to light the middle of the screen which would not have to be very wide. So I think the screen would be reasonably evenly lit. If I can borrow some 4ft lighta I will give it a test.

February 24th, 2014, 09:38 AM	#1
Roy Alexander Major Player Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 354	Chromakeying I am just starting to use the Ultra key with Adobe CS5 premiere pro and am wondering if a normal fluorescent tubes fitted vertically each side of a green screen would light the screen efficient. I have heard of softbox lighting using fluorescent bulbs and wondered if the vertical tubes would spread the light more evenly. Would the colour temperature be correct for a HDV camcorder or would the auto system of the camera make any correction needed. Advice appreciated.

February 24th, 2014, 10:01 AM	#2
Finn Yarbrough Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Ferrisburgh, VT Posts: 179	Re: Chromakeying Vertical fluorescent tubes may create their own problems with unwanted light spill unless you flag them. The closer you place them to the screen the brighter the screen will be, but the more contrast there will be between the center and the edges of the screen. I wouldn't worry about the fluorescent temperature as much as the evenness and brightness of the light across the whole screen. Two regular tubes may no provide enough illumination in the center of the screen, where it is most important because you can't mask there as easily (assuming your talent is somewhere in the middle) Softboxes are hard to beat for lighting green screens. Kino-flos work, too, but they use more than one tube apiece for sufficient illumination... At your own risk, I would say. Do you have the time to test it out? __________________ http://www.earthhouseproductions.com

February 25th, 2014, 02:39 PM	#3
Roy Alexander Major Player Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 354	Re: Chromakeying FINN thanks for your input. I only want the talent to be seen as head and shoulders so If needs be I could mount a third tube horizintally to light the middle of the screen which would not have to be very wide. So I think the screen would be reasonably evenly lit. If I can borrow some 4ft lighta I will give it a test.