What to use for a blue/green screen headshot at DVinfo.net

Natan Pakman · August 15th, 2009, 12:18 PM

I am looking for a blue/green screen background solution as an alternative to traditional portrait photography backgrounds that only really needs to be 6'x6' or slightly larger since it would be used for interview closeups.

The only simple idea I've come up with is buying a muslin background and bringing a foldeable or non-foldeable board over which to drape the screen, but I'm open to all sorts of suggestions.

Any ideas?

Adam Gold · August 15th, 2009, 12:56 PM

Here's a pretty good discussion on this, with a couple of potential sources...

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/open-dv-d...p-sources.html

Steve Rusk · August 15th, 2009, 12:58 PM

The muslin ones are doable, but if you are planning on a lot of on-location interviews you'll probably be cursing it each time you have to set it up and smooth out the wrinkles to get a decent chroma key pull from it. I'd pay the extra money for a flexi-type screen from a good manufacturer. The amount of time saved at each location as well as time tweeking each shot on your editing software will pay for itself many times over. There's also some new product on the market made of a foam material that is ssupposed to resist wrinkles, but I couldn't find it just now.

Natan Pakman · August 15th, 2009, 03:44 PM

Thanks guys.

I checked the link to the other thread, and it seems that eefx screens are getting good reviews. If you can think of other alternatives, let me know.

Natan Pakman · August 18th, 2009, 09:18 AM

I have another basic question about chroma keying and lighting. It seems to be pretty common to have blue/green screens curve into the floor of the set (I assume the basic reason here is to reduce the possibility that the set floor will get into the shot). How is the lit evenly so that there isn't uneven lighting (bright spots and shadows) on the curved and flat portions of the screen?

August 15th, 2009, 12:18 PM	#1
Natan Pakman Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 196	What to use for a blue/green screen headshot I am looking for a blue/green screen background solution as an alternative to traditional portrait photography backgrounds that only really needs to be 6'x6' or slightly larger since it would be used for interview closeups. The only simple idea I've come up with is buying a muslin background and bringing a foldeable or non-foldeable board over which to drape the screen, but I'm open to all sorts of suggestions. Any ideas?

August 15th, 2009, 12:56 PM	#2
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Here's a pretty good discussion on this, with a couple of potential sources... http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/open-dv-d...p-sources.html

August 15th, 2009, 12:58 PM	#3
Steve Rusk Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Stuttgart Germany Posts: 63	The muslin ones are doable, but if you are planning on a lot of on-location interviews you'll probably be cursing it each time you have to set it up and smooth out the wrinkles to get a decent chroma key pull from it. I'd pay the extra money for a flexi-type screen from a good manufacturer. The amount of time saved at each location as well as time tweeking each shot on your editing software will pay for itself many times over. There's also some new product on the market made of a foam material that is ssupposed to resist wrinkles, but I couldn't find it just now.

August 15th, 2009, 03:44 PM	#4
Natan Pakman Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 196	Thanks guys. I checked the link to the other thread, and it seems that eefx screens are getting good reviews. If you can think of other alternatives, let me know.

August 18th, 2009, 09:18 AM	#5
Natan Pakman Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 196	I have another basic question about chroma keying and lighting. It seems to be pretty common to have blue/green screens curve into the floor of the set (I assume the basic reason here is to reduce the possibility that the set floor will get into the shot). How is the lit evenly so that there isn't uneven lighting (bright spots and shadows) on the curved and flat portions of the screen?