Tips/suggestions for green screening a green parrot? at DVinfo.net

Michael Wisniewski · July 17th, 2004, 02:04 PM

What's the best way to shoot a green parrot for a chroma key background?

Notes:
We have this pet parrot who were going to use for our logo. Kinda like the MGM lion.

Jeff Donald · July 17th, 2004, 02:29 PM

In your case use a blue screen. Green screening a green parrot in DV 4:1:1 color space might result in a lot of post processing work.

Patrick King · July 17th, 2004, 02:29 PM

Blue screen.

Botero Collapsible Background - 5x7' - #027 Chroma-Key Blue at one of our generous sponsors:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=303025&is=REG

Guess I took too long looking up the link, Jeff beat me to the answer. "Alex, I'd like Cinematography for $500."

Jeff Donald · July 17th, 2004, 02:36 PM

ah, but yours is more thorough, Patrick. Nice link.

Keith Loh · July 17th, 2004, 04:12 PM

What if it is a green parrot with blue colouring?

Glenn Chan · July 17th, 2004, 04:37 PM

You could also try a luma key (black). You just need to find colors that don't match. It depends if the parrot's colors are close to the green/bluescreen's.

Patrick King · July 17th, 2004, 04:47 PM

Keith,

If its a blue parrot with green coloring, then get some non-toxic red fingerpaint and make it a green parrot with red coloring.

(No parrots were harmed in the making of this parroty...er, parody.)

Chris Hurd · July 17th, 2004, 09:13 PM

Can't you key on just about any solid, even color? Is there orange in this parrot? Purple?

Bill Pryor · July 19th, 2004, 09:38 PM

You can key any color. Just find a color that is significantly different from whatever colors are on the parrot. I used a day-glo orange one time for keying because that was the only color the object didn't have. And one time I had a guy in a Hawaiian shirt. Fortunately the only color not in the shirt was white, and I had some white seamless. He had on sunglasses, so I didn't have to worry about keying out the whites of his eyes.

James Emory · July 20th, 2004, 07:26 AM

Ever heard of Ultimatte? I think it keys anything.

Bill Pryor · July 20th, 2004, 08:29 AM

We use Ultimatte and also Boris. On some types of things Boris does a better job, but Ultimatte is probably the best keying software to have if you can only have one. However, the Ultimatte software you buy for your Mac or PC for $1200 bucks is not the same Ultimatte that you can pay a huge amount for in high end applications. You still have to be very precise in your lighting, especially if you're shooting a DV25 format.

Michael Wisniewski · July 21st, 2004, 10:54 PM

Thanks for the replies.

We ended up getting the blue/green 5x7 Botero background for general purposes.

But, we knew it wasn't going to work for the parrot because it's quite colorful. So we took the other tip, and used orange-day glo cardboard paper from an art store. Works great on the parrot!

I'll post when when we've finished with the compositing.

Rob Lohman · August 1st, 2004, 04:14 PM

After green/blue I've seen orange used the most in keying, but
yes, you can key any color as long as it is a strong bright color
with no fluctations in it and doesn't come close to anything you
are trying to keep in your picture.

You really don't want to key green things in front of a green
screen, that's basically impossible. In this case a black cloth
(not shiny!) might work wonders.

Giroud Francois · August 1st, 2004, 04:58 PM

there is even better.
it is the no-color keying.
It uses a special ring with blue LED you can mount on the front of the camera.
It sends an invisible blue light to a special reflective background.
This way you can use anything of any color (as long it is not too much reflective).
I do not remeber the product name.
The only drawback is you have to purchase this special background that is not particularly cheap.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/projects/virtual/keying.shtml

try this search in google:
camera led keying ring background reflective

Mike Rehmus · August 1st, 2004, 05:30 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Giroud Francois : there is even better.
it is the no-color keying.
It uses a special ring with blue LED you can mount on the front of the camera.
It sends an invisible blue light to a special reflective background.
This way you can use anything of any color (as long it is not too much reflective).
I do not remeber the product name.
The only drawback is you have to purchase this special background that is not particularly cheap.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/projects/virtual/keying.shtml

try this search in google:
camera led keying ring background reflective -->>>

It doesn't work that way. The background becomes blue, excited by the LEDs. Once you turn the LED on, it's just like any other chromakey operation. The advantage of this product is that one does not have to work so hard at illuminating the key material.

July 17th, 2004, 02:04 PM	#1
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	Tips/suggestions for green screening a green parrot? What's the best way to shoot a green parrot for a chroma key background? Notes: We have this pet parrot who were going to use for our logo. Kinda like the MGM lion.

July 17th, 2004, 02:29 PM	#2
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	In your case use a blue screen. Green screening a green parrot in DV 4:1:1 color space might result in a lot of post processing work. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

July 17th, 2004, 02:29 PM	#3
Patrick King Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Enterprise, AL Posts: 857	Use blue instead Blue screen. Botero Collapsible Background - 5x7' - #027 Chroma-Key Blue at one of our generous sponsors: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=303025&is=REG Guess I took too long looking up the link, Jeff beat me to the answer. "Alex, I'd like Cinematography for $500."

July 17th, 2004, 02:36 PM	#4
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	ah, but yours is more thorough, Patrick. Nice link. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

July 17th, 2004, 04:12 PM	#5
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	What if it is a green parrot with blue colouring? __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

July 17th, 2004, 04:37 PM	#6
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	You could also try a luma key (black). You just need to find colors that don't match. It depends if the parrot's colors are close to the green/bluescreen's.

July 17th, 2004, 04:47 PM	#7
Patrick King Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Enterprise, AL Posts: 857	Keith, If its a blue parrot with green coloring, then get some non-toxic red fingerpaint and make it a green parrot with red coloring. (No parrots were harmed in the making of this parroty...er, parody.)

July 17th, 2004, 09:13 PM	#8
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Can't you key on just about any solid, even color? Is there orange in this parrot? Purple? __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

July 19th, 2004, 09:38 PM	#9
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	You can key any color. Just find a color that is significantly different from whatever colors are on the parrot. I used a day-glo orange one time for keying because that was the only color the object didn't have. And one time I had a guy in a Hawaiian shirt. Fortunately the only color not in the shirt was white, and I had some white seamless. He had on sunglasses, so I didn't have to worry about keying out the whites of his eyes.

July 20th, 2004, 07:26 AM	#10
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	Ultimatte Ever heard of Ultimatte? I think it keys anything.

July 20th, 2004, 08:29 AM	#11
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	We use Ultimatte and also Boris. On some types of things Boris does a better job, but Ultimatte is probably the best keying software to have if you can only have one. However, the Ultimatte software you buy for your Mac or PC for $1200 bucks is not the same Ultimatte that you can pay a huge amount for in high end applications. You still have to be very precise in your lighting, especially if you're shooting a DV25 format.

July 21st, 2004, 10:54 PM	#12
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	Thanks for the replies. We ended up getting the blue/green 5x7 Botero background for general purposes. But, we knew it wasn't going to work for the parrot because it's quite colorful. So we took the other tip, and used orange-day glo cardboard paper from an art store. Works great on the parrot! I'll post when when we've finished with the compositing.

August 1st, 2004, 04:14 PM	#13
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	After green/blue I've seen orange used the most in keying, but yes, you can key any color as long as it is a strong bright color with no fluctations in it and doesn't come close to anything you are trying to keep in your picture. You really don't want to key green things in front of a green screen, that's basically impossible. In this case a black cloth (not shiny!) might work wonders. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

August 1st, 2004, 04:58 PM	#14
Giroud Francois Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: switzerland Posts: 2,133	there is even better. it is the no-color keying. It uses a special ring with blue LED you can mount on the front of the camera. It sends an invisible blue light to a special reflective background. This way you can use anything of any color (as long it is not too much reflective). I do not remeber the product name. The only drawback is you have to purchase this special background that is not particularly cheap. http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/projects/virtual/keying.shtml try this search in google: camera led keying ring background reflective

August 1st, 2004, 05:30 PM	#15
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	<<<-- Originally posted by Giroud Francois : there is even better. it is the no-color keying. It uses a special ring with blue LED you can mount on the front of the camera. It sends an invisible blue light to a special reflective background. This way you can use anything of any color (as long it is not too much reflective). I do not remeber the product name. The only drawback is you have to purchase this special background that is not particularly cheap. http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/projects/virtual/keying.shtml try this search in google: camera led keying ring background reflective -->>> It doesn't work that way. The background becomes blue, excited by the LEDs. Once you turn the LED on, it's just like any other chromakey operation. The advantage of this product is that one does not have to work so hard at illuminating the key material. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!