What Is A Green Screen And How Does It Work?
These days, great cinematic performances are full of special effects that show actors flying through the air or walking on distant planets, as well as many other amazing feats that just would not happen in the real world. These action-packed scenes make for an excellent movie, and even though we might be aware that a little bit of post-production magic is involved, they still manage to amaze and enthrall us every time.
If you are a real film buff, you may have heard all about green screen technology, or seen them featured heavily in programs that document the making of a movie. The green screen is an integral feature of modern day cinematography and is a simple, but incredibly effective way of transforming what we see on screen.
What Is A Green Screen?
A green screen is a background in front of which moving subjects are filmed, that allows for a separately filmed background to be added to the final image during the editing process. Using a high-tech process called “chroma key,” the wizards in the editing suite can work their magic to transform an actor into anywhere in the world, and far beyond!
How Does A Green Screen Work?
The green screen process works by taking recorded videos or digitally transferred films and isolating a single color that exists only in a narrowly defined area of the spectrum – in this case, green. Green screens, or even sometimes blue screens are preferred because these types of color are so far removed from the human skin tone that they set a very obvious outline to the action in front of them.
For the green screen process to work well, the entire area must be evenly lit with no shadows, so that the separation can be identified on film and digitally removed. Once the green screen area has been removed, computer editing software can be used to insert virtually any background behind the actor.
The Chroma key process can even work for images that are streamed live by using specially designed software that can recognize and manipulate multiple video channels based on layers defined by color. When it comes to enhancing footage using a green screen there are endless possibilities and ways to completely transform the picture we see before us.
Green Screen For Animation
Many of the most successful and elaborate animated characters we see in the movies and on television today are also filmed using green screen technology. 50 meter high dragons or giant killer robots are inserted into pre-corded footage using bright-green stand-in characters that the actors interact with during the shoot. In post-production, the fully rendered animals replace the green characters to come alive in front of our very eyes.
Green screen technology has grown leaps and bounds in recent years and now enables us to turn any scene into a real work of genius.
Frank Gatto & Associates For All Your Lighting Needs
Here at Frank Gatto & Associates, we provide first-class lighting solutions for a wide range of indoor and outdoor events and film productions. Speak to us today on 561-368-0101 to find out more about our first class film and TV lighting services.
Frank Gatto & Associates, Inc. are specialists in lighting for television events of all kinds. If you have an event that needs expert lighting, please call us today to see how we can help.
Phone: 561-368-0101
Email: frank@frankgattolighting.com
We can be found on Social Media at the following links.
