Green screen knowledge?

[LandyVlad]

I found a green screen thread but it goes back to 2014 , so a new thread is due

I am thinking of getting a green screen setup, but want to do so at the minimum cost.

Can anyone recommend any good 'kits'(screen and lights) from eBay?

I've watched a number of YouTube tutorials (and can figure out the editing part so don't really need advice on that front).

As far as set up is concerned I know that lighting is important. - the screen needs to be well lit as does the subject and ideally the subject should be lit from behind as well to minimise green screen reflection. (Though that can probably be minimised in post, with some feathering if needs be,)

In any event I welcome input, tips, links etc from those who have some green screen experience.

Ta.

 

[Drakhen99]

Haha, I do green screen stuff almost weekly... I use a Valera green screen and a Mount Dog soft box light.

I showed it off when I got it in a video on my channel - look for this title [not sure if I can share a video link here]

2 CHEAP Small YouTube Studio UPGRADES - Mount Dog Lighting & Valera Green Screen!​

The green screen was $150, and you can do with a lot cheaper, but the soft box light kit is $50 and awesome. Multiple brightness settings, temperatures, automatic settings which work well, and it comes on a stand.

The green screen reflections are a bit annoying, but most of it is feathered out, as you said. I think the overall effect that I get is good.

-John

 

[Theodor]

I've done green screen once, some years ago. I had a room at my home, of the time, which had walls painted and the green was pretty suitable tone. Sunlight from the window, and couple of desklamps for lighting. I did not have a camera that could do over 1080p, so you can still see green here and there, in the video. But if you're talking about budget, can't get much cheaper than that

 

[LandyVlad]

Thanks fellas, I'll check out your video John - I obviously missed that one.

 

[Drakhen99]

Thanks fellas, I'll check out your video John - I obviously missed that one.

Dude, I publish so many videos, and it was so long ago, I don't doubt a great many people missed it!

I am currently noodling how I want to do my Davinci Resolve Green Screen tutorial. I've got it pretty much down to a science now, and can do a static green screen shot in like 5 minutes... probably more like 3. I have a setup I use here for my tutorial and bike preview vids that is solid, even with masking off some areas of the footage that are outside the screen.

Also, if you've seen any of my videos [my Operation: Rescue Care Bear video, for instance] where I am sitting in a nice room, you've been duped - it's a green screen and a static "room" background image I downloaded that dang-near lines up perfectly. It is convincing enough that a buddy asked me where in my house I'd filmed that shot, and he's been in my house hundreds of times!

-John

 

[LandyVlad]

Unfortunately the light costs an additional $60 to shop here - makes it expensive all of a sudden and the greenscreen doesn't ship here (not a problem as I can get that locally_)

So no Amazon affiliate link $ for you ! LOL

I'll have to sse if I can find a similar light setup on ebay here...

 

[Drakhen99]

No worries - buy what fits your budget! I see a lot of guys using green sheets and stuff to do green screen. It's probably a little more work to get the effect you're looking for, but it'll save some real coin.

Since I record in a dimly-lit room, mostly at night, the light is 1000% needed. Yes, I know that math doesn't add up, but it's still true.

-John

 

[LandyVlad]

This seems suspiciously cheap

LED Dimmable Softbox Lighting Photo Studio Continuous Soft Box Light Stand Kit | eBay Australia

This Soft box kit is more durable, lightweight and efficient than any fluorescent softbox lighting system on the market, PLUS its now Dimmable. Our simple Quick Start Guide and easy to use functions allow any professional OR aspiring beginner to achieve Quality results.

www.ebay.com.au

Not sure if this type of
light is a better option or a waste of cash

Pardon our interruption...

This greenscreen is about the right size I reckon 1x2 metres.

Photography studio Green Screen Chroma key Panel Background Backdrop with Case | eBay

Backdrop material: Hight quality polyester contton. Makes streaming much easier and fun! When you’re done using the screen, simply push it back down into the hard case, and it can fold up small enough to put underneath anyone's bed or couch, in a closet, or wherever so it's out of the way.

www.ebay.com.au

The bigger ones would rip to easily as they go on the floor as well and my garage where I'd be filming has a rough texture floor.

Thoughts?

 

[Drakhen99]

The first light kit is the one I'd get, and it looks like the same lights I have... there are a number of names attached to what looks like the same hardware, and with a softbox, you'll get better-dispersed light, which is important. The LED bars I don't think would work as well. You may be missing the "auto" settings though, which I find super important - I literally use the remote to select "auto white" on my soft box and boom - I'm all set.

The green screen is what seems suspiciously cheap to me. If you're not walking on it, laying on a textured floor shouldn't damage it, not noticeably... unless your floor is in-frame.

-John

 

[Theodor]

This greenscreen is about the right size I reckon 1x2 metres.

If you intend to do only head, then maybe the 1 meter width will be enough. You can't allow much movement and gestures though.

 

[LandyVlad]

Other option I was considering maybe a roll down pierce of green paper cloth (like a roller blind) if I can find such a thing at an affordable price.

 

[Drakhen99]

Other option I was considering maybe a roll down pierce of green paper cloth (like a roller blind) if I can find such a thing at an affordable price.

Check Amazon - I think I've seen a bunch of those green sheets for less than $50 - a few bucks more if you want a frame for it.

There are some companies that sell rolls of colored paper, so I bet you could get one of those in green. Think Media did a fairly recent video on those, and IIRC, they were like $10-25 for a full roll. Just needed something to mount it to a wall with.

-John

 

[Meifesto]

From my experience, you can get away with a 10 euro green screen, if and only if, you have a good source of light, preferable 2 angles.

Light is the most important thing of your green screen setup and can make or break it.
A nice ring light will get you far, unless you have glasses, in which case you need a "dual' light setup.
Now you can cheat a little there as well, with one light and 1 reflector, to create a second lightsource.

Still figuring a cheap solution for this myself, and all greenscreen projects are on hold for me until i have figured something out.

 

[Drakhen99]

I have to have my green screen, camera, and light set up in a certain way to minimize or eliminate the reflection of light on my glasses, but generally it works quite well.

I don't have a secondary light source or reflector.

-John