Quick Green/ Blue Screens

Gra · Post by **Gra** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 12:50 pm

Hi Guys

The more technical ones out there will probably shot me down, but if you're newish to all this you may find this info helpful and a cheap alternative if you need to do a green screen quickly.

I had to do an overlay the other day and couldn't think of what to use - some of the DIY alternatives to buying a Green/ blue screen kit still cost a bit. Then I was in IKEA (no, this is not a plug) and saw they were doing some felt/ fleece style blankets in various shades of blue and green. The green version seems to be the very shade that I've read about and the weight and texture seems very good to work with. I bought two for about a fiver (GBP), pegged them onto a curtain pole (with a couple of pegs as weights at the bottom) and voila a decent sized instant green screen (340x260cm or 134x102").

Hope this helps if anyone out there wants to try green/ blue screen shooting out before investing in something more expensive.

Gorf · Post by **Gorf** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 3:44 pm

Good advice.

For a permanent greenscreen, on the cheap: Print off a sheet with varying shades of green. Film it in your intended lighting conditions, then capture one of the frames. Run the image file through an editor to find which green has captured brightest, with least red and blue in it. Print off a sheet with just that shade of green on it, then go to your local DIY shop and get them to mix up some green to the exact same shade.

Another alternative is to get a sample pack (swatch) of true greenscreen paint, and take that to B&Q to get your own version mixed.

rwernyei · Post by **rwernyei** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 3:01 am

Another alternative to cloth for use in the field is to buy a sheet of linoleum from your local hardware store. Cheap and has enough structural integrity to stand on its own by folding the sides or lay flat against a wall or objects. Then use Gorf's advice and get a mixed copy of chroma paint and paint away. Roll it up and take it with you. When paint layer becomes damaged, apply another coat and so on.

Post by **lancecarr** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 3:57 am

I was reading on another board recently that B&Q (for those of you where that chain exists) have a green paint called "Appleyard Green #3" which apparently gives good results if you get them to mix it in a matte base.
The only caveat being that you need to apply a few coats of paint to achieve a "true" green.

Gra · Post by **Gra** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 7:40 am

Hi Guys

Thanks for the other ideas. I had read about the actual paint but when I suggested it to 'er in doors I was in intensive care for a week because she wasn't that amused by the idea of either a wall painted bright green (or blue) or a couple of metres square of green/ blue MDF knocking around the place.

I hadn't thought of the swatch idea and have it made up in B&Q, which is a cheaper alternative to the special paint and the lino idea is a good on storage space, which was a critical factor for me when buying the green blankets (and they were v. quick to put up as well).

Thanks again.