I am very disappointed with the chromakey feature of VS9. Although it works great with the sample video included in the program, I found it takes an almost perfect "green screen" video to get good results. Although I also have (and use) MSP7 and Pinnacle's Studio 9 which both have chromakey capability, I went ahead and upgraded to VS9 mainly for this feature.
That feature in the other two programs works reasonably well, but since VS9 was newer, I thought maybe they had perfected it a little more. However, that is not the case. Unless I'm missing something, the only adjustment after selecting the color to be "chromakeyed" is the "similarity". Using the same video that I shot using a chromakey cloth in all 3 programs, VS9 was the only one that I could not get a key good enough to use. Like I said, it works great with the "sample" video so if you have a perfect green screen video, it will work. But, if the green isn't completely uniform, I doubt you will be satisfied with the results.
VS9 Chromakey
Moderator: Ken Berry
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thecoalman
Ulead VS9 gives a lot of functions for 99 bucks. Do not expect it to replace Ulead Mediastudio or Adobe Premiere. Get real.
So the Chromakey is not perfect. VS9 is not made for pro's. Although they can do a lot of nice things with it. At least I consider myself semi-pro and I use VS9 for the fast and rough editing. Great program. Very efficient. But for chromakeying I look elsewhere. As I do for multiple videotracks etc. But these programs do cost a lot more money.
Jean-Pierre
So the Chromakey is not perfect. VS9 is not made for pro's. Although they can do a lot of nice things with it. At least I consider myself semi-pro and I use VS9 for the fast and rough editing. Great program. Very efficient. But for chromakeying I look elsewhere. As I do for multiple videotracks etc. But these programs do cost a lot more money.
Jean-Pierre
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jday
randazzo,
I agree with what you said and like I stated, I do own and use MSP7. My main point was for people who are looking to buy VS9 mainly for the chromakey function. I didn't want them to be disappointed.
Pinnacle Studio Plus' cost is equivalent to Ulead Video Studio and it's chromakey feature has several adjustments (not only "similarity) and is almost as good as MSP7's implementation of chromakeying. That was why I was surprise at how rudimentary this feature was in Video Studio.
Again, I'm not knocking Video Studio as a program for "consumers".
I agree with what you said and like I stated, I do own and use MSP7. My main point was for people who are looking to buy VS9 mainly for the chromakey function. I didn't want them to be disappointed.
Pinnacle Studio Plus' cost is equivalent to Ulead Video Studio and it's chromakey feature has several adjustments (not only "similarity) and is almost as good as MSP7's implementation of chromakeying. That was why I was surprise at how rudimentary this feature was in Video Studio.
Again, I'm not knocking Video Studio as a program for "consumers".
I understand.
But after a few years I've become a Ulead fan. Not always satisfied but I try to keep the perspective. And it's an experienbce after many useless ours spend with Pinnacle. What's the use of chromakeying within that progam when it's not even possible tofinish a decent project.
Do you really think people wille buy VS9 solely for the chroma key functioning??
Regards,
Jean-Pierre
But after a few years I've become a Ulead fan. Not always satisfied but I try to keep the perspective. And it's an experienbce after many useless ours spend with Pinnacle. What's the use of chromakeying within that progam when it's not even possible tofinish a decent project.
Do you really think people wille buy VS9 solely for the chroma key functioning??
Regards,
Jean-Pierre
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thecoalman
of lighting they used didn't hurt matters.-
THoff
BTW, did anyone see that Ulead is going to sell a relatively cheap (US $15) chromakey cloth?
http://www.ulead.com/vs/related.htm#cloth
I'd love to call their tech support line with a problem regarding this thing!
http://www.ulead.com/vs/related.htm#cloth
I'd love to call their tech support line with a problem regarding this thing!
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thecoalman
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jday
Pinnacle sells a 6' x 5' green chroma key cloth for $20 that works very good and it made of the right material so that it doesn't wrinkle. The size is fine for smaller subject or "waist up" shots, but not for full length. I originally thought that 6' was tall enough, but there are a couple of things to remember.
First, if you want a "head-to-toe" shot, your cloth has to extend on the ground so that the subject can stand on it. Secondly, it needs to extend probably 3-4 feet in front of the backdrop so the subject can stand far enough in front to avoid a shadow on the backdrop.
I actually bought two of the 5' x 6' green cloths. I originally thought I would use one as the backdrop and the second on the ground. This will work with a shorter subject, but as you move the subject further in front of the backdrop (unless the camera is level with the top of the subject) the backdrop will have to be higher than the subject. So, I actually fastened the two cloths together and made the backdrop almost 8' high and that still left 4' on the ground.
First, if you want a "head-to-toe" shot, your cloth has to extend on the ground so that the subject can stand on it. Secondly, it needs to extend probably 3-4 feet in front of the backdrop so the subject can stand far enough in front to avoid a shadow on the backdrop.
I actually bought two of the 5' x 6' green cloths. I originally thought I would use one as the backdrop and the second on the ground. This will work with a shorter subject, but as you move the subject further in front of the backdrop (unless the camera is level with the top of the subject) the backdrop will have to be higher than the subject. So, I actually fastened the two cloths together and made the backdrop almost 8' high and that still left 4' on the ground.
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david reece
i have the pinnacle 9 plus version (load of ****). it didnt do what it said on the box. (just like VS8 methinks)
However in the booklet it states you need to have at least 2 sources of light to knock out any shadows. this would improve things. I am sure this is why the ulead clip is well lit.
I used a blue towell so i had shadows an dmy eyes became transparent aswell.
for £50 uk what would you expect?!?
If you use the denoise filter i found it helps for clarity.
you can order from the pinnacle site a proper blue screen until ulead make it available on this site. that way you have a color tht dosent clash.
However in the booklet it states you need to have at least 2 sources of light to knock out any shadows. this would improve things. I am sure this is why the ulead clip is well lit.
I used a blue towell so i had shadows an dmy eyes became transparent aswell.
for £50 uk what would you expect?!?
If you use the denoise filter i found it helps for clarity.
you can order from the pinnacle site a proper blue screen until ulead make it available on this site. that way you have a color tht dosent clash.
Last edited by david reece on Tue Apr 12, 2005 3:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
This thread got me interested in trying out the VS9 chromakey feature. I didn't have any video handy that had been shot against a solid background, but I did have some pictures of buildings against a cloudless blue sky.
Popped one of these pictures in the overlay line, set the chromakey color to a shade of blue, set the similarity to 100% and it looked great.
To further test I used the Ulead sample green screen clip and found if you set the similarity to anything under 50% the green shows through. Set it to 30% and almost all the green shows.
If you look carefully you can see the the green backgound is actually not all that uniform either.
Popped one of these pictures in the overlay line, set the chromakey color to a shade of blue, set the similarity to 100% and it looked great.
To further test I used the Ulead sample green screen clip and found if you set the similarity to anything under 50% the green shows through. Set it to 30% and almost all the green shows.
If you look carefully you can see the the green backgound is actually not all that uniform either.
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MikeGunter
Hi all,
I have seen and used the Chromakey function in VS9. I expected the key to be rather shabby as DV's chromakey is based upon the 4:1:1 sampling DV uses for color space.
The key was quite impressive, and I suspect a lot of users will employ it in their video.
One probably shouldn't expect greatness - some chromakey software for DV runs into several hundred US dollars, but the key was very good.
Mike
I have seen and used the Chromakey function in VS9. I expected the key to be rather shabby as DV's chromakey is based upon the 4:1:1 sampling DV uses for color space.
The key was quite impressive, and I suspect a lot of users will employ it in their video.
One probably shouldn't expect greatness - some chromakey software for DV runs into several hundred US dollars, but the key was very good.
Mike
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Ray Musicbear
Why is it that the cloth is not available NOW?
If it were, I would order it today...
I've been looking all over for the right shade of blue sheet,
I can't find a nice solid blue sheet anywhere!
And I'm sure a sheet is not the answer, you would have
all those folds in it which would create harsh shadows!
Come on Ulead, make this backdrop available soon!
If it were, I would order it today...
I've been looking all over for the right shade of blue sheet,
I can't find a nice solid blue sheet anywhere!
And I'm sure a sheet is not the answer, you would have
all those folds in it which would create harsh shadows!
Come on Ulead, make this backdrop available soon!
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thecoalman
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shoalhaven
ChromaKey option
There are two very important musts, -- lighting and of course the green material you are using for the background.
The lighting must be evenly lighted. There must not be any 'hot spots', and the material should be stretched as tightly as reasonably possible. It should have a matte finish, and no hint of reflection.
Lighting should be diffused, so that no shadows are cast on the green background.
The best location for your shooting would be outdoors, around noon, when the sun is overhead.
For ideal indoor shooting, a fluorescent lamp should be placed approx. 12 inches above and in front of the sreen. To each side of the screen, you should place matching sized lamps, to eliminate shadows or hot spots.
The subject should be placed approximately 3 to 4 feet from the green screen.
Keep in mind that the setting of 'ChromaKey' is like a catch-all option, and in most cases, will not require any further adjustments.
In my case, I purchased several yards of Kelley Green felt material, which seems to absorb hot spots created by uneven lighting. It works perfectly. The cost was $12.00 and change for a 72x90 hunk of material.
My problem is in making a frame for the background that will minimize slack and present an unwrinkled screen.
The Ulead process works every bit as well as Pinnacle 9 +. My only gripe is that Pinnacle does provide more substantial tutorial support in this area, while Ulead only gives you a totally inadequate video tutorial download.
In any event, lets keep in mind that ChromaKey is nothing more than a form of an overlay, and if your 'movie' has to depend on this overlay to merit approval, you are in trouble.
P.S. the clip you select upon which to apply the chromakey overlay, can make or break the finished product.
Experiment, have fun, and don't select your editing program upon this flimsy a reason.
The lighting must be evenly lighted. There must not be any 'hot spots', and the material should be stretched as tightly as reasonably possible. It should have a matte finish, and no hint of reflection.
Lighting should be diffused, so that no shadows are cast on the green background.
The best location for your shooting would be outdoors, around noon, when the sun is overhead.
For ideal indoor shooting, a fluorescent lamp should be placed approx. 12 inches above and in front of the sreen. To each side of the screen, you should place matching sized lamps, to eliminate shadows or hot spots.
The subject should be placed approximately 3 to 4 feet from the green screen.
Keep in mind that the setting of 'ChromaKey' is like a catch-all option, and in most cases, will not require any further adjustments.
In my case, I purchased several yards of Kelley Green felt material, which seems to absorb hot spots created by uneven lighting. It works perfectly. The cost was $12.00 and change for a 72x90 hunk of material.
My problem is in making a frame for the background that will minimize slack and present an unwrinkled screen.
The Ulead process works every bit as well as Pinnacle 9 +. My only gripe is that Pinnacle does provide more substantial tutorial support in this area, while Ulead only gives you a totally inadequate video tutorial download.
In any event, lets keep in mind that ChromaKey is nothing more than a form of an overlay, and if your 'movie' has to depend on this overlay to merit approval, you are in trouble.
P.S. the clip you select upon which to apply the chromakey overlay, can make or break the finished product.
Experiment, have fun, and don't select your editing program upon this flimsy a reason.