Ever wondered how your favorite influencers and content creators have so many amazing backgrounds? Or how they have the time to set up such intricate scenes? They may be spending less time on their backgrounds and scenes than you imagine. Their secret is green screens.
Filming in front of a green screen provides endless background options. Keep reading if you’re wondering “what is a green screen” and how you can use them.
What Is a Green Screen?
Green screens are a green backdrop that you can use to shoot photos, videos, or podcasts in front of. Edit out the green in post-production, replacing the screen with a custom background or special effects.
Green screens are what Hollywood’s been using for decades for sci-fi movies and special effects. The actors act in front of a green screen, and dinosaurs, planets, and other computer-generated (CGI) special effects are edited in during post-production.
What Is a Blue Screen?
Green screens are the most versatile, but there are some settings where a blue screen is a better fit. For example, when creating photo and video content at night. Or if you need to wear green in your video.
You can’t wear the same color as your screen, or your body will blend into the background. You’ll look like a talking head without a body.
What Color Green Is Best for a Green Screen?
What Color Blue Is Best for a Blue Screen?
Where Can You Buy a Green Screen?
You can find green screens online and in local art and camera stores. Shop online for the largest selection.
This includes:
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Wall-mounted retractable screens.
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Compact chair-mounted popup screens.
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Portable pop-up screens in varying sizes.
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Floor-standing screens with green wall and ground.
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Full kits with professional-grade lighting.
How Many Lights Do You Need When Using a Green Screen?
A single O-light works if your background is small and you’re filming with your smartphone. The larger the background, the more lights you’ll need. This ensures there aren’t any shadows that will degrade the quality of the background you edit in.
Always film a 15 to 20 second test shot to ensure there aren’t any shadows. Your clothing can’t be the same color as your screen, or your body will blend in, and you’ll need to reshoot.
For larger backgrounds, you’ll need:
What Is a Green Screen Video?
A green screen video is any video filmed in front of a green screen. This allows you to import a custom background during the editing process.
What Is a Green Screen Background?
You can add anything you want to your green screen! Just make sure the size and resolution of the file you choose will display behind you without pixelation or distortion. Maybe a picturesque skyline, luxury living room, chic office, or branded background.
You can upload the following content for your background:
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3D and 4D photos
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3D and 4D videos
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Photo wallpapers
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Animated backgrounds
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Motion graphics
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Custom backgrounds
Can You Use a Sheet as a Green Screen?
Yes! Get creative and use a green bedsheet or chroma green/digital green backdrop paper or backdrop sheet from a local art or camera store. Sheets and paper are ideal if you want to create a green wall or room for wide-lens photos and videos.
When using a sheet or paper, you must keep these factors in mind:
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The color you select needs to be as close to the hex colors above.
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Paper can rip, so you may not be able to use it as many times as a screen.
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Wrinkles and folds in papers and sheets cast shadows, so they must be taut.
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The texture of the paper or sheet needs to be as smooth as possible.
What Is a Green Screen Used For?
Content creators use green screens to customize their marketing photos and videos. This includes the content they’re featured in and content featuring models.
They’re ideal when:
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You want to add your profile over any photo, video, or background.
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You need an editorial-level background for video ads and online content.
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You don’t have an aesthetically appealing place to film podcasts and videos.
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You’re tired of filming in front of the same few backdrops you have at home or work.
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You want to create a duplicate background of your at-home background while traveling.
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You want to make it easier to swap out the background with images.
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You want to make it look like you’re shooting from a different location.
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You want to create a branded, animated, or custom background.
Can’t I Just Remove the Background With Editing Software?
Yes. Most editing software and apps use AI to remove your background. However, a green screen provides a seamless finish. This is particularly important if you’ll be moving a lot while filming.
How Does a Green Screen Work?
Video editing software and apps have a “remove color effect” or “color key” tool to swap out the background. Film your marketing video in front of a green or blue screen and upload it to your video editing software or green screen. Then upload the new background to swap it out.
If you aren’t using special effects or motion graphics, you can add the new background before editing. If you are using special effects or motion graphics, complete all other edits before adding your new background.
Where to Find Backgrounds and Motion Graphics?
You can design custom backgrounds in your preferred design software. Or buy backgrounds and motion graphics from a stock photo provider. TechSmith has millions of royalty-free motion graphics. TechSmith integrates with Camtasia, or you can download their backgrounds to use with any video editing software or app.
Or create a life-like AI clone of yourself and use one of JoggAI’s video templates. Just submit your brand colors, logo, script, and images and AI creates a video in seconds. Choose from a range of backgrounds!
What Is a Green Screen App?
A green screen app makes it fast and easy to edit the photos and short videos you film on your smartphone. You may need advanced editing software for longer videos and complex video editing.
Green Screens—A Powerful Video Editing Tool
Now that you’ve answered the question of “what is a green screen?” it’s time to decide how you’ll use one. Green or blue screens provide limitless background options for photos, videos, and podcasts. Some content creators use screens every time they shoot, and others only use them as needed.
Another powerful tool content creators use to tailor their content is artificial intelligence. With JoggAI, you can expand your backgrounds, voiceovers, and UGC content range. This includes the ability to create lifelike AI avatars videos that speak in over 200 languages, accents, and tones.
The most successful creators use a combination of tools to tailor their content.
