Chroma Key

[Kevin CTMP]

Hey Everyone,

I have family coming in out of town and we've decided that we want to get a few really nice family portraits for christmas.....my parents are interested in taking a picture on a green Chroma Key then adding some sort of digital background. unfortunately, i've had a chroma key for awhile but have never used it. so does anyone have any tips on how to get the best shot and lighting??......also, does anyone have any suggesstions on how to make it smooth out.....i unrolled it and it has kind of a "wave" pattern going....and i can't just throw it in the dryer like muslin

thanks!!

[Art Scott]

Hey Everyone,

I have family coming in out of town and we've decided that we want to get a few really nice family portraits for christmas.....my parents are interested in taking a picture on a green Chroma Key then adding some sort of digital background. unfortunately, i've had a chroma key for awhile but have never used it. so does anyone have any tips on how to get the best shot and lighting??......also, does anyone have any suggesstions on how to make it smooth out.....i unrolled it and it has kind of a "wave" pattern going....and i can't just throw it in the dryer like muslin

thanks!!

You said you unrolled it.....but have you hung it from the background stands....also can it be lightly steamed whilst hanging.......I have never owned a CK backdrop so I have no real idea as to what they are made of.....but hanging an alowing to hang will take a lot of wrinkles and waves out of a lot of backgrounds........

[iotashan]

The #1 rule to shooting on a green screen is that the lighting should be even on the screen, and ideally a stop or two brighter than the subject. One tip I've heard is to have the subject 5-6' away from the screen.

[Art Scott]

The #1 rule to shooting on a green screen is that the lighting should be even on the screen, and ideally a stop or two brighter than the subject. One tip I've heard is to have the subject 5-6' away from the screen.

yeah......must be far enough away so that the reflection off the screen do not give the screen cast on the subject...........