Cheap Green Screen and Lighting ($50.00)

The following tutorial was created to teach you how to get the highest quality, yet cheapest green screen and lighting available today. (There could be something a little cheaper, but this is what worked for me.)

After seeing how much a professional green screen and lighting actually cost, I figured, there had to be another way. I mean, who can afford $1,000+ worth of equipment? I know that I sure can't.

So although this tutorial won't tell you where and how to professionally get the job done, my tricks still do get the job done with a pretty good and high quality video in the end result.

Let me know what you think. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them, and I will do my best to answer them.

By the way, for the Chroma Key Effect, I used Adobe Premiere CS3. CS4 will also work for the same effect. A quick tip about Chroma Key: Be patient. Mess around with the settings until you get something that looks good. If you look at my video, my hair is a little choppy, and I could've easily done a better job if I had just taken my time.

Quick Tip About Lighting! Do NOT shine the lights directly into your face. If you feel hot, or if you feel like you have to squint, you need to reposition your lights. In my example, I use three-point-lighting. More information about that setup can be found on Google Images.

Quick Tip about Green Screen! Try to avoid 'Paper' green screens. Fabric is always better. If you really look at paper, it often seems that it's never one solid color, whereas, fabric usually is. Overall, fabric is easier to light, and works far better for a chroma key effect. Remember, lighting the green screen evenly is the key!

As for my camera, I am using a high definition, Kodak Zi6. It's a nice little pocket camera, and it works extremely well for simple movies, or interviews.

Items Needed: The following is a list of the cheap items that you will need to purchase to do what I have done. Again, you can try different items, but the following is what worked best for me. Best of all, I only spent around $50.00.

Home Depot
x2 500 Watt Lights
x1 250 Watt Light

Walmart
Green Fabric
Green Duct Tape

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• cheap
• green
• screen
• lighting
• tutorial

[gmonka04]

Can u plz tell me where u got the white background thx.

[professionalblogger]

@gmonka04 White background?

[jimmyruffin1066]

I've worked with green screen a while...Matt green paint is the way to go..fabric is a pain , paint your bedroom wall green. X3 lights and use after effects . Your video should be perfect

[professionalblogger]

@jimmyruffin1066 I never thought of doing that. You should post an example video on your profile, and when it is up, let me know. I will link to it in my video. :)

[professionalblogger]

@AWESOMETMAN1 Just don't get the tape in the shot.

[nfarnham2008]

I have a large blue blanket, could I use that for a blue screen? Hanging it from a wall or something?

[jimmyruffin1066]

would imagine draping green cloth over the car windows would be easy enough, the lighting is not easy on car green screens, its a complete bitch to get it looking good...Good luck

AMAZON do a good green screen POARTABLE, that is very big when open . I cant put link here ...wont let me .

[OhItsJan]

@jimmyruffin1066 I need a portable green screen. Something I can use to film "driving shots" in different vehicles. Any suggestions?

[TheBossManTing]

damn...things in america are cheap!

[sincitycyclops]

a lot of green spill in your hair on the keyed video =/

[professionalblogger]

@nathan4808 I don't know, man. I have never used any other program.

[nathan4808]

@professionalblogger Could I use Final Cut Express or Pro?