This tutorial has everything you need to know about how to make a green screen video on your own.

If you are new to this technique, I’ll show you how to build a green screen at the lowest costs.

And if you’re a video pro? I will reveal some advanced tips and creative ideas that you can use to bring your skill to the next level.

Bottom line:

If you want to get the most out of green screen effect, you will love this guide.

Four Quick Steps in This Guide:

Step1: Get Your Green Screen Footage (2 Ways)
Step2: Background Video
Step3: Choose the Best Green Screen Software
Step4: Post-production: Incorporating Green Screen Footage into Your Videos
Advanced Tricks: 10 Amazing Green Screen Ideas

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Step 1: Get Your Green Screen Footage

Before you do anything else, your chroma keying is going to need some green screen footage, which you can get by either recording the videos yourself or downloading them from a stock video site.

Technique1. Downloading Pre-made Footages from Stock Websites

Storyblock is considered one of the best and largest website for stock video footage, stock images and soundtracks. You can sign up for the trial period, which provides you access to a plethora of things such as:

• More than 115,000 high-quality video clips in an array of genres
• More than 400,000 high-quality pictures, illustrations, etc.
• More than 100,000 licensed sound effects, songs, etc.

Any resource you download during this trial period is royalty-free and whatever you download during this time is yours to keep.

Technique 2. DIY Green Screen Clip

There are several steps you need to take in successfully making your own green screen footage. There are two key things you need to make this happen – green backdrop and camera.

1. Green backdrop

Green is the most common chroma key backdrop, which is why the chroma key is known as the green screen effect.  Why green though? It’s because digital cameras have a higher sensitivity to the color than other others, which ensures the cleanest image possible for editors.

Another reason? Many people do not wear the color green, which means an actor won’t be filtered through the chroma key, leading to missing body parts, floating heads, etc.

You have two ways to attain a green backdrop:

#1. Purchase A Pre-made Green Screen Backdrop

Search the Internet for the material, as you can find an array of them at different prices. Cheap material goes for around $17 while the more professional material, along with other equipment, sells for $70 and higher.

#2. Make Your Own Inexpensive Green Screen Backdrop

This cheaper option is usually reserved for novice editors, which makes use of easy-to-find material such as cardboard or wood you paint green, spongy or flexible material like spandex or foam or fabric of some type (something green or white that you dye green). If you decide to use green fabric, it’s best to wash and dry it stretched or steam it before you use it.

Yes, creating a backdrop on your own won’t cost as much, but it may not be as reliable as the one you’d buy online. Your budget will dictate which option is the better choice.

2. Get a Camera

The great thing about the chroma key video footage is that any recording device can be used – smartphone, tablet, webcam or DSLR camera. While an iPhone or other smartphone is usable, it’s preferred to use an advanced DSLR camera. If you do choose the camera, be aware of three things:

• Choose one with HD-quality capabilities (at least 720p)
• Camera will save files in a format that can be imported by the green screen software
• Use a solid tripod for your camera to be mounted on

Consider The Panasonic Lumix GH4 For Your Green Screen Needs

Panasonic developed the Lumix GH4 mirrorless camera – the first type to provide 4K video recording. It has a 16MP sensor that provides 4K up to 30fps or 96fps.

There are a plethora of great things about this powerful still camera including:

• Weather-sealed
• Fully-articulated screen
• Headphone and mic jacks
• Large EVF
• Built-in Wi-Fi (with NFC)
• 12fps continuous shooting

For those who don’t know, it’s imperative to have both compression and codec to make your green screen work and to use a quality key from footage you shoot. If you’ve shot green screens before using a high-quality camera with codecs or a DSLR camera, you know it’s much easier to pull a key.

Video Alchemy employees conducted a test – Panasonic GH4 versus Blackmagic Cinema Camera with superior codec.  It appears the GH4 did far better than anyone expected in terms of look quality and usability.

Based on the test, it would seem that the GH4 4K model would be great for individuals to use for their green screen or chroma key.

To effectively shoot against a green screen, use the following camera settings:

• Lowest possible ISO to decrease image noise
• Higher shutter speed, so there’s no motion blur
• Raw format, as it offers the best quality
• Depth of field adjusted to video background

3. Lighting a Green Screen (Optional)

While optional, it’s still recommended.

The steps listed below will ensure you avoid commonly-made mistakes when setting up your lighting equipment.  And, if you don’t have the ability to invest in good lighting equipment, the sun will do just fine too.

#1. Put Camera Few Feet Away From Object

You don’t want an object to be so close that you have to carefully move between the camera and green background. Instead, put the object several feet away from the camera to get good

#2 Have 2 Light Sources Set Up Higher Than Object

In an ideal world, the lights should be fixed on tripods or hanging Their placement isn’t as much of a big deal as the angle (45-degree) between the scene’s center and the light source. You could also use the daylight or fluorescent bulbs in your home.

#3. Find Best Spot For Object (or You)

Your own shadows are fairly inevitable, but by giving some space between the green screen and yourself, you can have it spread evenly on the inside or have it on the outer camera frame. Simply put, experiment with the shadow changes until you find the perfect position.

More Professional Tips To Bear In Mind When Creating A Green Screen Clip

• You do not want the color green anywhere on your person – clothing, hair, skin, eyes, lips, etc.
• The green sheet should be as smooth as you can get it to reduce shadowing.
• Have even lighting on the green sheet to avoid dark or bright areas.

THINGS TO DO BEFORE NEXT STEP:  Download or Record a green screen footage

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Step 2 – Getting Some Background Video

After you’ve got your green screen footage, now you need to come up with some background video footage for your chroma key compositing.

Where Can You Find Videos and Images For Your Background?

This is actually dependent on what your goal is. Will you already have a photo or video shoot? Will you have the stock materials or a piece of a famous movie? Here are some recommendations for you to consider.

#1. Using What You Record

Be sure the videos have the same parameters. A picture can easily be ruined if the footages don’t have the same quality. It’ll look unnatural. Don’t concern yourself with the sound in the background video, as you can mute that when you edit it. The viewers will hear only what it is you want them to hear.

#2. Seeking High-Quality, Pre-Recorded Footage

There are a plethora of stock sites that offer free-to-download videos including but not limited to Pexels, Videvo, StockBlocks, etc. Make sure to review the site’s terms and read their video quality descriptions to avoid any surprises after you’ve downloaded the video.

Remember, you’ll need to download or record background video before you move onto the third step.

THINGS TO DO BEFORE NEXT STEP: Download or Record Background Video At this point you don’t need to install/download anything. I’ll show you this in the next step.

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Step 3 – Picking A Suitable Green Screen Software

After you’ve recorded both green screen footage and background video, you’ll have to delete the image’s green parts and add in your background. This technique is known as chroma keying (choosing a color and deleting all instances of that color. Any picture or video will become visible in its place.

How can you create your chroma key?

• With real-time, you use a special effects generator or video switches (usually seen in live events or where several sources are needed in real-time)
• With post-production, you use a compositing or green screen editing software.

Novice and professionals tend to opt for this second method, which is why it’s so common.  There are many professional editing programs you can buy. Adobe Premier is a really good program but will cost you a pretty penny. The Movavi Video Editor is much cheaper and works much like the more expensive options. Why should you consider Movavi to delete the green color?

• Can quickly learn how to use the program
• Comes with pre-designed filters, titles, transitions to aid in your video production
• Uses special effects such as slow motion, chroma key, mosaic, split screen, etc.
• Can export to various video formats
• Offers direct sharing to social media sites and others
• No obligation to buy after the trial

THINGS TO DO BEFORE NEXT STEP: Select a green screen software that best suits your needs. For beginners, Movavi is the best choice.

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Step 4 – Integrating Green Screen Footage To Your Background Video

In this step, you learn how to quickly integrate your green screen material into the background video using the Movavi Video Editor program.

#1. Download Movavi Video Editor and Install

The first thing you need to do is download the Movavi Video Editor for your Windows or Mac computer. Run the installation file, following the instructions given.

#2. Add All Files and Footage To Movavi Program

Open the program and choose “Create Project in Full Feature Mode.” You’ll need to click the “Add Media Files” button to import the files – one that has the solid background color and the one for the background video or picture you want the first file to have. Both files are then added to the Timeline’s video track.

#3. Use Chroma Key Effect To Edit The Video

Choose the foreground video located on the Timeline, dragging it to the Overlay track. You want the background clip to stay on the primary Video Track.

You’ll need to double-click the foreground video. Choose the “Chroma Key” from the list. You’ll need to click the green box on the list and click somewhere on the background of the file in the preview window. Make adjustments to the video using the sliders (noise, tolerance, opacity and edges), so the background video will be visible.  Once done, hit “Apply.”

That’s all there is to it!

#4. Save The Movie

Hit the “Export” button and pick the option that you need:

• Save as video file
• Convert to viewing on a mobile device
• Upload online

Once you do that, hit Start.

Movavi Video Editing for both Windows and Mac makes it easy to edit your movie.

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10 Interesting and Advanced Ways Green Screens Have Been Used

A green screen helps in all kinds of ways from “shrinking” actors for “bit” parts to making a person invisible to a person flying in the sky. What are some of the ideas that a green screen has done to ensure a director’s vision “came to life?”

#1. Mini-People

Do you remember the tiny actors in “The Indian in the Cupboard” or “The Lord of the Rings”? Well, they became tiny through screen thanks to the green screen.

#2. Cloning People

A green screen allows a person to clone themselves.

#3. Levitation

If you’ve watched movies like “The Gate” or “Birdman,” you may have wondered how they levitated the actors. That would be the green screen.

#4. Invisibility

The green screen has helped movies like “Fantastic Four” and “Hollow Man” with invisible parts come to life. Watch the following like to learn how you can make someone invisible yourself.

Other interesting green screen ideas you can implement:

#5. Walking on water

#6. Ghost effect

#7. Giant man effect

#8. Flying in the sky

#9. Magic carpet rides

#10. X-Ray/Ultra Violet Effect

As you see, a green screen is multipurpose and can bring most, if not all, things you can think up to life on the screen. If you’re interested in making a video or movie, then you need to consider a green screen for your next “big” shot.