Using your screen as a green screen backdrop
A green screen lets video software cut out the background and replace it with anything you like. For small subjects such as products, models, hands or a tight head-and-shoulders shot, a large monitor or TV showing an even green can do the job of a green cloth.
- Press Start green screen. It opens in a standard chroma-key green, which most editing apps detect easily.
- Place your subject a little way in front of the screen (not touching it), so the green doesn't reflect onto them.
- Light your subject separately. Lower the screen brightness if green is spilling onto edges.
- Avoid reflections: switch off lights that shine on the screen and angle the camera slightly to dodge glare.
- In your editor, use the chroma key, keying or "remove background" effect and pick the green.
If the key looks patchy, pick the green swatch for a brighter pure green, or choose your own shade with the colour picker until the background is as even as possible. If your subject is green, use the blue screen instead.
Testing green pixels
Green is one of the three colours every pixel is built from. On a full-screen green, a pixel whose green part has failed shows as a dark dot. Run the full dead pixel test to check all three.
Common green screen mistakes
The most common problem is green "spill": light from the screen bouncing onto your subject's edges, which then disappear when the background is removed. Moving the subject further forward and lowering the screen brightness both help. Shiny subjects such as glasses, jewellery and glossy packaging reflect the green, so angle them away or use a matte spray. Fine detail like hair is the hardest to key cleanly, so give it plenty of separate light. Finally, check your camera isn't automatically adjusting its white balance to cancel out the green: lock the white balance if your camera or phone app allows it, and keep the exposure the same throughout the shot.