Jumat, 24 Agustus 2012

Essential Lighting Tips for Green Screen Technology

With the advancement in technology nowadays, there are also incredible changes in terms of the digital technology. Some aspects that have greatly improved in this digital world are photography and cinematography. Now, it is very possible for one subject to have any background without even going there. This is very feasible through green screen technology. It has been used by news anchors to report weather for a number of decades already. However, the green screen technology serves a lot of benefits for the photographer or cinematographer. As long as the proper lighting and a high quality camera is used, this technology will work well.

To achieve great results in green screen photography, proper lighting must be used in the process. This will ensure that the subject will appear natural and the new background will look realistic. This is commonly used to place a live-action subject within a chosen virtual world. After shooting a subject on a green screen, you can then inject images and scenes behind the subject with the aid of computer software. But take note that to achieve great results green screen lighting is vital. This article will tackle some of the important tips with regards to green screen lighting.

Lighting the Green Screen and the Subject Must be Done Separately

One of the things that you should practice is to light the green screen and the subject separately. With regards to lighting the screen, try to use two fill lights in order to create a smoothly lit surface. You can then shoot the lights at an angle directly at the screen. To create an even level, also adjust the intensity of the lights. Some of the things that you should avoid within the screen are circles or the so-called 'hot spots.' These are the areas of the screen that are brighter than the rest. You can hold a dark-colored lighting gel in front of your eyes in order to determine the evenness of the light. With that, you are able to spot if there is any irregularity on the screen than the naked eye may miss.

After you have determined that the green screen has been evenly lit, you can now turn off the green screen lights and start lighting the subject. There are a number of things that you should consider when lighting the subject. You must light the subject according to the environment that will replace the screen during post-production. For instance, if the subject will appear to be standing on a beach, use an intense key light in order to simulate the sun with that kind of environment. On the other hand, if the subject is to be in a normal room, opt for a more subdued lighting situation.

Utilizing the Three-Point Lighting System for the Subject

Now, when lighting the subject, the standard three-point lighting system is appropriate. It is the standard method used in visual media such as video, film, and still photography. This is a simple yet versatile method which forms the basis of most lighting. The technique consists of three lights: the key light, fill light and back light. In order to utilize the technique fully, three lights are needed.

Your key light will serve as the main light source which illuminates the subject. It should be cast at an angle, according to the scene that you wish to create during post-production. Some of the things that you must avoid here are the shadows created by the key light and to reduce it, use two fill lights. The fill lights should be positioned at an angle from either side of the subject. Also take note that the intensity of those fill lights should be half than that of the key light. Moreover, you should also place a backlight behind the subject in order to separate the subject from the background. The backlight can either be positioned below or above the subject, creating a rim of light around the subject's edges.

Effective use of green screen technology can produce amazing results. As mentioned above, one of things that you have to take a look at is the proper lighting. However, if you are just a beginner in this kind of field, you can get essential tips and guidance from a particular green screen studio. With the services of such companies, you can place your subject in the places which is beyond the horizon of reality and into anywhere your imagination leads to.

Andrew James is a Production Manager at Salt Lake City Studio - the most versatile TV, WebTV, and green screen studio in Salt Lake City. If you want to know more about our green screen photography, contact us at Tel: 801 916 7597 or E-mail: manager@saltlakecitystudio.com.

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