Diy Greenscreen

[Mr. Blonde]

Hey again DIY'rs, now I'm looking into how to create a DIY green screen setup. A large one, maybe 10'x10' or so. Does anyone know if there is a certain cheap fabrice that can be purchased somwhere, or maybe a special formula of paint that can be mixed at home depot possibly? lol I know this is stretching it but I'd assume it's been done? I know who will have an answer lol, master Teddy!?

[natxbrotha]

you can go to the party store and they usually sell like 4ft by 50ft rolls of bright green plastic vinyl table cloth. buy one of those, make yourself a frame out of 1x2's, then stretch the stuff to fit the frame and overlap a little but and tape it on the backside. or use that bright green gaff tape on the front as well. light it up and it should work. you could aslo use 3/4" pvc pipes to make a frame with 90degree elbows, then stretch and tape the screen to it.

COST: i think the cost of a roll of table cloth is like 5$. the wood for a frame will cost you like 10$ or a little more depending how elaborate you wanna get. im sure you could use glue, staples, or tape for holding the vinyl to the frame or wall. its definitely worth a shot considering it will cost close to nothing... especially for a green screen...

[dvxwheelr]

Also, On the website indietalk.com there are plans for a green screen frame made out pvc and there is also a parts list. You might find this handy. You can dis-assemble and re-assemble it for height or width.
-dvxwheelr

[natxbrotha]

Also, On the website indietalk.com there are plans for a green screen frame made out pvc and there is also a parts list. You might find this handy. You can dis-assemble and re-assemble it for height or width.
-dvxwheelr

FYI, to even view that particular part of the forum (with all the DIY stuff) you have to pay a minimum of 25$ to gain access for 1 year. Poop on that.

[RoamingBobert]

There is a formula on the web that gives the color codes for a bright green paint that you can bring to home depot or lowes and have them mix it for you. Just do a google search.

I've gone to the local fabric store in the past and purchased a bright green fabric that I hung on my basment wall. As long as the color is significantly different than others in your scene you'll be fine. The biggest issue I've experienced is having enough room to seperate your actors from the screen - too close and you get too much color spill that can't be removed.

[ovjamaica]

This is another good source: http://cgi.ebay.com/AMVONA-CHROMA-KEY-MUSLIN-PHOTO-BACKGROUND-BACKDROP-NEW_W0QQitemZ7579173687QQcategoryZ79005QQrdZ1QQcmd ZViewItem . I got a 10x16 green screen backdrop from this seller for $40, including shipping. It works well, is a a uniform color, and was not very expensive. Just look for the Amvona auctions. Much cheaper to go through their auctions than their website. Best of luck.

[dvxwheelr]

FYI, to even view that particular part of the forum (with all the DIY stuff) you have to pay a minimum of 25$ to gain access for 1 year. Poop on that.
I got on through this link: http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?t=6629
(I don't remember where I got it) but it didn't cost me anything. Must of lucked out I quess.
-dvxwheelr

I tried the link and you do have to log in. Don't know what happened here.-
dvxwheelr

[soren k jensen]

Also, Rosco sells paint that is particularly designed for use with the acclaimed Ultimatte sw.

[spidey]

dude just go buy it.

[Chapman]

anyone know why they have those black dots on pro greenscreens?

[Mr. Blonde]

Thanks people, I like the cheap plastic idea but unless the stuff is matte in its appearance it might cause a problem. Yea I've looked at the rosco paint option, pretty cheap, about $40 a gallon. I figure if I did a diy specialty paint from home depot it'd be around $20 a gallon, that's probably what I'll go for. Yea building a frame out of pvc should be pretty easy.

[Matt Sconce]

Sounds like this will work!

[Eric Elliott]

anyone know why they have those black dots on pro greenscreens?

They're for tracking camera moves in a 3D package later. The software needs some reference points to tell it how the camera moved.

[bgundu]

anyone know why they have those black dots on pro greenscreens?

matchmoving. Check out my reel to some of it.

http://10framehandles.com/movies/BobGundu_FX_Reel.mov

[lpcvideo1]

I had a bunch of sites, and now I cannot find the links.

Here are two. I'll keep looking.

http://www.digitalproducer.com/2003/06_jun/tutorials/06_02/guntergreen.htm

http://www.stage-n-studio.com/KeyingPaint/chromakey_paint.htm

[Norm Sanders]

Personally, I don't like the plastic table cloth idea, as I think it would have too much glare/reflection/gloss to it.

I just went to Walmart & checked out their fabric section. The material I liked best, to absorb the light & have a nice FLAT look to it, was a felt blanket like material. However, they didn't have it in the shade of green that I wanted, but had an excellent blue. If you click on my DEATH MARCH link below in the signature, you'll see the key I was able to pull from it, with a little bit of additional clean up in Sony Vegas. Turned out pretty well, considering the CRAMPED location this was shot in, and the $30 in CHEAP lighting I used as well. :thumbsup:

[stevewitt]

what about these crocodile clips (sold for MUCH LESS at Lowes and/or Home Depot) and some bungee cords to hang or STRETCH a GREEN table cloth or bed sheet for chroma keying. These clips hold incredibly strong & create instant grommets for the hook of a bungee cord or any rope or tie for that matter. Hook other end of bungee inside of a window or door frame or whatever else.
http://www.campingworld.com/browse/skus/index.cfm?deptID=2&subOf=48,10&skunum=20666&affiliateID=1126

[shadow_dog_dx]

I got form some material shop heaps of blue material and green too and with the right lighting it works great

[Jim Arthurs]

Just saw this thread... addressing the original post... go to your local home builder store and buy a roll of cheap linoleum... 12' wide and as long as you want, say 36'.

Bring it home flip it over to the matte backside and paint with primer, then your favorite blue/green paint. The reason you want cheap linoleum is that the smooth matte backside is what you're using, not the shiny printed side.

Now, keep it on the long cardboard roller tube for storage and rig up a stand, pull it out down to the floor and (here's the trick) drag it forward until it naturally drapes out and forms a smooth cyc curve! This is better than the cheap fabric, better than paper or plastic, and will produce excellent results.

One more point, on paint. All paint is not equal, and not all greenscreen paint is either. Everything, and I mean everything, is CRAP compared to Digital Green from these guys...

http://www.digitalgreenscreen.com/index2.html

Why is their paint so good? First, it's pure to a degree that is impossible to match at your home builder's paint center. Second, it's luma to exactly match your subject when both are at proper f-stop for key light.

So, cheap out on your screen, but not the paint.

Finally, if you can move your subject far from your screen, and don't have to show subject/screen interaction, then you can make any of the common chroma paints work if you light the screen with kino tubes in the primary colors. Just watch the spill...

Regards,

Jim Arthurs

[Justyn]

bgundu,

Very nice effects real man... outstanding.

[lpcvideo1]

. . . (here's the trick) drag it forward until it naturally drapes out and forms a smooth cyc curve! This is better than the cheap fabric, better than paper or plastic, and will produce excellent results.


Brilliant idea, Jim. But how in the world do you light that evenly?

[little bobby]

I bought some nice, bright green felt from a fabric store and that worked for me. Just be sure it is evenly put up against a well....that was my problem the first time around. And when you're done with it, you can re-felt a pool-table...that's what I did anyways!