dvx + chroma-key

T

Thomas_E_SP

Active member
Hello,

In a couple of weeks I'll shoot a short using blue screen and my dvx. It's the first time I'm doing that, and any tips will be great.

I'm shooting 24p

Thanks
 
don't skimp one bit on the lighting!

the worst time you can ever say "we'll fix it in post is when shooting chroma-key footage!

If posisble, get a scope to take with you to check yrou color spread and luma :)

- Mikko
 
Are you shooting on a cyclorama or just in front of a chromakey screen?

Getting your background lite with very even and flat light is essential. Having a vector scope on your camera is also very helpful (DV Rack is great for this). Make certain that you talent is lit from a different source so that they don't cast any shadows on the background.

Testing in advance to your actual shoot will likely uncover any serious problems that you might encounter.
 
I prefer green, the blue chanel has proved to be awfully noisey. The edges and hair suffer bigtime on blue.
 
As well as lighting the screen for an even background you may want to try backlighting your subjects.
 
Shoot greenscreen, not blue. Use a good keyer (Primatte or Keylight) and correct DV chroma artifacts first. (To do this in after effects, duplicate the layer so that there are two idential layers of the footage, and blur the above layer with a horizontal "radius" of 4, no vertical blur, then make its transfer mode "color.") Then move this composition into another composition and key using that composition.

Keep your subjects as far as possible from the greenscreen for each particular shot. Most people would say to light two stops down for the greenscreen (make it two stops darker) but I would disagree since the dvx is noisy in dark areas. I would keep it about one stop darker open the aperture as far as possible without blown highlights. Backlighting is good, but the most important thing is to light true to your shot. Make sure all lights are motivated. If there's no motivated backlight, you'll have to kill it. Also, florescents between the subject and greenscreen make awesome lights (unless you need to shoot feet) and you can tilt them at progressively higher angles as they get further from the greenscreen to light the greenscreen evenly, which is key. If you do use a backlight, try putting a magenta gel over it. That way, there will be a sharp contrast in color and less spill. Also, make a good garbage matte before you key. Saves time.

That's all I can think of.
 
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