Enhancing dark footage shot on green screen

Scott F

Scott F

Pug Life
Working on a corporate green screen footage that was handed off to me. Although the key is nice & even, the person on screen is rather dark & the overall image is flat.

(I can't post image due to confidentiality, just take my word....the image is dark. Not a total loss, but sub par)

Since I am in AE, any color correction recommendations you might have to give the image a boost? I've already applied curves and boosted a bit, but there's only so far I can go before things really start to fall apart.

thanks,
Scott
 
You might consider setting up the best key that you can and adjust the background plate to match the poor exposure of the foreground footage. Save this off as a composite then bring it into the timeline and apply overall grading to the composite. Show it to you client and if it is still unacceptable, suggest that it be re-shot.
Good luck.
 
Not sure if you are having trouble with the key, or just with the resulting keyed footage. While you can almost always build up a key for problem footage, you eventually get to the spot where sometimes a re-shoot is cheaper and faster.

In any case, you may want to try some noise reduction (Reduce Grain in AE, or an external plugin) to clean up the footage prior to building your key matte. Then, as has been suggested, color-correct a copy of the keyed footage separate from the matte footage. It is usually easier to match the keyed footage to the background than the other way around. Screen mode is a life-saver for dark footage, as is the shadow-highlights filter. I also use Color Finesse (included with AE) to treat dark footage, although it can have a steep learning-curve.

Jim
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top