Green Screen.

ryan brown

ryan brown

lOwEr CaSe Member
I've searched a bit, but just have a simple question. I've never tried keying out greenscreen footage, but I'm about to on a major project. I've got pretty extensive experience in FCP, and little to none in AE.

How much more control over the image would I have if I was to go the After Effects route instead of attempting it in FCP? Is it possible (or plausible) to do it in FCP, or should I break out the manual and tutorials in AE?

Thanks

-brown
 
It can be done in FCP very well. The quality of the shot will be of most importance. Before diving into another application, learn to do it correctly in FCP first. The APTS book, "Advanced Color Correction and Effects in Final Cut Pro" has a chapter on green screen that is awesome. Best way to learn to do it right the first time! I'd strongly recommend you get that book and read over that lesson first. Then go to work in FCP. Only after that should you move into other applications. No need to over complicate things.

Most all of my keying in FCP has been very easy and very effective. The only time I've had problems is when the shots were not properly lit.

It is VERY possible and VERY plausible in FCP, for sure!
 
Awesome. That's what I wanted to hear, and I'm off to read up as much as I can about it and get started.

Care to break down your typical greenscreen workflow, Ben?:love4:

Eh... you're right, I'll start searching on my own.

EDIT: Can I find that book (APTS) in a store... or will I have to order it? I need to get started asap, and don't want to wait for shipping. Also, here's where I'm going to start:

http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/chroma_key_fcp_hd_monahan.html
 
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Basically, make sure you light the shot correctly in the first place. Keep the subjects away from the screen far enough so that green light bouncing off the green screen doesn't bleed onto them. Make sure there's no shadows on the green screen. Make sure the green screen is lit evenly, no area brighter than another. Use a back light to shine up on your subject(s) from behind, but not on the green screen. This will help better define them from the screen behind them.

As for keying it out in FCP later, well, if all that was done correctly, it's a breeze. Get that book, it'll take you through it completely. Even how to correct for bad lighting, spill suppression, etc. It's a very nice tutorial you can do in one night.

Matte out everything you don't really need. Apply the Blue Green Screen filter (oh, yes, in 5.1.2 you get the one that's in Motion now showing up in FCP, so you actually have two that you can experiment with). Apply a Spill Suppressor. Tweak. Throw in a color space smoother if you have problems. It's not a huge deal, very easy, very effective. But you have to learn the FCP way of doing it.

The book I mentioned will explain it all. You'll flip at how easy you can handle it once you do the lessons in the book.

You probably will have to order the book. I notice locally that Barnes & Noble sometimes has a copy or two in stock, but no one else ever does. I find the best prices on BAMM.com with my membership, and second best price on Amazon.com.
 
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I've used DVmatte Pro, I didn't find it any better than keying with FCP's keying filters. I found it a waste of money.
 
I agree with all of your advice about the Pro Training series.
dvMatte Pro and dvMatte Blast are really designed to give good keys with dv footage very quickly.
In my experience, they work extremely well.
 
Again, I've had great success with FCP's tools with green/blue screen shots that are lit and shot properly. Learn the NLE the right way first, then branch out.
 
FYI: I just spotted someone selling their copy of dvmatte blast for $50 on ebay. It's a deal. I wish I would have seen this before I shelled out the $100 for it.

It leaves out some of the tweaks that dvmatte pro does but it runs in realtime and it works great. I don't have a link to the ebay listing but I'm sure you'll find it if you search.
 
Sometimes using DVMatte is better and sometimes using the FCP Chroma Key filter is better. I found that recently I did a green screen shot and keyed it out better with the FCP filters. But then, the client gave me some blue screen video that he had done in Europe and DVMatte was the only thing that worked for it. DV Matte Blast is the quickest way to do it, but you don't have all of the advanced controls that you do compared with DVMatte Pro.
 
I recently purchased my DVX and have done a couple of green screen clips (there are 2 on my blog right now at http://nevercoldcall.typepad.com)

I've been searching for information on how to improve, as my shots are 90% satisfactory except for a bit of the "boiling" effect now and then. It's fine on the web where it's hard to notice, but not ok for DVDs.

Having spent lots and lots of time experimenting in FCP, and also having tried the DV Matte Pro demo, I have to say that I'm getting better results in FCP. I can't even pull a decent key in DV Matte Pro, while in FCP I'm now up to about 95% satisfactory (I've tweaked it to very, very little "boiling" and can even conceal that with a tiny bit of blur on the alpha channel)

I went ahead and ordered the book "Advanced Color Correction and Effects in Final Cut Pro" and can't wait to dive into it! Thanks for the suggestion, and for helping me save money on 3rd party plug-ins that apparently can't do as well of a job as FCP itself. Can't wait to get the book in my hands and spend a few more sleepless nights in front of the Mac :happy:
 
That book will help you tons with keying. Also, there's a new one that picks up where that one leaves off, "APTS; Encyclopeidia of Color Correction." VERY cool tricks in it! But do the first book first, as this second one doesn't cover the basics nearly as well.
 
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