Using a Ring Light with a Green Screen

[kilerb]

I've looked at some impressive demos online using a ring light instead of 3 point lighting (I'm in a smaller room)
I wanted to use a green screen behind me. 7x5'. The ring light will be right around the camera. So would it be possible to light the green screen enough with other lights so my shadow doesn't show on the green screen? Or is a ring light just absolutely a horrible idea for chroma key? This is basically going to be in my living room and really don't want to have 3 big lights on me and then another couple for the green screen. I'm not as worried about the price as I am space. Was going to get the Diva Ring Light, which seems to get great reviews and looks amazing on the videos I've seen. Just concerned about the green screen element. Any advice on all that?


Thanks!!!

 

[Barry_Green]

About the only way I can see this idea working is if you used one of the reflective "greenscreen" fabric kits that are designed to work with a ringlight that emits green light. ReflecMedia was a brand name for one of those, I think there were others. In general I always thought they were technologically neat but hampered because you generally need to keep the subject very close to the screen to minimize a shadow halo on the greenscreen. Then again, you're talking about very close quarters, so this might be a situation where a ReflecMedia type of setup would be preferred over conventional greenscreening.

Other than that, no, I don't see how this is going to work. Typical greenscreening requires that the screen be lit flat and even, and then the subject be lit hopefully with light that won't fall on the greenscreen (much), so a lot of side-lighting and lots of soft light. You generally need as much space as you can get to get as much separation from the greenscreen and the subject, so you don't end up with a whole lot of green spill all over the subject. Working in close quarters with a conventional greenscreen is unlikely to produce quality results. But hey, maybe someone else has tried exactly what you're describing and maybe they can write in their experiences...