1st shot at chroma key (FX1)
 

I want comments on the chroma key, the commercial is not finished.

http://www.dvtvproductions.com/JR%20240.mov

I thought it looked great....
 

I thought it looked great, really great....

I just got a gig producing a series of childrens foreign language videos and I'd really be interested in how you achieved these results. I'd be interested in hearing everything from lighting to tape-stock, to the various and sundry software packages that were utilized.

Any advice you'd like to share concerning your experience would be apreciated.

Thanks

Unless downsizing and compression is somehow masking a problem, I think it will play well to a general audience. I've never done chroma key though, so my eyes aren't trained to look at it critically. I have pulled backgrounds out of photos on occassion in Paint Shop Pro (with the background eraser tool, not chroma key), so I would call it an advanced layman's take on the clip.

Actually, pulling backgrounds out of photos in PSP with that eraser tool, I came up with a slick way to deal with drastic differences in lighting between backgrounds and foregrounds (adjust brightness, contrast, black level, saturation, white balance, etc. in background and foreground seperately). I wish there was some sort of tool I knew of that could accomplish the same thing with video.

It's hard to say without seeing the full resolution, but it looks like a clean pull.
Will this be seen in HD or SD?

Christian I used the FX1 in HDV mode. I used a key light with an umbrela and a white reflector as fill. For the green BG I used a single light with a green filter on it to keep the true green. For hair and separation I used a small light with an amber filter on it. Exposure was set at F4 with no gain, shutter at 1/60th and CF30. The subject was about 10' from the BG to make sure there was no spill from the BG. I made one mistake and that was keeping the subject too close to the BG light and I got a little spill from it.
Editing was done with FCP using the DVCPRO HD 1080i codec and dvmatte for keying. I finished compositing in DV format for speed, but for the final edit I will use 8 bit uncompress.

Douglas,

Shoot...I wish your file was still up. What method did you use to get the DVCPRO-HD file?

I'll have it running again next week. I forgot that the domain has to be paid also :b.
I use FCP to do it, but when the page is back up next week check under TV Commercials "Juniors Band Orchestra". I did the Spanish version first using DVCPRO HD but the English version I did using HDV. Sinse I had more (experience) for the English I think it looks better.