View Full Version : Best picture profile for chroma key?


Victor Danell
January 27th, 2009, 11:00 AM
I'm going to do a greenscreen shoot this week with my Sony EX1 and recording directly to the computer via HD-SDI. I'm using ProRes 4:2:2.

Is there anyone that have any tips on what picture profile I should use when I'm shooting on greenscreen? Anything else I should think about? Maybe I can learn from others mistakes before I do them myself.

Jay Gladwell
January 27th, 2009, 11:03 AM
There is no such thing. Too many misunderstand what "profiles" are and what they're for.

Vincent Oliver
January 27th, 2009, 11:13 AM
Is there anyone that have any tips on what picture profile I should use when I'm shooting on greenscreen? Anything else I should think about? Maybe I can learn from others mistakes before I do them myself.

Make sure the green/blue screen is well lit and avoid colour bounce back on your talent. I often use a light magenta gel on the rear talent light just to neutralise any green bounce/spill

Victor Danell
January 27th, 2009, 11:14 AM
So the changes I do in the settings will not effect my result in the keying?

Paul Kellett
January 27th, 2009, 11:36 AM
Progressive or interlaced ?

Paul.

Victor Danell
January 27th, 2009, 11:46 AM
Progressive

Don Greening
January 27th, 2009, 12:31 PM
If you're using the stock detail setting I would reduce it for green screen work as per the suggested settings of Simon Wyndham:

"For this reason I would not recommend turning the detail totally off on the EX cameras. Instead I would suggest reducing the detail, for example to -20, and then adjusting the Frequency setting to, for example +40. The Frequency setting adjusts the coarseness, or width, of the edge enhancement. The higher the setting the finer and more subtle the effect is."

It is my understanding that the less edge detail enhancement you have dialed in the easier it will be for your keying software. The EX cameras are great for green/blue screen work anyway because you get consistent results, but reducing the the edge detail just makes the consistency all that much easier to obtain.

But don't take my word for it. The secret is to test, test, test. Compare the results and choose what works for you. Don't just decide on a picture profile that someone has recommended just for green screen work and then shoot the whole thing without testing first.

- Don