Making a treadmill for greenscreen

Frank Bongers · July 1st, 2006, 09:45 AM

Hiya,

I'm going to do some greenscreen work in the next months, and I was wondering if there is a guide somewhere to make or buy a treadmill machine? Or do you have any idea on how to record walking/running people?

Thanks in advance!

-- Frank

K. Forman · July 1st, 2006, 10:00 AM

Get up early on trash day, and just drive around. Chances are, somebody has one of those exercise treadmills, and planned to get in shape. After a year or so of tripping over them, they will try to sell them in the front yard. When that fails, they take it to the curb. And this is where you get the parts to make yours... FREE!

Frank Bongers · July 1st, 2006, 10:37 AM

Hey Keith,

I'd love to drive around here in Belgium, but unfortunately people don't buy this kind of stuff to use at home as much as in the US, so chances are slim to find it :(

-- Frank

K. Forman · July 1st, 2006, 10:39 AM

Sorry, but you never stated where you were. You're welcome to come drive around my neighborhood though. I believe I saw one in the trash just a week or two ago.

Frank Bongers · July 1st, 2006, 11:28 AM

Hey Keith,

Thanks for the info - I think it's more expensive to buy an airplane ticket :) I found some cheapo magnetic trainers that might do the job - we'll see. Thanks for the tip!

-- F

Pete Tews · July 1st, 2006, 11:42 AM

There is a "behind the scenes" footage on "spy kids 3d" that has some chroma green painted threadmill. Would be good to take a look for ideas how to do this. Cool stuff.

Giroud Francois · July 1st, 2006, 11:54 AM

probably you can build one with some pice of wood and few screw.
for running people, probably a great length will be necessary, longer than you would usually find on a regular threadmill.
the most difficult will be to find the belt , especially if you need it green or blue.

Ed Mohar · June 30th, 2009, 07:44 PM

We took apart 2 treadmills. with the first we put it flat and built a box around it, then coated it in blue, rewired the controls to do from a distance, then we put it on a platform with a pipe sticking out, took the second motor and wheel on the floor, and used it to move the entire assemply so it could turn.

dont ask me how we did it, i didnt do the engineering, but we did it

Scott Nelson · July 5th, 2009, 02:04 PM

all you need is an old treadmill... Take the control panel off and the arms extending to the top... be careful to keep the wires intact. Discard the panel support arms. Take the control panel and place this in a custom made box and paint that chroma!

Take a big can of spray paint in your closest Chroma green (Or Blue, your call), and co crazy on it! Run the machine at a good speed and spray the belt back and forth to get a good light covering on the belt. Allow to dry, and repeat 2-3 times till the black is covered. Make sure it is running while it drys, this will keep it flexing and not crack when you start it with a heavy coat.

Make sure to also flip it and paint some of the underside that will face the camera, otherwise you can use a garbage matte in your editing software.

July 1st, 2006, 09:45 AM	#1
Frank Bongers New Boot Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 18	Making a treadmill for greenscreen - any ideas? Hiya, I'm going to do some greenscreen work in the next months, and I was wondering if there is a guide somewhere to make or buy a treadmill machine? Or do you have any idea on how to record walking/running people? Thanks in advance! -- Frank

July 1st, 2006, 10:00 AM	#2
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	Get up early on trash day, and just drive around. Chances are, somebody has one of those exercise treadmills, and planned to get in shape. After a year or so of tripping over them, they will try to sell them in the front yard. When that fails, they take it to the curb. And this is where you get the parts to make yours... FREE! __________________ www.SmokeWagonLeather.us

July 1st, 2006, 10:39 AM	#4
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	Sorry, but you never stated where you were. You're welcome to come drive around my neighborhood though. I believe I saw one in the trash just a week or two ago. __________________ www.SmokeWagonLeather.us

June 30th, 2009, 07:44 PM	#8
Ed Mohar Regular Crew Join Date: May 2008 Location: CNY Posts: 49	it is possible We took apart 2 treadmills. with the first we put it flat and built a box around it, then coated it in blue, rewired the controls to do from a distance, then we put it on a platform with a pipe sticking out, took the second motor and wheel on the floor, and used it to move the entire assemply so it could turn. dont ask me how we did it, i didnt do the engineering, but we did it

July 5th, 2009, 02:04 PM	#9
Scott Nelson Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Bloomington, MN Posts: 167	all you need is an old treadmill... Take the control panel off and the arms extending to the top... be careful to keep the wires intact. Discard the panel support arms. Take the control panel and place this in a custom made box and paint that chroma! Take a big can of spray paint in your closest Chroma green (Or Blue, your call), and co crazy on it! Run the machine at a good speed and spray the belt back and forth to get a good light covering on the belt. Allow to dry, and repeat 2-3 times till the black is covered. Make sure it is running while it drys, this will keep it flexing and not crack when you start it with a heavy coat. Make sure to also flip it and paint some of the underside that will face the camera, otherwise you can use a garbage matte in your editing software. __________________ Canon XH-A1, Rode NTG-2 DIGITAL NOIR PRODUCTIONS

July 1st, 2006, 10:37 AM	#3
Frank Bongers New Boot Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 18	Hey Keith, I'd love to drive around here in Belgium, but unfortunately people don't buy this kind of stuff to use at home as much as in the US, so chances are slim to find it :( -- Frank

July 1st, 2006, 11:28 AM	#5
Frank Bongers New Boot Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 18	Hey Keith, Thanks for the info - I think it's more expensive to buy an airplane ticket :) I found some cheapo magnetic trainers that might do the job - we'll see. Thanks for the tip! -- F

July 1st, 2006, 11:42 AM	#6
Pete Tews Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 40	There is a "behind the scenes" footage on "spy kids 3d" that has some chroma green painted threadmill. Would be good to take a look for ideas how to do this. Cool stuff.

July 1st, 2006, 11:54 AM	#7
Giroud Francois Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: switzerland Posts: 2,133	probably you can build one with some pice of wood and few screw. for running people, probably a great length will be necessary, longer than you would usually find on a regular threadmill. the most difficult will be to find the belt , especially if you need it green or blue.