Skip to main content

Investigation 5/3: Ultra Key

Ultra Key, also known as Chroma Key or green/blue screening is the process of removing the background or subject within a video by removing a specified solid color during post-production. This is a useful tool for any filmmaker, allowing you to more easily change the setting of your film. The following describes my experience learning to use Ultra Key and my thoughts about it.

Lighting Your Green Screen

In order to have the best results with Ultra Key, you need to make sure that your green screen is properly lit in the beginning. By properly lighting your green screen, you are making sure that the color of the green screen appears consistent throughout the entire frame. Improper lighting of your green screen can make it more difficult for Ultra Key to remove the background from your subject. It is also important to note that the lighting used for your subject should not be the same lighting used for your green screen. Both your subject and green screen should be lit with their own form of lighting in order to get the best results.

Using Ultra Key In Premiere Pro

Using Ultra Key within Premiere Pro is a very simple process. After importing your footage with your green/blue screen background, apply the Ultra Key effect to the clip. Next, within the effect controls window you can use the eyedropper tool to determine your key color. Once you click on your background and select your key color, it should automatically be removed from your video, giving it a transparent background. If there are still some green spots visible, you can manipulate the settings within the effects control panel to try and remove the remaining color. Finally, you are now able to put your desired background on the layer below your Ultra Keyed clip and have your complete clip.

My Thoughts With Ultra Key

Ultra Key greatly expands the freedom of what your set could look like within a film. Having the ability to put my subject on any backdrop allows you to be able to focus more on what you are filming rather than where you are filming. I have used Ultra Key in a couple of projects and I have never had a bad experience using it. So far, I have only used memes and other pre-made clips with Ultra Key and layered them over top of the content that I recorded. Hopefully, using Ultra Key and a green screen will help me to create something during this time where its difficult to shoot on a set.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Investigation 3/1: The Tools Of Camera Stability

One of the most important aspects of cinematography that goes commonly unnoticed is having the camera steady. Even a slight amount of movement within a shot can pull the audience away from the film, so it is important to attempt to have shots. There are multiple different ways that you can use to stabilize your camera, some of which are more effective than others. Tripod Using a tripod is the easiest way to stabilize the camera while filming. By having three points of contact with the ground, a tripod keeps the camera extremely stable. The camera would likely only move due to very large movements on the ground or strong winds. The one downside to using a tripod is that it has to remain stationary. If the required shot involves moving around, a tripod can likely not be used. Overall, the tripod is the easiest, simplest, and cheapest way to keep your camera steady. (Image Source) Shoulder Rig A shoulder mount is one way to keep the camera stable while also being able to mov...
Post a Comment
Read more

Elements and Principles of Cinematography

Bird's Eye  Curved Lines  Diagonal Lines  Emphasis  Formal Balance  Framing  Horizontal Lines  Informal Balance  Leading Lines  Movement/Rhythm Proportion/Scale  Repetition  Rule of Thirds  Simplicity  Unity  Variety  Vertical Lines  Worm's Eye
Post a Comment
Read more

Investigation 5/10: My Brief Introduction To After Effects

Learning to use After Effects is something that I always planned on eventually doing. I still do intend on learning everything I would need to know about After Effects, but I have already experienced a brief introduction to using after effects. Background The reason that I started using After Effects was to create a meme. The meme that I wished to create my own interpretation of the video "Patrick on a seahorse listening to fly me to the moon". The original video is a modified version of the ending credit sequence of the anime  Neon Genesis Evangelion  in which the character Patrick Star of the children's television show Spongebob Squarepants  rides atop of a seahorse while the song Fly Me To The Moon  (originally sung by Frank Sinatra) plays in the background. After coming across this meme, I felt that I wanted to create my own version of it using a video that had previously been recorded. The problem that I encountered however, was that the video was not record...
Post a Comment
Read more