Present information clearly
Show diagrams, figures or product images beside the presenter as they explain them.
Green Screen for video production
We plan, film and edit green screen videos in Melbourne. We can bring a compact setup to your office or arrange a studio for shoots that need more space.
Broadband Solutions: Bandwidth on Demand. A green-screen website video produced by Dream Engine.
The basic idea
What is green screen?
We film a person against a green screen, then remove the green in the edit using a technique called chroma keying. This lets us place them over a different background, such as footage of a location, a branded design, product images or motion graphics.
The screen needs even lighting and enough space between it and the presenter to limit shadows and reflected green light. We also need to know the layout and lighting of the intended background before filming, even if the design isn’t finished.
Chroma key: using colour to separate the presenter from the screen.
Keying: removing the green background in post-production.
Spill: green light reflected onto hair, skin or clothing.
Green screen at Dream Engine
Planning your green screen video
Before filming, we plan what will appear behind and beside your presenter.
You might want a branded background, diagrams that appear as someone speaks, or several versions with different settings. We’ll help you decide whether green screen suits the video, then plan the filming and background design.
When green screen is the right choice
Green screen can be useful for presenter videos, training series and scenes that would be difficult to film on location.
Create a consistent setting
Use the same background across a series of training or staff videos. Several presenters can use the same setup, and the background can be changed for different versions.
Choose a different setting
Place someone in an imagined setting or use footage of a location that would be too difficult or expensive to visit.
Sometimes the location is worth showing. Your office, workshop or customer’s premises may tell viewers more about the business than a designed background could. Filming there may also need less editing. We’ll discuss the options with you.
The background affects how we frame and light the presenter, and where they can move. We plan these details before the shoot.
Filming against a green screen
We set up a smooth screen and leave enough space behind the presenter to reduce shadows and green spill. We check that their hands and body stay within the green area as they move.
We ask presenters to avoid green clothing, which can disappear when we remove the background. Jewellery and glasses can also reflect the green, so we’ll discuss clothing and accessories before filming.
We choose camera settings that preserve colour detail for keying and check the footage during the shoot, particularly around hair and clothing. Problems with lighting or focus are easier to fix while the presenter is still on set.
Lighting the screen and presenter
We light the green screen separately from the presenter. We aim for an even spread of light across the screen, then light the presenter to suit the background we’ll add later.
We consider the direction, softness and colour of the light. If the presenter is lit from the left but the background suggests light coming from the right, the mismatch will show even after the green has been removed.
In an office, we may need to block daylight or switch off room lights. A larger studio gives us more room to position lights for wide shots, movement or several presenters.
Helping presenters work with graphics
A presenter might need to point to a diagram that we’ll add later. We show them where it will appear and guide where they look, stand and gesture, so their movements line up with the finished graphic.
We help presenters settle into a comfortable pace and delivery. For a detailed script, an autocue lets them read the words while looking directly at the camera.
- Leave room in the shot for text and graphics
- Check where the presenter looks and points
- Keep their position consistent across a series
- Agree on clothing before the shoot
Studio or your office?
We’ll consider how much of the presenter needs to be in shot, how far they’ll move and how many people we’re filming together. The room also needs to be quiet enough to record speech, with lighting we can control.
Post-production
Editing and adding the background
In the edit, we remove the green, refine the edges around the presenter and reduce any remaining green tint. We add the background, check the perspective and scale, and adjust the colour and contrast to match the shot.
We can add your branding, product images, diagrams, location footage or motion graphics. We position the graphics around the presenter and time them to the presentation.
Common problems
Where things go wrong
On the screen
Uneven lighting, creases and shadows can leave patches that are difficult to remove. Movement beyond the edge of the screen may need extra work in the edit.
On the presenter
Green clothing can become transparent when the background is removed. Reflected green light can leave a tint on skin, and fine hair can be difficult to separate from the screen.
In the planning
Without a plan for the graphics, a presenter may point in the wrong direction or stand where text needs to appear.
In the design
The wrong perspective, lighting or scale can make the presenter look pasted onto the background.
Frequently asked questions
Planning a green-screen shoot
Can you film green screen at our office?
Often, yes. We need enough space between the presenter and screen, lighting we can control and a quiet room. Send us photos or a short video of the room so we can assess it.
When is a studio the better choice?
A larger studio is usually better for full-body shots, walking, large props or several presenters in the same frame. A suitable studio also gives us more control over lighting and sound.
Will green screen look fake?
It can look convincing, but poor lighting or a mismatched background will make the effect obvious. We plan the shot and background together, and check the edges around hair and clothing during keying.
Do we need the finished background before filming?
The design can still be in progress, but we need to agree on the layout, perspective and lighting before the shoot. We also need to know where text and graphics will sit so the presenter can leave room for them.
Does Dream Engine handle the editing and keying?
Yes. We handle the filming and editing, including directing presenters, recording sound, removing the green and adding the background and graphics.
Is green screen right for your project?
Tell us what you’re making, who’s presenting and where you’d like to film. If you have ideas for the background, share those too. We’ll talk you through the setup and editing involved.
