The blue screen and green screen are two of the most popular lighting tools for video production. However, it is important to understand the difference between these two types of screens before deciding which one you need for your video project.
What is Chroma Key?
In video and film production, chroma key is a technique used in visual effects that allows a background to be replaced with something else. The effect is achieved by using a special filter on the camera lens which blocks the blue and green components of the image. This allows the subject to be isolated from its background, as well as allowing effects to be applied to it without having to use any complex make-up or special lighting on the set. The key color is usually green because this is the color of most modern day screens.
The process can be used for removing people from backgrounds, inserting them into new environments and adding special effects. Chroma key has been used extensively in film since the release of Star Wars in 1977. It was also used in television before the introduction of digital video effects (DVE). Chroma key became popular because it allowed filmmakers to create impressive visual effects without needing expensive equipment or vast amounts of time.
What is a Green screen?
Green screen is a technology that allows filmmakers to replace the background in a scene with something else. This is done by putting a screen behind the actors, which is then replaced in post-production with something more interesting.
What is the Blue screen?
Blue screen is a technique used in filmmaking and video production to allow artists to replace the background of an image with another video or still image. Blue screens can be used in combination with chroma key techniques.
To create a blue screen composite, a film set is constructed so that all objects except for those which remain fixed in position will be replaced by images projected onto them from behind.
Which to Use: Blue or Green?
So the answer is clear, right? Green screens are superior to blue screens. Well, the reality is that everything is project dependent. In most cases, a green screen will serve you better. But, this isn’t true in every case. Let’s explore the pros and cons of green screens vs blue screens.
Green Screen: Pros and Cons
Green screens are a versatile tool in the filmmaking and video production world. They can be used to create a green background behind your subject or they can be used to create a full green world around your subject.
Pros:
- You can shoot in any location and remove it later. This is great for safety reasons and gives you flexibility when shooting outside.
- You can place your subject anywhere you want: over waterfalls, inside rooms, on top of mountains etc. This makes green screen backgrounds very flexible in terms of what you can do with them. (Of course, there are limits.)
- It’s easy to replace the background with another one if needed. For example, if you have an empty room with no walls and want to replace it with a forest setting later – no problem! Just replace the green screen with another one that has trees painted on it and voila, you’re done!
- It’s cheap, especially compared to other types of compositing software like After Effects or Nuke which require expensive software licenses for each machine running them as well as expensive training courses before you can even start using them properly!
Cons
- If the lighting is not perfectly balanced, the technique appears artificial and off-putting for audiences.
Blue Screen: Pros and Cons
The blue screen is the most common type of chroma key. It’s also the simplest.
Pros:
It’s very easy to use. The blue screen can be used in any lighting situation and doesn’t require special equipment. You just need a camera and a blue wall or backdrop. You can even use a blue tarp as a background if you’re shooting on location.
Cons:
The blue screen has limited flexibility. You’ll have trouble matching the background color with your subject unless you’re working with a neutral-colored backdrop like a white wall or white tarp.
