Step-by-Step Green Screen Editing Guide: Easy Chroma Key Tutorial for Beginners

Green screen editing is one of the most useful effects in modern video editing. It lets you put anything behind the simple green screen – you could be in a studio, on the beach, in the game or even in the world of your imagination.

The great thing is that you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on expensive equipment and years of training in order to edit videos. The right lighting, clean green screen and basic editing skills will do the trick even for those who are just beginning to learn green screen editing.

In this guide to green screen editing we will explore what green screen editing is, how the green screen can be removed and what mistakes beginners should avoid.

What Is Green Screen Editing?

Green screen editing is a video effect which allows to remove green background and put any other background on its place. The process is commonly known as chroma key.

“Chroma” is a color, while “key” is the selection and removal of the certain color.

For example, imagine recording yourself in front of a green cloth. During editing, you can remove the green colour and place a city, office, gaming setup, or cinematic landscape behind you.

Green screens are commonly used in:

•  YouTube videos
•  Gaming videos
•  Short films
•  News and television production
•  Music videos
•  Social media content
•  Online courses
•  Product videos
•  VFX and filmmaking

What You Need Before Recording

Good green screen editing actually starts before you open your editing software. The quality of your recording has a big effect on the final result.

Use a Green Background

You can use a green screen cloth, green backdrop, or painted green wall. Try to choose a background with a consistent colour.

Avoid a green screen that has too many wrinkles because shadows and darker areas can make background removal more difficult.

Use Good Lighting

Lighting is an integral component in green screen filming.

The green screen must be lit evenly. Make sure that the background behind the person being filmed does not have any harsh shadows. The best thing to do would be to light the subject and green screen separately.

The aim here is to achieve uniformity of the green screen throughout its sides.

Create Some Space

Do not stand in front of the green screen. You need to have some distance between the person and the green screen.

This will help avoid the green light reflecting on your skin, hair, or clothing. This phenomenon is called green spill.

Avoid Wearing Green Clothing

If your clothing is green, then the particular portion of your body might get deleted once the background is removed.

Choose clothes whose colours do not resemble those of the green screen background.

Step-by-Step Process of Editing Green Screen Shots

Once you have done with the process of filming, you can move on to the editing process.

Step 1: Import Your Shots to the Editing Software

Create a new project using your favorite video editing software.

The popular choices of software include Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, etc.

Both the following need to be imported:

•  Your green screen footage
•  The new background

It is necessary that you organise your files first.

Step 2: Place the Background on the Timeline

Add your new background video or image to the timeline.

Normally, you should put the background on a lower video track.

Like this:

Video Track 1: New background

Video Track 2: Green screen footage

The green screen shot needs to be placed above the video layer rather than below because only the background layer will be visible after removing the green color from the green screen shot.

Step 3: Applying the Chroma Key Effect

Select the green screen shot. Add chroma key effect to the green screen shot using the video editor.

In case of the Adobe Premiere Pro, you can add a(n) ** key effect on green screen shot.

Step 4: Selecting the Green Color

Take the color picker from your chroma key effect and click the green background.

The chosen green color will become invisible thanks to the effect applied.

The result may not be perfect at once.

You will see green borders and shades around the objects.

Step 5: Clean Up the Key

Now change the settings in chroma key to get the best possible effect.

Settings that you can use include:

Tolerance: Controls how much of the selected colour will be cut out.

Pedestal: Removes any unnecessary darker parts.

Transparency: Changes the transparency level of the keyed area.

Edge settings: Improves the edges around the subject.

Don't just raise each of these to its maximum level. Small changes work better in most cases.

Step 6: Get Rid of Green Edges

There are many ways for the green screen to affect the result negatively.

The green outline is one of them. It occurs when green light gets reflected off the person's hair, clothes, or skin.

You should use edge cleaning or spill suppression features in your editing software if it has them.

Inspect the edges on the zoomed-in image and pay attention to hair, shoulders, hands, clothes.

Step 7: Make Your Subject Fit the New Background

Removing the green screen is not the end of the process.

The subject and the background must be matched.

If, for instance, the background is dark and cinematic while the subject looks bright, it can make the video unnatural.

Make adjustments to things like:

•  Brightness
•  Contrast
•  Color
•  Saturation
•  Shadows

A little color correction goes a long way.

Step 8: Add Shadows When Needed

A subject against a background at times tends to be floating.

The addition of a soft shadow can be used to give depth.

For instance, if you were to stand in an artificially created room, a soft shadow cast on the ground under your feet would give that extra depth.

The shadow needs to be kept soft and natural. If the shadow is too dark, it may seem unnatural.

Common Green Screen Mistakes to Avoid

If a few mistakes are avoided, even a simple arrangement can turn out to be great.

Inconsistency in Lighting

Inconsistency in lighting of the green screen affects the process of chroma keying negatively.

Solution: The background should be illuminated evenly.

Wrinkles on the Green Screen

They lead to unwanted shadows and color inconsistencies.

Solution: Ensure that the green screen is flat when you record.

Proximity of the Subject

Being too close to the green screen causes shadows and green spill.

Solution: Maintain a reasonable distance from the background.

Poor Video Quality

Low resolution video footage can sometimes make it hard to separate the edges.

Solution: Ensure that your video is of high quality and resolution prior to editing.

Overusing Chroma Key Settings

Increasing settings too aggressively can remove parts of your subject.

Solution: Make small adjustments and check the subject's edges regularly.

Tips for Better Green Screen Results

Here are some simple tips that can improve your videos:

1. Keep the green screen clean and smooth.

2. Use soft, even lighting.

3. Keep the subject away from the background.

4. Avoid green-coloured clothing.

5. Record at a good quality.

6. Check hair and fine details carefully.

7. Match the lighting of the subject and background.

8. Use colour correction after keying.

9. Watch the final video at full size before exporting.

10. Keep your editing natural instead of adding too many effects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is editing green screen shots hard for a novice?

No. It is pretty easy. When you become familiar with using the chroma key effect and sharpening the edges, then you are free to edit your green screen video.

Can one use a green cloth as an alternative to a professional green screen?

Yes. Green fabric will work perfectly fine if its color is appropriate and it is stretched and illuminated appropriately.

Is it possible to edit green screen videos on a mobile phone?

Yes. Many mobile video editing programs offer background removal or chroma key effects. Yet, the tools might differ from professional desktop video editing applications.

Why do I have a green outline of my subject?

This is caused by green spill, poor illumination, or an incomplete keying process. Try fixing the illumination and utilizing edge or spill suppression settings in the program.

Final Thoughts

Despite the seemingly difficult process of green screen editing, it is in fact rather easy. First shoot the video the way. Balance the lighting for green screen editing. Apply the chroma effect. Trim off any parts that are not needed. Finally add a background.

The important thing for green screen editing is that correct green screen editing starts with correct shooting. Good lighting and proper positioning will save problems during green screen editing.

If green screen editing fans enjoyed our guide to step-by-step screen editing share it with anyone who might want to improve their video editing skills or create videos for their YouTube channel. Subscribe to our blog to learn more, about video editing.