Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 09:16:11 -0500
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Green screen - lighting & video editing on the chea


Here are some useful links on the subject

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluescreen
http://www.mediacollege.com/video/special-effects/green-screen/
http://www.tubetape.com/
http://www.deskshare.com/Resources/articles/vem_greenscreentechnique.aspx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS-f4dobNnI
http://www.stormforcepictures.com/howto-buildabluescreen.php
http://www.digitalproducer.com/2003/06_jun/tutorials/06_02/guntergreen.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eya3gBuA01U
http://www.bluesky-web.com/broadcastvideoexamples-greenscreen.html

On Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 8:37 AM, Brad Shur <mr_utamaro-AT-hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Great post Hobey!
> I was inspired to make a new mail folder for "Puppetry tutorials" just to save this.
>
> B. Shur
>
>
>
>
>> Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 08:13:18 -0500
>> From: hobeyone-AT-gmail.com
>> To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
>> Subject: [Puptcrit] Green screen - lighting & video editing on the cheap
>>
>> Ever want to get into video keying or green screening ? (like the
>> weatherman standing in front of the map which isn't really there)  I
>> have built a green screen in my shop and installed some permanent
>> lighting.  I cleared on wall of my rehearsal space above the shop and
>> covered the two windows with cheap  linoleum floor covering.  Then to
>> eliminate the edge between the floor and wall I created a curved
>> "sweep" by using linoleum again.  Instead of costly green screen paint
>> I bought the most luminous lime green flat paint I could find.  For
>> lighting I am using four flourescent double fixtures but I replaced
>> the ballasts inside the fixtures with electronic ballasts which cost
>> around $20 each.  This eliminates the 60 cycle flicker which messes up
>> the video.  It is also important to back light the area with
>> adjustable spotlights with amber gels on them to create a lit edge on
>> your puppets in a contrasting color from the green.  For each video
>> shoot I set up soft filtered overhead lighting on the puppets which
>> are played several feet from the green screen.  The width of the
>> screen is 25 feet and height is 8'  The floor is also painted green
>> coming out 4 feet from the wall.  For  a small green screen you can by
>> cheap vinyl party table clothes and tape them on the wall.
>>
>> For video editing I am using final cut pro on my mac which has "color
>> keying" effects to process the video. If you have a Mac, Final cut
>> comes in a simple "express " version for around $200.  For PC use
>> adobe premiere which comes in a cheap ($139) version called)  Premiere
>> elements.  These softwares require a considerable  learning curve but
>> have professional quality results if you use a professional camera and
>> know what you are doing.  You can get great result however with your
>> home digital video camera, especially for promo tapes or how to videos
>> not for the big screen but for viewing on laptops or TV.
>>
>> Your digital home video camera is fine for youtube resolution but I
>> hire a camera man friend with his expensive camera to do professional
>> quality shoots and then edit them myself.  This saves a lot of money
>> and pays for itself quickly.
>>
>> For a green screen gloves and suit I bought double stretch lime green
>> velour and sewed jammies, booties and gloves.  To sew gloves (also
>> works for black velour) trace your hand on a poster board and then
>> widen and modify the lines so that  no finger or thumb is narrower
>> than 1 3/16" wide and ad a 1/2" around the wrist and arm on each side.
>> cut out this template.  lay two layers of double stretch (streches in
>> both directions) velour on a table with the velour sides face to face.
>>  trace the template on the fabric with chalk and sew the along the
>> lines with a zig zag stitch. A surger is better if you have one but I
>> dont.  now cut away the excess fabric not to close to the stitch and
>> turn inside out.  For a hood visor they make lime green netting. use
>> several layers an sew the into the face window on a velour hood.  I
>> also keep lime green tent fabric and extra velour on hand to mask
>> things.  They make lime green duct tape for rods but beware its murder
>> to remove.  Also keep flourescent green poster board on hand as well.
>> It can serve as a green screen too or as masking.
>>
>> Video keying takes some experimentation and ivestment of time but you
>> can start making your own keyed videos likke the big boys and girls.
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