Anyone shooting photographs with a chroma green background and then
processing the images in Photoshop?

Can the background be removed with one of the standard tools in
Photoshop? I see references to software for use with chroma green or
blue background, but I think they're for video. Is any type of
software or a plug-in used for stills?

Using the Magic Wand or the Magic Eraser, just about any solid color
can be removed, but I've read that the extraction is simpler and
cleaner if done with a chroma green or a blue background.


--

Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida

It doesn't have to be chroma green. Any flat even color background material
can be used but it has to be a totally different color than any part of the
image being photographed. In photoshop the "select color" function will
allow you to easily select only the background color. Then you can delete it
or change it at will. The chroma green works because it is an unusual color
that isn't likely to be part of any image that you photograph in front of
it. When you make the selection in photoshop it only outlines the
background. If the background has different shading or colors in it the
selection process isn't as easy to do.

Video people like chroma blue as it seems to work best for them, but even in
video any even background color that isn't part of the image will make it
easy to be removed.

Charley

"tony cooper" <tony_cooper213@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:8c13s3dvduhii07stkm70vuuup9i9khhbh@4ax.com...
> Anyone shooting photographs with a chroma green background and then
> processing the images in Photoshop?
>
> Can the background be removed with one of the standard tools in
> Photoshop? I see references to software for use with chroma green or
> blue background, but I think they're for video. Is any type of
> software or a plug-in used for stills?
>
> Using the Magic Wand or the Magic Eraser, just about any solid color
> can be removed, but I've read that the extraction is simpler and
> cleaner if done with a chroma green or a blue background.
>
>
> --
>
> Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida

tony cooper <tony_cooper213@earthlink.net> wrote:

> Anyone shooting photographs with a chroma green background and then
> processing the images in Photoshop?

The Green background could be a better choice for video, but for digital
image then green-screen isn't nessary. But in general it's more of masking
skill than tool.

> Can the background be removed with one of the standard tools in
> Photoshop? I see references to software for use with chroma green or
> blue background, but I think they're for video. Is any type of
> software or a plug-in used for stills?

The green-screen just to separate between normal and green that is an
unusual color to making thing easier to select. That's the main idea.

Yes, there are plug-in, but again plug-in can only to speed thing up,
and usually for small print for displaying. For larger print then Masking
skill is the must have.

> Using the Magic Wand or the Magic Eraser, just about any solid color
> can be removed, but I've read that the extraction is simpler and
> cleaner if done with a chroma green or a blue background.

Well, Magic Wand is a magical tool for newbie to impress other newbie, or
for some commercial video to show off beginner. For detail work (especially
printing) then you may need to spend around a year or so practicing Masking
technique.

I have been using Masking very often (almost of all important photos),
been doing it for many years, and still seeing some improvement. Or I can
say that I am pretty good but still not at the top yet.

"Joel" <Joel@NoSpam.com> wrote in message
news:a0h4s318etgqnp39rekvi9rr1lcv0ugu8n@4ax.com...
> tony cooper <tony_cooper213@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
>> Anyone shooting photographs with a chroma green background and then
>> processing the images in Photoshop?
>
> The Green background could be a better choice for video, but for digital
> image then green-screen isn't nessary. But in general it's more of
> masking
> skill than tool.
>
>> Can the background be removed with one of the standard tools in
>> Photoshop? I see references to software for use with chroma green or
>> blue background, but I think they're for video. Is any type of
>> software or a plug-in used for stills?
>
> The green-screen just to separate between normal and green that is an
> unusual color to making thing easier to select. That's the main
> idea.
>
> Yes, there are plug-in, but again plug-in can only to speed thing up,
> and usually for small print for displaying. For larger print then Masking
> skill is the must have.
>
>> Using the Magic Wand or the Magic Eraser, just about any solid color
>> can be removed, but I've read that the extraction is simpler and
>> cleaner if done with a chroma green or a blue background.
>
> Well, Magic Wand is a magical tool for newbie to impress other newbie, or
> for some commercial video to show off beginner. For detail work
> (especially
> printing) then you may need to spend around a year or so practicing
> Masking
> technique.
>
> I have been using Masking very often (almost of all important photos),
> been doing it for many years, and still seeing some improvement. Or I can
> say that I am pretty good but still not at the top yet


If you do decide to shoot chroma green
make sure your subject is not close to the background
the spillage of or reflected green light will show up on the subject (not
sure the word)
a green backlight is most unflattering on the hair, especially blond
white clothing etc

using white seamless or gray with lot of light onto the backdrop to
eliminate gradation and shadows seems to work for stills


select color range
wand
pen
lasso particularly magnetic lasso
channel methods and combinations of above
you will need all to make really good masks

I have not used extract or background eraser very often but it is popular
Masking HAIR blowing is my least favorite and most difficult assignment
I am pretty good at masking but not great at it

On Mon, 25 Feb 2008 15:52:39 -0500, "KatWoman" <spamfree@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>
>"Joel" <Joel@NoSpam.com> wrote in message
>news:a0h4s318etgqnp39rekvi9rr1lcv0ugu8n@4ax.com.. .
>> tony cooper <tony_cooper213@earthlink.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Anyone shooting photographs with a chroma green background and then
>>> processing the images in Photoshop?
>>
>> The Green background could be a better choice for video, but for digital
>> image then green-screen isn't nessary. But in general it's more of
>> masking
>> skill than tool.
>>
>>> Can the background be removed with one of the standard tools in
>>> Photoshop? I see references to software for use with chroma green or
>>> blue background, but I think they're for video. Is any type of
>>> software or a plug-in used for stills?
>>
>> The green-screen just to separate between normal and green that is an
>> unusual color to making thing easier to select. That's the main
>> idea.
>>
>> Yes, there are plug-in, but again plug-in can only to speed thing up,
>> and usually for small print for displaying. For larger print then Masking
>> skill is the must have.
>>
>>> Using the Magic Wand or the Magic Eraser, just about any solid color
>>> can be removed, but I've read that the extraction is simpler and
>>> cleaner if done with a chroma green or a blue background.
>>
>> Well, Magic Wand is a magical tool for newbie to impress other newbie, or
>> for some commercial video to show off beginner. For detail work
>> (especially
>> printing) then you may need to spend around a year or so practicing
>> Masking
>> technique.
>>
>> I have been using Masking very often (almost of all important photos),
>> been doing it for many years, and still seeing some improvement. Or I can
>> say that I am pretty good but still not at the top yet
>
>
>If you do decide to shoot chroma green
>make sure your subject is not close to the background
>the spillage of or reflected green light will show up on the subject (not
>sure the word)
>a green backlight is most unflattering on the hair, especially blond
>white clothing etc
>
>using white seamless or gray with lot of light onto the backdrop to
>eliminate gradation and shadows seems to work for stills

These steps are easily researchable on the web. It's recommended to
place the subject about 4' in front of the chroma green background and
to light the background from the sides to eliminate color spill and
shadows.

My question is about the software. Many companies offer software to
use in conjunction with a green screen. I can't figure out if they do
anything different than what Photoshop does.

Some will remove the green (or blue) and replace it with a background
image, but that seems the same to me as popping in a background image
as a layer.

I have the impression that the software is for those who don't have
Photoshop, but I'm trying to verify this.


--

Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida

tony cooper <tony_cooper213@earthlink.net> wrote:

<snip>
> These steps are easily researchable on the web. It's recommended to
> place the subject about 4' in front of the chroma green background and
> to light the background from the sides to eliminate color spill and
> shadows.

What you both say is just part of the very BASIC of photography, or it has
nothing to do with green-screen specific but Photoshopy (Video as well)
technique. BTW, I do not against what you two saying, but just add some

> My question is about the software. Many companies offer software to
> use in conjunction with a green screen. I can't figure out if they do
> anything different than what Photoshop does.

YES, there are plug-in for photoshop which get the idea from VIDEO, or
green-screen is original designed for Video. And the problem that some of
you guys (not you specific but in general) don't want to hear thing you
don't want to hear. So I will try to give a little more detail

- YES, there are several and they cost $400-800+ a pop.

- NO, you do not need to spend any extra $$$ on any of them because they
ain't any more special than Select Color with few extra tool to deselect
some area with similar color (green).

- It's much wiser to use regular Masking plug-in, or learning to use
Photoshop's built-in tool which is capable of doing the hundreds of $$$ can.
YES, the regular Masking plug-in has more advance than Green-Screen plug-in

> Some will remove the green (or blue) and replace it with a background
> image, but that seems the same to me as popping in a background image
> as a layer.

GREEN (a special green not normal green) because we won't see that kind of
green in our daily life, making thing much easier to separate. That's it!

> I have the impression that the software is for those who don't have
> Photoshop, but I'm trying to verify this.

.. and if the foreground is GREEN then you may find WHITE background is a
much better choice than Green-Screen background. Or I am trying to make the
WHITE more special than GREEN-SCREEN.

On Tue, 26 Feb 2008 07:30:31 -0600, Joel <Joel@NoSpam.com> wrote:

>tony cooper <tony_cooper213@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
><snip>
>> These steps are easily researchable on the web. It's recommended to
>> place the subject about 4' in front of the chroma green background and
>> to light the background from the sides to eliminate color spill and
>> shadows.
>
> What you both say is just part of the very BASIC of photography, or it has
>nothing to do with green-screen specific but Photoshopy (Video as well)
>technique. BTW, I do not against what you two saying, but just add some

In basic photography, the background is not normally lit in any
special manner. In studio photography, a solid background will be lit
in a similar way, but there is less importance to lighting a "picture"
background. Positioning to avoid shadows would be important, though.
>
>> My question is about the software. Many companies offer software to
>> use in conjunction with a green screen. I can't figure out if they do
>> anything different than what Photoshop does.
>
> YES, there are plug-in for photoshop which get the idea from VIDEO, or
>green-screen is original designed for Video. And the problem that some of
>you guys (not you specific but in general) don't want to hear thing you
>don't want to hear. So I will try to give a little more detail
>
>- YES, there are several and they cost $400-800+ a pop.
>
>- NO, you do not need to spend any extra $$$ on any of them because they
>ain't any more special than Select Color with few extra tool to deselect
>some area with similar color (green).
>
>- It's much wiser to use regular Masking plug-in,

I don't know of any "regular Masking plug-in". I know only of masking
by the standard feature in Photoshop.

> or learning to use
>Photoshop's built-in tool which is capable of doing the hundreds of $$$ can.
>YES, the regular Masking plug-in has more advance than Green-Screen plug-in

In what way?

>> Some will remove the green (or blue) and replace it with a background
>> image, but that seems the same to me as popping in a background image
>> as a layer.
>
> GREEN (a special green not normal green) because we won't see that kind of
>green in our daily life, making thing much easier to separate. That's it!

The web sources say that the blue and greens used are used because
they are the colors that are the most different from flesh tones.
It's not the rarity of the color, but the opposite factor.

>> I have the impression that the software is for those who don't have
>> Photoshop, but I'm trying to verify this.
>
> .. and if the foreground is GREEN

The "foreground" is usually a subject, and unless that foreground is a
Martian, the green will be distinct from the flesh tones.

>then you may find WHITE background is a
>much better choice than Green-Screen background. Or I am trying to make the
>WHITE more special than GREEN-SCREEN.

The foreground subject's clothing is more likely to have white bits,
or colors near-to white, than either the green or blue used in these
screens.

I appreciate your comments, Joel, but what I'm really interested in is
finding someone who *does* use a green or blue screen and eliciting
comments from them about the need for software.


--

Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida

"Joel" <Joel@NoSpam.com> wrote in message
news:2048s359inlsuamodh92ra9h8i0074644o@4ax.com...
> tony cooper <tony_cooper213@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> <snip>
>> These steps are easily researchable on the web. It's recommended to
>> place the subject about 4' in front of the chroma green background and
>> to light the background from the sides to eliminate color spill and
>> shadows.
>
> What you both say is just part of the very BASIC of photography, or it has
> nothing to do with green-screen specific but Photoshopy (Video as well)
> technique. BTW, I do not against what you two saying, but just add some
>
>> My question is about the software. Many companies offer software to
>> use in conjunction with a green screen. I can't figure out if they do
>> anything different than what Photoshop does.
>
> YES, there are plug-in for photoshop which get the idea from VIDEO, or
> green-screen is original designed for Video. And the problem that some
> of
> you guys (not you specific but in general) don't want to hear thing you
> don't want to hear. So I will try to give a little more detail
>
> - YES, there are several and they cost $400-800+ a pop.
>
> - NO, you do not need to spend any extra $$$ on any of them because they
> ain't any more special than Select Color with few extra tool to deselect
> some area with similar color (green).
>
> - It's much wiser to use regular Masking plug-in, or learning to use
> Photoshop's built-in tool which is capable of doing the hundreds of $$$
> can.
> YES, the regular Masking plug-in has more advance than Green-Screen
> plug-in
>
>> Some will remove the green (or blue) and replace it with a background
>> image, but that seems the same to me as popping in a background image
>> as a layer.
>
> GREEN (a special green not normal green) because we won't see that kind of
> green in our daily life, making thing much easier to separate. That's it!
>
>> I have the impression that the software is for those who don't have
>> Photoshop, but I'm trying to verify this.
>
> .. and if the foreground is GREEN then you may find WHITE background is a
> much better choice than Green-Screen background. Or I am trying to make
> the
> WHITE more special than GREEN-SCREEN.


I did not see Tony's post
for some reason he was on my blocked list