What's a greenscreen? How does it work?

We are asked these questions alot so here's a brief Greenscreen 101.

This filming technique was invented by RKO Radio Pictures in the 1930’s to allow different backgrounds to be used in the movies they were filming. The benefits are obvious this technique allowed for the first time overlaying of video relatively inexpensively over any back ground footage. Since then it has been used extensively in many forms of filming.

A greenscreen or greenscrening is a filming process where an actual bright green background is used in front of the person or object you are filming. Similarly a Bluescreen can also be used. Usually on a  bright green or bright blue cloth material like the below picture example.

The reason for using a greenscreen or bluescreen is to allow in post production the separation of the central feature i.e.: the person you are filming from the back ground. Something that is not easily done if the colours are not easy to separate hence using bright green or blue as these are also considered the furthest away from skin tone.

Once you have filmed using a greenscreen you then use another technique in post production called Chroma Key. Chroma key replaces portions of the video background with an alternate background video. 

It's great for many forms of broadcast for example when you watch the evening news it is usually filmed on greenscreens with alternative backgrounds added digitally. It's an everyday video production company tool.

Does Webtron use this technique?
Yes we love it! For many of our client videos and most of the video on our website was filmed using the greenscreen techniques.

We even use the greenscreen technique on our Contact Us page.