Ultra.
Green screens are among some of the most widely used tools in the broadcasting industry. Officially known as "Chroma keying," the technique has been used in many fields to remove backgrounds from the subject of a photo or video—particularly in the newscasting, motion picture, and video game industries, according to Wikipedia.
So why do you need a green screen, and how can you use it? Let's figure this out together!
Summary/Skip Ahead:
- How Does a Green Screen Work
- How Can Streamers Use a Green Screen
- What Do You Need to Use a Green Screen
- How to Live Stream with a Green Screen
- Using a Green Screen for Zoom Calls
- Setting up a Green Screen in Talk Studio
How Does a Green Screen Work?
Broadcast productions, news stations, and content creators use green or blue screens as a solid background to digitally customize the way their setups look on screen. Green screen software checks the video for green or blue tones and replaces them with any image or video.
Why green or blue screens? The answer is simple—blue and green don’t match natural skin color and are easier to remove without affecting essential parts of a picture. As a result, you can place beautiful special effects on the screen to captivate your audience.
How Can Live Streamers Use Green/Blue Screens?
Like green screens in newscasting or movies, streamers may use a green screen to create professional backgrounds for live streams without spending thousands of dollars on a setup. One could also use a green screen to create a background for virtual meetings.
What Do You Need to Use a Green Screen for Your Live Stream?
Step 1: A PC or other device that you can stream from.
Step 2: Live streaming software such as Talk Studio.
Step 3: A camera of your choice (internal or external).
Step 4: A steady light source. Natural light from facing a window will suffice if you stream during the day. Additional lighting may be needed to have a solid, even background.
Step 5: A green or blue screen background is ideal. If you need help in that department, check out our recommendations for green screens for live streamers.
Step 6: The most important ingredient—you!
How To Live Stream Using a Green Screen
Connect to your streaming software once you have a green screen background behind you and lights on. Below are some general steps for getting started, using Streamlabs Desktop as an example.:
Step 1: Open Streamlabs Desktop and double-check that your camera is added to your Sources. Below is a quick refresher in case you need it.
- Add a camera by selecting the plus sign (+) icon next to Sources, then Video Capture Device, then Add Source.
- In the next window, select An Existing Source (a previously used camera) or add a new one by toggling Add New Source Instead and then selecting the Add Source Button.
- To add a new camera source, select your camera from the dropdown, change the Presets (if desired), and then click Done to save.
Step 2: Now, it’s time to set your camera up for green screening. Start by right-clicking your camera source, selecting Filters, then Edit Filter.
Step 4: In the next window, select + Add Filter. In the Add New Filter, select Color Key from the drop-down.
Step 5: Configure your settings by selecting the background color you’d like to filter for (e.g., Green, blue, etc.). Use the sliders to adjust settings such as opacity, contrast, and brightness to fully capture the tones of your screen.
When you’re done, save your settings and begin streaming and recording with a green screen.
Using a Green Screen for Your Zoom Meetings
What if you don’t need a green screen for live streams but want to look even more professional during your work meetings? Green screens are a perfect solution here, too. Using Zoom, we will show you how to set it up for your business calls:
Step 1: Open Zoom on your computer.
Step 2: Open your Zoom Settings and scroll down to Background & Effects.
Step 3: Enable “I have a green screen” and pick the background from the library, or upload your own by clicking on the + icon.
Step 4: Once enabled, Zoom will display your new background. Enjoy the call!
P.S. Zoom does have a virtual background option that automatically removes your background and allows you to choose your own. However, green (or blue) screens tend to be more reliable and look seamless, especially when you’re moving on camera.
Setting up a Green Screen with Talk Studio
Talk Studio is an amazing browser-based streaming software that allows you to get up and running in just a few clicks. You and your guests can easily stream or have a meeting on Talk Studio with a green screen as well.
Many folks use Talk Studio to add backgrounds with specific branding or recreate particular environments. Let’s check how to enable and customize your background with a few clicks:
- From your Talk Studio homepage, click Video in the right navigation menu.
- Under the Green screen section, toggle on Enable Green Screen.
- Next, select from either a Green or Blue screen in the drop-down menu.
- Now, it’s time to select your virtual background. Pick one from our library or upload your own. (PNG, JPEG formats accepted with recommended resolution 1920x1080 px.)
- That’s it! You’re now ready to live stream with a Green Screen in Talk Studio.
P.S. Similar to Zoom, Talk Studio has a virtual green screen option that allows you to change your background color without having a physical green or blue screen present. Choosing between a physical or virtual screen depends on your preference and the results you wish to receive.
Conclusion
Green screens are a powerful yet affordable way to customize your background and upgrade your content. Regardless of your live streaming encoder or software selection, a green screen is a must-have to customize your background for a professional look at meetings or during live streams.
If you run into any issues or have any questions, you can reach out to [email protected].