Cameras-n- Stuff

Chromakey technology is not new. It is a term that means mixing two images together. Chroma key technology has usually been used in video rather than photography. The camera would record the heroes in action against a blue or green background screen, then through the magic of technology, they could put the actors anywhere in the universe. It has been used extensively on TV weather reports for years so that it looks as if the weather guy is standing in front of the weather map, when, in reality, he is in front of a green background.

You can accomplish this using Photoshop or some other image editing software. All you need is a blue or green background. Take the photo of the model, then inside Photoshop, extract the image from the background and place it into your photo of choice. It does take some extra knowledge, but it can be done by advanced amateurs.

However, Green Screen Wizard has made the process so simple even a caveman could do it (sorry, I couldn’t resist) by producing a very affordable software program to accomplish this same technique with your digital photos. Once again, you photograph your model in any pose against a green background, then use the green screen wizard software to extract the model and put her into any photo you have. The software comes in a stand-alone application, or you can get it as a Photoshop plugin (you will need to already have Photoshop, of course).

Check out this photo from Jakob Montrasio’s photostream on Flickr.com

Dancers taken with green screen background

If you are looking for a way to add some pizazz to your portfolio, you might want to consider Green Screen Wizard. There are all kinds of green screen special effects, plus you could put your subjects on magazine covers and market those pictures to kids’ soccer or other sports teams. The ideas for using green screen software are practically limitless. Check out this page about Green Screen Wizard for more information and ideas.

Here’s a quick example of what you can do. I went to a craft store and bought some green fabric – cost me $6 for 2 yards. Took a picture of Colby, my pup, sitting on the fabric.

Next I downloaded a demo of the Greenscreen Wizard Software as a plugin to Photoshop.

I used one of their backgrounds for this experiment, but I also did it with one of my own and it was just as good.

I dragged Colby’s photo on top of the background, resized him and placed him where I wanted him to end up, went to Filters -> Green Screen Wizard, and merely accepted their settings. Below is the finished product.

I did have to clone out a bit of the dark green under Colby where there was a dark shadow, but I think this is an awesome piece of software.

Click Here to Try a Free Demo of Green Screen Wizard!

I love photo processing software!

I use Photoshop CS4.

Hey, did you know you can get Photoshop products for 80% below retail at the Adobe Education Store. — That is if you are an educator or a secondary student? Just thought you might be interested. (That’s the only way I could do it.)

Otherwise, I would use Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 Ultimate
(Full $99.99 $59.99 )

OK, so I came across this new plugin for Photoshop (and it’s not just a plugin – there is a stand alone version if you don’t have Photoshop.) It’s called Green Screen Wizard.

Have your heard of Chroma Key processing? It’s been used in video for years. Like when the weather dude is standing in front of the weather map, but he really isn’t. Instead, he is in front of a green screen, and they can superimpose his body in front of the weather map.

It’s really funny when he wears a green tie, and you can see the weather map where the tie is.

Well, the makers of Green Screen Wizard have taken this chroma key concept and created software that is for photographers.

It is a great product, making the process sooo much better than “cutting” out your model and “pasting” him or her into a new background. I have done this so many times, and it takes quite a bit of skill and time to do it right. Even then, it may look like unnatural.

Here’s one I did using the cut and paste method. It’s my granddaughter standing in the doorway of a 10″ tall Lincoln Log house. Took me probably an hour.

However, now all I need to do is put the subject in front of a green (or blue) screen, shoot the photo and process the image with Green Screen Wizard. The makers have used a formula that actually integrates the two images together so it does not look pasted.

I suggest you give it a try. You can download a free demo of Green Screen Wizard to try it out before committing your hard earned cash.

Of course, you will need a screen. Green Screen Wizard also has a screen you can buy (surprise!), but I have checked prices, and theirs is actually cheaper than any I could find on Amazon or the photo sales sites.

Oh, did I mention that this is NOT just a plugin for Photoshop. You can get the software as a stand alone application, too.

Read my real review HERE. There is much more information and some great sample photos.