blue/green screen format

blue/green screen format
by John Culleton on Jan 7, 2012 at 11:27:15 am

what's the best video codec to use for blue/green screen?
HD, SD, 4:2:2 etc
this would be using a Sony Z1

Re: blue/green screen format
by John Rofrano on Jan 7, 2012 at 2:48:09 pm

[John Culleton] "what's the best video codec to use for blue/green screen? HD, SD, 4:2:2 etc this would be using a Sony Z1"

No video codec is good for Blue screen. That's because in the color sample 4:2:2 the Blue is one of the 2's and green is carried on the 4, so you ALWAYS want to use a green screen with video. (Blue is mostly for film)

Your Sony Z1 shoots HDV which is is already 4:2:0; but to answer your question, CineForm is a great 4:2:2 HD codec for green screen work. I've used it with great results back when I use to use an external application for chroma key. These days, I use Boris BCC Chroma Keyer on my original Z1 HDV footage and it works great. No need to use another codec.

~jr

Re: blue/green screen format
by John Culleton on Jan 7, 2012 at 2:56:47 pm

so, do i render my HDV footage to cineform and then do the green screen work? or is the HDV from my Z1 ok?
i'm looking at trying Robuskey

Re: blue/green screen format
by John Rofrano on Jan 7, 2012 at 3:08:00 pm

[John Culleton] "so, do i render my HDV footage to cineform and then do the green screen work? or is the HDV from my Z1 ok? i'm looking at trying Robuskey"

Since you want to use an external program, you would get better results to convert the HDV to CineForm with NeoScene and then do all of your chroma key work in CineForm.

Just curious, why not use BCC Chroma Keyer or NewBlue FX Chroma Keyer right in Vegas and avoid all the transcoding?

~jr

Re: blue/green screen format
by John Culleton on Jan 7, 2012 at 3:16:14 pm

i havn't come a cross BCC Chroma Keyer or NewBlue FX Chroma Keyer?
have to say i havn't done any Chroma key work in along time

the Boris plugin looks very good

Re: blue/green screen format
by John Rofrano on Jan 7, 2012 at 3:29:04 pm

[John Culleton] "i havn't come a cross BCC Chroma Keyer or NewBlue FX Chroma Keyer?"

The Boris BCC Chroma Keyer can be purchased as a Continuum Unit or as part of the larger Continuum Complete package. IMHO, it's the best set of Chroma Key tools that run inside of Vegas Pro. Here is a tutorial on how to use it which should give you a good idea of it's capabilities:

The NewBlueFX Chroma Keyer is an excellent chroma keyer for the price when you consider it's part of the larger Video Essentials II bundle. It's a very easy to use and gives great results.

~jr

Re: blue/green screen format
by John Culleton on Jan 7, 2012 at 4:09:09 pm

huge thanks John, i'll try the Boris Continuum plugin

Re: blue/green screen format
by John Rofrano on Jan 7, 2012 at 4:17:59 pm

Great. Let me know if you have any questions after you do.

~jr

Re: blue/green screen format
by John Culleton on Jan 8, 2012 at 2:01:18 pm

Newblue is considerably cheaper then Boris, how do you rate it?

i seem to remember.... you gets what you pay for?

Re: blue/green screen format
by John Rofrano on Jan 8, 2012 at 5:36:08 pm

[John Culleton] "Newblue is considerably cheaper then Boris, how do you rate it?"

It does a really good job. It doesn't have all the keying tools that Boris has and it can't handle very difficult footage like Boris does, but if you watch your lighting and shoot well to begin with, you should get a good key from it. It is way better than the built-in tools that Vegas has.

[John Culleton] "i seem to remember.... you gets what you pay for?"

Well... yea. The keying tools in Boris are some of the best. But you may not need the best. That's for you to decide.

Download the trial of both and see for yourself.

~jr

Re: blue/green screen format
by John Culleton on Jan 14, 2012 at 1:09:24 pm

i got the newblue trial, it looks good but i can only get it to key on the right hand side? kinda split screen, what am i missing?