Color Techniques

• Though the technology is referred to as blue screen, different colors can be used. The color green is sometimes preferred because of its ability to produce clear images. Most post-production programs allow for almost any color to be keyed out and replaced. Whichever color you decide to use, it is important to make sure this color is even and that the same color is used in all parts of the image. If using a colored sheet as a background, make sure there are no creases or fold. If using a painted background, make sure that there are no unfinished sections.
  
  

Lighting Techniques

• Lighting is essential to the realistic use of blue-screen chroma keying. Make sure that the background is evenly lit, so that there are no significant areas of shadow or highlights on the screen. Light your subject in such a way that they do not cast a shadow onto the background behind them. One trick is to shoot your blue screen outside during daylight hours if possible. Using the sun guarantees that light will be evenly distributed on the subject and background.
  
  

Camera Techniques

• Move the camera as little as possible. Edit video clips in short segments instead of using long pans and tracking shots. This will prevent complicated editing workarounds later. Make sure that your subject, and not the blue background, is always in focus. Get multiple takes of each shot to prevent reshoots. Make sure that none of your actors are wearing colors that match the color you have used as your blue screen background, or they will be absorbed into the background in post-production.
  
  

Post-Production Techniques

• Post-production editing software, such as Adobe Premiere, After Effects or Final Cut Pro, will allow you to place whatever background, image or video you wish behind your filmed subject. All of these programs enable you to choose exactly which color you used on a color wheel, which will then be keyed out and replaced by the image or video of your choice. If there are certain places in your image that are unevenly lit or colored, create a mask by selecting the portions of the image you wish to remove and crop out these sections. For smooth transitions, feather the edges of your subject and background and give your video a more realistic effect. Feathering, which blurs the boundaries between the image and the chroma keyed background to make the border look seamless, can be performed using most video editing software packages.