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Creating a Green Screen Video Studio

I'm busy creating a green screen video studio and I thought it would be beneficial for you all to see this as I progress.

I did think of running the green paint block all the way to the floor, but why? No one is going to see that, so I moved the bottom tape up!

Just about a week ago, I painted the whole room's dark grey a lighter shade of grey (not fifty shades, just five). The grey paint is an eggshell finish because that's what you generally use for 'regular' rooms and has a tiny bit of a 'light reflection-quality' to it AKA 'sheen.'

So what? Well, when painting a 'green screen,' you need to use flat/matte paint so you don't get any light reflection (or at least you minimize it substantially with flat/matte paint).

Preparing for the green screen area

See What a Difference Having a "Real Green Screen Backdrop" Makes!

If you're tired of using the old green cloth/sheet method and putting up with the horrible creases, then consider doing this to one of your "office" walls:

• Get a small can of flat/matte green paint
• Tape off the area
• Paint it
• Bingo

Click here to see this paint on Amazon

* As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The price you pay does not increase.

This is the paint that's on its way. It's NOT green screen paint, per se, but it IS flat (matte).

32 fl oz (one quart), pack of 1.

Don't forget to get a brush, roller, and tray! This paint is available on Amazon here.

The Old Creased-Up Folding Screen Way...

Green sheet creased up on a folding screen

Do you see what I mean about the creases? I even used a steamer on it, so just imagine how bad it was prior to steaming! I did a YouTube search on how to "drop out" green screen creases but honestly?

The time and effort to do two or more separate video editing dropouts was far more costly (time and effort wise) than just forking out for a can of green paint and doing a bit of taping with painter's tape.

Fresh Paint vs Old Sheet (No Contest)

There really is no contest between having a real flat/matte painted area and my old green sheet which I'd very carefully sewed to the back of a folding screen.

The creases in it cast shadows which were very hard to 'get rid of' in the video 'green screen' settings, no matter how much I fiddled with the settings.

Camera, Lights, Action! Getting Your Studio Set Up...

Takstar boom mic

Digital Canon EOS camera

Teleprompter with black cover

Teleprompter with iPad

ZOMEi 14" Dimmable Right Light with Accessories and Stand
Available on Amazon here.
I have a halo light on a tripod stand and I have to have it so high up so that the light ring doesn't reflect off my glasses! Annoying when that happens... (go back to see the very first image at the top of the page).

CAMERA + SHOTGUN MIC
Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR Camera is available on Amazon here.
Takstar Shotgun Camera Microphone is available on Amazon here.
Next, the camera is a standard Digital Canon EOS which works wonderfully. The shotgun mic is plugged into the camera as I'm not keen on lapel mics - they tend to mess up the neckline of my dress too much and drag it down. The shotgun mic is great (all I have to do is remember to turn it on!)

TELEPROMPTER
Teleprompter - NEEWER Teleprompter for Camera and Smartphone
(similar to mine but with solid sides instead of the black cloth)
and is available on Amazon here.
The teleprompter consists of a flat plastic base with a sheet of glass attached on a hinge that you put on an angle so it reflects/mirrors the iPad teleprompter script. It also came with the black cloth cover but the glue's effectiveness wore off, hence the big black clips you see there on the corners!

Please bear in mind that a simple cellphone attached to a stand (that has the free Teleprompter app on it) will achieve the same thing as my Canon and teleprompter setup. But you still need a green background if you want the green-screen effect.

FREE TELEPROMPTER APP for iPhone
This Teleprompter app is free (but does have paid upgrades). I've used it sitting at my desk and is great because I can use my spacebar to pause it if I find I'm reading too slowly or too fast.

I have this app downloaded to my iPad, this iMac, and my iPhone. Not braggin', just sayin'. The app is synced to all three places. Nice. And did I mention it's free? Yep, it's FREE!

I do have another paid teleprompter app (Teleprompter Pro) but I have had issues with the playback that's supposed to be 'voice controlled.' I gave up using it.

Just waiting for the paint to arrive from Amazon (yep, too lazy to go to Home Depot or Lowe's).

Update:

SEE PART TWO and the JOB DONE of the Green Screen Setup HERE!
Future additions to this page will be about using Camtasia and its green screen capability, plus Canva's green screen option, too.

Susan Gast created ePubTechReviews.com to provide insight and inspiration (and product reviews!) to indie publishers and video creators. Having been in this industry since 1980 in one form or another, Susan has lots of wisdom to impart from her own trials and tribulations over the decades.

She is featured in the Mother Earth News blog, and on Solo Build It! (SBI!) who hosts this site. Read her first SBI! interview and her second SBI! interview. Susan runs an additional SBI! website: Easy Food Dehydrating. She also runs her namesake site SusanGast.com on Solo Build It! which showcases the books she has written since 2012.

Want to send Susan a quick message? Visit her contact page here. She'd love to hear from you!