The V-Screen feature in Vlog It! does its visual magic by electronically replacing the backdrop behind you with a digital picture or video clip. To do this, Vlog It! requires that the existing backdrop behind you be a different color than the foreground or subject. Green-screen effects typically require some adjustments during set-up to achieve the best results even if you are using expensive equipment in a TV station. While it is easy to get the V-Screen effects working, it will probably take a few tries to get that "perfect key."
Keying out the background from your video and compositing the subject with a virtual background requires that you shoot the video against a solid, well-saturated backdrop. Green and blue backdrops provide the best results.
For Vlog It's V-Screen to work well, all automatic controls must be turned off. Before you start using V-Screen, check some settings in Vlog It! Whether you are using a webcam or a camcorder, you should turn off its automatic settings and do some fine tuning. Webcam properties are controlled within Vlog It!, while camcorder settings are on the camera.
On a webcam:
On a camcorder, use the buttons or menus on your camera to make adjustments. See your camera manual to find the location of your Automatic Gain, White Balance, Exposure and Iris controls. Some camcorders allow you to "Lock" or "Hold" all automatic settings with one switch.
If your webcam or camera has Gain controls, set them as low as possible while still having a bright enough picture.
For optimal results, the saturation should be similar to the digital background you are using. If you have a brightly colored image or video clip, set saturation higher. If your background color is muted, lower the saturation.
If possible, adjust your camera's frame rate to 30 or 15 FPS (frames per second).
If your camera has a shutter speed or exposure adjustment, try setting it to 1/50th of a second to start.
The icon in the upper left corner of the V-Screen tab shows the image assigned as the V-Screen background. To choose a different image or animated clip, drag and drop its file onto the thumbnail on the V-Screen Tab.
You
can use any image as a background. Vlog It! comes with a set of images specifically designed for use this
purpose. You'll find them in the Backgrounds and Animated Backgrounds folders
within the Graphics Library. If you'd like to create backgrounds using your own photos or images, see Still
Images.
To tweak the appearance of the background, click the Adjust Color button at the bottom of the V-Screen Tab. This opens a dialog with standard image editing controls such as brightness, hue, contrast, and color levels. The RGB offset sliders may be less familiar. These sliders add the associated colors across the board whereas the basic RGB sliders affect only pixels that contain some of the given color.
These adjustments affect only the initial background image. If you change backgrounds as described in the next section and want to change the color of a new background, select that background in its action tray and click Adjust Colors on the Actions Tab.
Ready
for a change of scenery? Add some life to your show with a set change. Change your background to reflect changes
in your video's mood or topic. That's precisely what the V-Screen Bkgd effect is for. You'll find
it in the top level of the Video Effects Library. Once you've added it to the Action Area, drag and drop desired
image onto the tray. What you just did was tell Vlog It!: "When you get to this Action Tray, switch to
this new background." You can change the background as many times as you like.
Animated backgrounds take more processing power than still backgrounds and they can also cause the published video file to be larger. If you have a slower PC or your viewers have slower Internet connections, you might want to choose still backgrounds for your shows.
Dynamic vs. Still Backgrounds: In the Trial Version, all backgrounds are still images. When you purchase Vlog It!, be sure to try out the animated backgrounds. You may even want to republish some of the vlogs you originally created with the trial version.
To calibrate Vlog It! to the background:
Lock it Down: Once you've set the key, keep the camera position, lighting and any shadows falling on your backdrop the same. If any of these things change too much, you'll start to see holes in your virtual background. If this happens, click Auto-Set Key to recalibrate. You may also need to re-adjust your camera settings. Getting the perfect key is as much an art as it is a science.
Conserve Resources: The keying process is fairly resource-intensive, so it can slow down your computer's responsiveness. If your system seems to be bogging down while rehearsing or recording, you can free up resources by enabling the Don't Show V-Screen During Rehearse/Record. This affects only what's displayed in the output monitor; the video will be keyed in the vlogs that you publish.
While
Vlog It's automatic calibration can pull a remarkable key from a webcam or DV feed, some manual tweaking
may be necessary to get it just right:
You may see what looks like static or sparkles in the background. This is called "noise".
If you are unable to eliminate all of the noise in your background, you may need to make some further lighting or camera adjustments.
Camcorder Users: In general, camcorders will yield better results with V-Screen than webcams. However, the camcorder must be configured properly. All of the auto settings in the camera must be turned off including auto white balance, auto gain, auto iris, auto exposure, auto focus, etc. Some cameras allow you to 'Lock' or 'Hold' all settings with one switch. Others allow you to turn each setting off with menu options. Consult your camera's manual for details on how to turn all Auto settings off.
Dealing with Jerkiness: If you have a slower PC or an older graphics card, the video in the Output Monitor window may appear jerky while rehearsing or recording with V-Screen active. In this case, see the possible solution in Trouble Shooting.
Sheets of green plastic ideal for your keying background are available through the Serious Magic website. Measuring approximately 5' x 6', they are made of reinforced polyethylene with a matte, non-reflective finish.
One side has a slight texture and the other is smooth. Hang it so that the smooth matte finish side faces your camera straight on (not at an angle). You'll no doubt have noticed by now that it is a remarkably stylish shade of green.
The V-Screen material can be attached to a wall with thumbtacks or adhesive tape. It can be attached to the ceiling with thumbtacks and left to hang down behind your chair. It can be draped over an office cubical wall or it can even be hung on some cord with clothespins like a sheet on a laundry line.
Since the V-Screen comes folded it will have some creases. Over time, the creases will diminish. To accelerate the process, place the V-Screen on a clean carpeted floor and place some heavy books on its edges. Move the books outward to slightly stretch the V-Screen. Leave it overnight and miraculously, the creases will be diminished by morning. No more expensive creams and lotions!
You can also use thumbtacks to attach the V-Screen to a wall or board. Stretch it tight as you apply the thumbtacks around the edge.
It's not necessary or even possible to completely eliminate the creases. As long as they aren't too deep they won't be visible in your video. The V-Screen technology was specifically designed to work with less than ideal backdrops.
If you use thumbtacks to hang the V-Screen on a wall, fold a small piece of tape over the edge where the thumbtack goes or fold the edge of the V-Screen back over itself. This will reinforce the V-Screen where it is pierced by the thumbtack.
While Serious Magic's V-Screen technology is quite adaptable to various shades of color backdrop, a very bright, saturated green color generally gives best results. The best shades are commonly referred to as "Kelly Green" or "Irish Green."
Blue can also be used but green works slightly better. The best shade of blue is brighter than "Royal Blue" but darker and more saturated than "Sky Blue."
In the Pantone color chart, the optimal green is number 354. The optimal blue is Pantone Proc C.
The surface of your green or blue backdrop should be evenly colored and not shiny. If you are going to use paint, get "Flat" or "Matte" and not "Gloss" or "Semi-Gloss."
Strive to attain at least a 5'x4' area of flat, even color. If the backdrop is farther away from the camera, create a correspondingly larger backdrop to fill the entire frame seen by your camera. Roughly, for every foot of distance between your camera and the backdrop or wall, create approximately one foot of backdrop. For example:
Before buying materials for your backdrop, aim your camera where you plan to put the backdrop and look at the image on your screen to get a rough idea of the field of view you need to cover.
Optionally, move your monitor and webcam closer to the wall (this is usually easier than moving the wall closer to the webcam), or use an easel stand with a poster board-style setup and place it the appropriate distance behind you and your PC. Don't place your camera too close to the backdrop material or you might experience problems with shadows.
It seems there are almost as many ways to create a V-Screen backdrop as there are users. Here are some examples:
For general advice about good lighting for video, see Lighting. The key to good results with V-Screen is to make sure that the backdrop is lit brightly and evenly. Look at the image of the backdrop coming from your camera in the Output Monitor window of Vlog It! To assess your lighting leave the V-Screen feature turned off for now. Are there any parts of the backdrop that are near-black (not enough light) or parts that are near-white (too much light)? Are there hot spots?
The V-Screen technology can't work very well if any parts of the backdrop are too close to colors in the foreground subject. The best way to eliminate these problems is to bounce light off of a nearby wall or the ceiling. To learn how to bounce light away from your V-Screen see Using bounced light.
By this point you've probably surmised that the foreground subject needs to have different colors than the backdrop in order be differentiated from it. Assuming that the subject is going to be you, make sure you aren't wearing a shirt or any clothing that's too close to the color of the backdrop. Also, avoid clothing that is mostly black or mostly white. Neutral colors work best. If your skin happens to be the same green color as the V-Screen backdrop, we suggest that you see a doctor (or a priest) before using the V-Screen. If this particular shade of green is your normal skin color, may we be the first to welcome you to Earth. Klaatu barada nikto.