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SparkyCanada

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 9, 2008
127
8
Hello everyone.

I’m just getting started with using a green screen background for video production.

I’ve found some reasonably wide green screens, but I’m thinking of doubling the width.

If I use two separate green screens and overlap them, will this cause any artifacts or issues when superimposing images during post-production?

Thanks

Sparky
 
Lighting is everything. If you think you just need some green behind something or someone to pull a matte, then you're sorely mistaken. And if you know how to light, then any imperfections such as that are nearly irrelevant.

But then, no one can know what "overlap" means in your case nor know the quality of your green screen overall.
 
Admittedly, I am as green at this as the green screen I am trying to understand how to use... all information is greatly appreciated...

My thinking, though maybe incorrect, is to use a green screen behind the subject - then later use that green screen to overlay other backdrops when I import the video into Final Cut Pro

The overlap I am referring to is just placing about an inch of green screen material from green screen material 2 - over green screen 1 - to provide more width behind the subject

Thanks,

Sparky
 
Have you considered the FAR easier alternative?:




Alternatively, assuming you have a locked camera, you could also try this:

I just looked into this - and my Mac OS is Ventura 13.4.1

The Apple site recommends a minimum of Ventura 13.5 or later for Final Cut Pro 11.

The audio software I run is very stable on Ventura 13.4.1 and most recommend staying here if all is well... for now...

Having said this - I think maybe purchasing an external SSD and loading the latest Mac OS on it and running Final Cut Pro 11 off that might be the answer...

Thanks for the suggestion...

Sparky
 
Which apparently age-old and/or very poorly supported audio software are you using exactly?
The latest version of Pro Tools - an industry standard in the recording studio world.

It’s been rock solid on this version of Ventura.
 
Ah. That explains a lot. So the latter.

Pro Tools - an industry standard in the recording studio world.

Which means nothing when it comes to software maintenance, especially in the context of Avid.

But then if AVID themselves don't have an issue with Sequoia let alone Sonoma, why should you?

Works perfectly fine here. But then I have a well-maintained system and don't listen to randos on the internet. 🤷🏼‍♂️
 
Last edited:
Well... Avid has openly reported issues with Sonoma and Sequoia on their site.
Screenshot 2025-01-06 at 9.14.11 AM.jpg


Here is the link to their admitted known issues.
Known Issues with Sonoma and Sequoia

Being that I currently use my computer system 95% of the time for audio... one of the things I've learned is that if a system ain't broke... don't fix it...

Will be purchasing an external drive this week and booting up Sequoia on that. Hoping your suggestion of using magnetic masking works well...

Thanks for your guidance and suggestions.

Sparky
 
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Here is the link to their admitted known issues.

Yep. Like I said, classic Avid. Sloppy, archaic software and support. Always easy when you're resting on your decades-old laurels and somehow still considered by some to be an "industry standard." Sad state of affairs. An attitude that's probably only trumped by Adobe. Handcuffing you to inferior system software and hardware because they know you'll go along with it, and it saves them from having to do their homework as everyone else. Clever!

Good luck! 👍🏼
 
I guess I see it a little differently...

It's not Avid's fault that Apple keeps moving the goalposts...

But maybe that's just me...

Sparky
 
It's just you. Unless, of course, any and all improvement = "moving the goalposts"?

In which case, sure, let's just keep everything as it is and screw any advancements! Forget, e.g., "moving the goalposts" to Apple Silicon! Intel FTW! Who needs modern, fast, efficient audio and video frameworks and hardware?? I still have some razor blades and celluloid in my garage drawer for my video productions. I'll be fine! All that fancy shmancy stuff (like that silly magnetic mask!) Apple keeps adding is just there without rhyme or reason! 😄

Funny how no one else aside from "industry standards" such as Avid and Adobe has to rely on ancient frameworks for their apps to (barely) work, to the point where it's literally impossible for them to support anything that was conceived beyond the early 2000s. And why should they? History has shown that their users will put up with anything just to be able to say they're using "the industry standard" and even pay through the nose for it. Whether that "standard" is from this millennia or not. As if there weren't a plethora of alternatives that make their apps pale embarrassingly in comparison on every level. Don't use what's best, use what's comfortable and familiar, and you're safe. 👍🏼

We'll see how that pans out. As I said, good luck! 🤞🏼

P.S. The best part is that their list shows that mostly their own "Carbon" hardware isn't compatible with their own software. 😂 Well, if that by itself doesn't speak volumes… 🤦🏼‍♂️
 
P.S. The best part is that their list shows that mostly their own "Carbon" hardware isn't compatible with their own software. 😂 Well, if that by itself doesn't speak volumes… 🤦🏼‍♂️
Yes... which is why I can't justify a complete upgrade of my OS - as Carbon is compatible with my existing set up.

All is working well and I'm making music...

Sparky
 
How did it work. I'm gues the answer is "OK, good enough for YouTube."

The BEST way to go is to just use the normal width green backdrop and use masking to remove the parks from the edges. All you need is a low-precision hand dran mask, no magic.

Then you use very careful lighting to separate the subject from the green screen, The usual problem is the light bounces off the screen and puts somereflected grrn color on the subject. Don't allow this to happen. Chroma key will work well. You only need enough green background to cover the area behind the subject. The rest can be masked
 
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