chromakey !

A green or blue screen is a good start:D

Jigsaw have some chromakey packages that include lighting kits and those lens lights I am also new to this myself but I think the most important thing is the lighting for it.

I have some extra redheads on the way so will be doing some experimenting but have a look here first for some tips:http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/chroma_key_part_1.html

thanks gary
new site is cool!

john

the basics are a large tin of green paint or a huge bit of cloth.

light the background
light the talent
but don't allow the background light to wash the talent (or they'll go green)

keep the talent away from the screen, too many people stand too close

Either record to tape/camera or use a magic box to chromakey instantly

thanks dave
john

Also important that the talent doesn't wear anything green!

Or, far easier = http://www.holdan.co.uk/datavideo/ckl200.htm :)

That looks great - unless you're using an autocue, of course.

?

What I meant was that if there is an autocue on the front of the camera, you wouldn't be able to have the light ring too - or would you?

I don't suppose you would . . . But I don't think the OP has got that requirement :)

No but it could well be a consideration. I suppose a lot of the time when a presenter is standing in front of a green screen they are probably reading from an autocue in which case this system wouldn't be practical.

Otherwise, it looks great (if pricey).

You're probably right again, but I've shot greenscreen in many situations, never with autocue and maybe the OP doesn't require that option either.
Maybe he'll think about the situations he's gonna use it in and investigate the options. :)

Hi John,

I'd go for the datavideo style - I believe there are 2 co's making the glass bead cloth.
1 key issue is testing how good the glass bead version is with your camera, and if HDV, whether to capture in HDV or SD.
If you are gentle, you can stand on the cloth - a a major draw back with blue/green, where knee up tends to be imposed.
Should be less time spent on lighting and post production.
If it all works as it should, should be worth the money after several shoots, though lot of dosh for a one-off.
I've never personally used the glass bead cloths, only taditional methods.
HTH

The glass bead systems work very well, are easy to light, use less light power, but have a few draw-backs of their own (like the penumbra) and higher initial cost.

It depends what sort of job you're doing.

a tin of chromakey paint (you can use cheap DIY shop stuff) is £50.

My chromakey wall is made from aboy 10 sheets of 8x4 hardboard that's glued together using strips at the rear making one huge (unwieldy) sheet that's then pinned to a wall. It bends as it's pretty thin.

Hardboard is about £4 a sheet.

You can use an off cut of fabric - polyester is better as it doesn't wrinkle. buy a bit first and test it.

you need a saturated colout that isn't like anything a person ould want to wear.

Using software in most NLEs, you can gat a decent system for £100 excluding lights.