Topic: How big is your green screen?

I've been looking for green screens and blue screens on the Internet lately and some of them are fairly big.
Some goes up to 3m by 6m (9.8 feet by 19.7 feet) green screen goes up to $50 Ausd and some as low as $18.
I want to know how much you've bought your green screen/blue screen for (preferably in USD) and how big are they.
It'll help me decide what the necessary size is and how much I should buy them for.

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my dad doesn't want me to brickfilm on because it's his computer, but he's not home right now at the moment.
-FilmyGuy1

Re: How big is your green screen?

I have one that's 3m by 2m, but that's for my live action work at school/college/uni, and even that is way too big for what I need, so I got a pop-out one too.

For brickfilming though, I would honestly just suggest A3 card. I can't imagine you're going to need anything bigger than that for brickfilming. Anything else would be a waste of money.

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/ZoefDeHaas/stuff/sig1.png
"Nothing goes down 'less I'm involved. No nuggets. No onion rings. No nothin'. A cheeseburger gets sold in the park, I want in! You got fat while we starved on the streets...now it's my turn!" -Harley Morenstein

Re: How big is your green screen?

Thanks JamPot I've never considered using A3 paper. I might be able to get some from school.
Now that you've mentioned A3 paper, would it be better to print a background out of it? I'm not much of an editor and I'm not good with chroma keying (yet). It might take up more ink, but would the quality of the film be any better?

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my dad doesn't want me to brickfilm on because it's his computer, but he's not home right now at the moment.
-FilmyGuy1

Re: How big is your green screen?

Kd2000 wrote:

Thanks JamPot I've never considered using A3 paper. I might be able to get some from school.
Now that you've mentioned A3 paper, would it be better to print a background out of it? I'm not much of an editor and I'm not good with chroma keying (yet). It might take up more ink, but would the quality of the film be any better?

Normally, yes. Unless you're adept at keying (which, after 7 years of learning, even I'm not) then a keyed shot has a 50/50 chance of actually coming out in post (the lighting has to be perfect throughout).

I would suggest printing out backgrounds. I normally do that myself, but on A4 rather than A3, as it saves a lot of ink and most of my sets aren't that big. You can see what I mean in these videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gai7NOEtcfY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1txbwsB8pg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6Wl7L5NFMs
If you want any of those backgrounds (though none of them are that great in truth) I can make a Dropbox folder of them for you, though I'd recommend checking out this site. I get most of mine from there.

I've only really succeeded with keyed backgrounds twice - in this and this. I'd really suggest going for printed backgrounds until you're a bit more experience, and even then use it sparingly.

NickDurron, Smeagol and Metru Nui Legacy are a few of the people who've managed to get it right and I'd suggest checking out their work (particularly MNL).

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/ZoefDeHaas/stuff/sig1.png
"Nothing goes down 'less I'm involved. No nuggets. No onion rings. No nothin'. A cheeseburger gets sold in the park, I want in! You got fat while we starved on the streets...now it's my turn!" -Harley Morenstein

Re: How big is your green screen?

I have a 6x8 foot one; I bought it for about $25.  I never use it for Lego aniamtion, though.

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"None practice tolerance less frequently than those who most loudly preach it."

Re: How big is your green screen?

I suggest a paint color card. Go to your local hardware store or Walmart to get one.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MHXhPfY0O18/TimcFmOru8I/AAAAAAAADhw/ofttJfH3ZFM/s1600/408.JPG

But, get the solid color ones, not the multi-color ones. They are pure colors, which no inconsistencies, they are fairly thick, and get the job done well. Plus, they don't cost anything (but I don't recommend taking large amounts or them, or taking one without buying something from the store, because the store paid for them and taking them without buying something wouldn't be right. mini/wink ). If you need a larger screen, look no farther than poster board. It's really cheap. You can go to the craft store or Walmart for that too. But remember, if you put sticky-tac or clay on the posterboard or the color card, it will leave a mark.

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Re: How big is your green screen?

rioforce wrote:

I suggest a paint color card.

But, get the solid color ones, not the multi-color ones. They are pure colors, which no inconsistencies, they are fairly thick, and get the job done well. Plus, they don't cost anything (but I don't recommend taking large amounts or them, or taking one without buying something from the store, because the store paid for them and taking them without buying something wouldn't be right. mini/wink ). If you need a larger screen, look no farther than poster board. It's really cheap. You can go to the craft store or Walmart for that too. But remember, if you put sticky-tac or clay on the posterboard or the color card, it will leave a mark.

Nice tips, I will restrain using sticky tac or clay, but I might start off with printed paper like Jampot's recommendation.

As for Jam Pot, thanks for showing me the website and videos, I've learnt quite a few and I shall use it whenever I have the chance.

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my dad doesn't want me to brickfilm on because it's his computer, but he's not home right now at the moment.
-FilmyGuy1

Re: How big is your green screen?

I use a bright green piece of posterboard from Walmart. It was, like, a dollar. It's probably not more than 1' by 1.5'. I suppose a larger one would be advantageous as you could reduce spill by putting it further back.

http://i.imgur.com/wcmcdmf.png

Re: How big is your green screen?

I got a bright green piece of poster board (like Smeagol), only I got mine at the Dollar Tree for 69 cents. I'm still working on spill reduction, though.

uh oh!

Re: How big is your green screen?

Sméagol wrote:

I use a bright green piece of posterboard from Walmart. It was, like, a dollar. It's probably not more than 1' by 1.5'. I suppose a larger one would be advantageous as you could reduce spill by putting it further back.

Yeah, I was thinking of doing this exact thing. I have 2 large green screens for photography and those can be a pain, what with wrinkles, etc, but posterboard would work wonderfull!

Re: How big is your green screen?

Sméagol wrote:

I use a bright green piece of posterboard from Walmart. It was, like, a dollar. It's probably not more than 1' by 1.5'. I suppose a larger one would be advantageous as you could reduce spill by putting it further back.

Basically this. I went to the local Hobby Lobby and picked up two pieces of 2'x3' bright green posterboard for about $2.50 each. They work like a charm. Of course, I cut out a piece about 5"x8" in size that I typically use. After all, 2'x3' is like, a couple of acres of greenscreen in minifigure scale! mini/smile

Of course, I don't recommend using greenscreen in brickfilms unless you really need to and know what you are doing... but I digress.

Re: How big is your green screen?

Mine's like 7 by 12 feet, and vinyl.

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Re: How big is your green screen?

I use a piece of neon green posterboard from Walmart. Works fine for me at brickfilm scaling.

For live action I'd use something much larger; on In Paradise we had a bluescreen that was something like 20' by 10', but I just find that unwieldy for a LEGO setup.

http://i.imgur.com/wcmcdmf.png

Re: How big is your green screen?

I have a big ol one. a small one is fine, UNLESS, you wanted to do wide shots, or ones with planes and stuff and you dont want the vehicle reflecting the green, so you want it further away, but, I think something like a 1m x 1m will be plenty.

And dont get any that is shiny.

Re: How big is your green screen?

I use a bright green piece of thick fabric. It is probably more than a square meter, but being fabric, I can change the dimensions easily enough. It has a reasonably high thread count, so the colour is pretty solid, and light doesnt bounce off fabric as much, so less spill. The only thing that can be difficult is making sure that it is flat to avoid shadows, but it is doable.

http://www.cxpulp.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=874&d=1279678499
The new KB Videos coming soon.

Re: How big is your green screen?

6 foot by 8 foot.

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"None practice tolerance less frequently than those who most loudly preach it."