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How to Light My Green Screen Correctly for Photography

Green screens are used in photography as a backdrop that can easily be removed and replaced with a digital backdrop. A lime or bright green is used because in most cases that color is not worn or apparent in the subjects you are photographing. This makes it easy to isolate the green background and remove it from the picture in post-production. Lighting a green screen for this type of photography is similar to normal studio lighting techniques.

Things You'll Need

Four studio photography strobes or flood lights
Tripod - optional

Instructions

- 1
  Hang the green screen in the studio or location that you will be shooting in. The screen needs to be large enough to fill your entire viewfinder when shooting.
- 2
  Position a studio strobe or flood light at each side of the green screen at a 45 degree angle to the screen. The entire screen needs to be evenly lit to make the post production work easier to complete.
- 3
  Position your subject 3 to 5 feet in front of the green screen. Position a studio strobe or flood light on either side of the subject at the same angle as the lights you placed towards the green screen.
- 4
  Turn all the lights on, set the power on the green screen lights to full, and the power on the subject lights to half. Meter for the light that appears on your subject, this will cause the green screen to be slightly brighter.
- 5
  Attach your camera to a tripod or select your shooting position where you capture all of the subject and the green screen fills the rest of your viewfinder, and start taking pictures.

Photography