If you have ever had experience with the video world, especially with regard to television, you have probably heard of Green Screen. I know you have seen Green Screen in action if you have watched the local TV weather forecast or even some baseball games where the advertisement changes periodically in direct camera sight. These are both done using Green Screen technology.
How Green Screen works is that behind the object or person you place a green background, usually bright, that serves as the backdrop for your image. In reality, this backdrop can be any color, but green is the most commonly used.
Once you have your image taken, then in your image editor, you remove everything green from the image. Then you can replace it with the background of your choice. In the case of TV weather casts, they can put up the radar maps or the seven-day forecast.
Now, with the help of the F. J. Westcott Co, you can do the same thing in your studio or at home as they have released their uLite Digital Photo Lighting Kit which comes with everything you need to do green screen.
What does the uLite Digital Photo Lighting Kit come with?
• (2) uLite Constant Lights
• (2) 20" Collapsible Soft Boxes
• (2) 7' Light Stands
• (2) 500-watt Photofloods
• (1) 9' x 10' wrinkle-resistant Green Screen
• (1) Educational DVD
• (1) Digital Backgrounds DVD
• (1) Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 7 Trial
Everything comes in one compact box that houses all the items neatly. When you are ready to use the product, you will need to find an area that is large enough to hang the 9' x 10' Green Screen and have at least 12 feet in depth. If you are a professional, it is ready to use on a background rack. If you are not, you will need to find something to hang the screen off of. They recommend removable wall hooks that you can find in any hardware store.
First you will put together the soft boxes which already have the lighting fixtures attached. These have firm ribs that you just pop a ring into place around the light fixture itself. While everything is very firm, you do want to make sure that the ring snaps into place since if it pops out, you could break your light bulb or cause other damage. Once that is done, you then just screw the bulb into the fixture like any other bulb. When the bulb is in place, there is an outer piece of fabric that goes over the front of the soft box to diffuse the light. It is just covers the box and attaches with Velcro to stay in place.
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