Chroma Keying Equipment

Getting started with visual effects? Here are some low budget essentials that you need to start shooting (chroma) key shots.

Green / Blue Screen

Belle Drape Collapsible Background

60×72″ portable chroma key (blue and green side). Perfect to key out smaller objects or head shots.

Photek 10×12′ Green Screen Background

A bigger cloth that fits an entire person. It’s pretty cheap, but very decent quality. NOTE: cloth only, buy stands separate!

Flashpoint 10′ Background Support System

A simple support system to hang your green screen . You don’t NEED this, but helps setting the cloth up.

Lighting your green screen

To pull of a good chroma key you have to light your green screen really well. So it is essential to have some lights. I recommend using at least two lights (with diffusion), with the exact same color temperature & brightness and place them on both sides of the green screen, a few feet away on a 45 degree angle. To see the lights that we I use, head over to our Lighting For Video article. If you’re not familiar with using lights for your video I recommend watching our introduction to lighting course on Skillshare.

small gear

Tether Tools – 2″ Clamps

These are a little more expansive than those plastic clamps, but their’re worth it! We use these for many applications, including tightening a green-screen. I recommend getting at least 6 of these.

Flashpoint backdrop Holder

Not necessary, but it does make the job easier to put your portable green-screen in place. Note: you will need a light-stand to use this!

Datavideo Green Tape

Some green tape for keying smaller objects or to wrap around anything that needs to be keyed.