More than likely, you’ve heard of blue screen and green screen technology. You may even have done a photoshoot or video project using one or the other. But have you ever asked yourself, “What is the difference between blue and green screens?” More than that, what makes one better than the other? Here’s a brief explanation of what blue and green screens do individually.
The Pros and Cons of Blue Screens
Blue screen is a precursor to green screen, existing as far back as the 1930s. At that time, people used it to create special effects in Hollywood films. One of the more famous films to use blue screen is The Empire Strikes Back, though many others also incorporated the technique. Blue screen’s primary benefit is that it can provide images of superior quality with less grain and crisp edges. This means that blue screen also produces much less color spill since it reflects less and is easier to color correct. If you’re working with less lighting, blue screen is suitable because it has a lower luminosity. On the other hand, blue tends to turn up more often in clothing and other objects, making it less desirable to use than green screen.
The Pros and Cons of Green Screens
Green screen really took off in the 70s, and people tend to use it more often these days in television and film productions. Green does not appear in human hair and complexions, and bright fluorescent green is less likely to appear in clothing and costumes, which makes it easier to draw a proper key with a human subject. Additionally, digital cameras have a knack for picking up green over blue coloring. On the other hand, the brightness of a green screen can lead to color spill, which can create a weird halo image around your subject, mucking up the shoot and making it harder to find a good key in postproduction. Fortunately, there are techniques for reducing this color spill in your setup.
What’s Best for You and Your Production?
We’ve asked, “What is the difference between blue and green screens?” As you can see, there are distinctions to note. Your decision mostly comes down to what sort of shoot you’re conducting (a blue screen is great for outdoor productions, while green is ideal for indoor ones). The two techniques are similar, and a production project can often use both. However, since you’re more likely to use a digital camera, a green screen is the way to go. Setting up the background of your studio can be as simple as propping up a portable green screen backdrop or using green paint to color a wall for the shoot. Look through our blog for more tips on running a productive video production or photoshoot using green screens, or contact us to ask further questions.
