How to Use Green Screen in Adobe Premiere Pro

Edited 4 days ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

Adobe Premiere ProGreen ScreenChroma KeyVideo EditingEffectsWindowsMacTechniquesToolsWorkflow

Adobe Premiere Pro is a powerful video editing software that allows content creators to bring their creative ideas to life. One of the most exciting features in Premiere Pro is the Chroma Key effect or Green Screen effect. This effect lets you replace the green (or blue) background in a video with something else, whether it's another video, a still image, or another digital content.

Using green screen in Premiere Pro may seem daunting at first, but with practice, it becomes a seamless part of your editing process. In the following lesson, we'll explore the entire process of using green screen in Adobe Premiere Pro in detail, from filming your initial footage to exporting your final video.

1. Understanding the green screen

Before we dive into the technical process, it's important to understand what a green screen is and why it's used. Green screens allow video editors to separate the subject from the background, allowing the background to be replaced with different imagery. Green is typically used because it's less likely to be close to any natural human skin color, making it easier for software to distinguish.

Blue screens are sometimes used, especially when a subject is wearing green. The purpose of a green screen shoot is to create a uniform background that can be easily removed in post-production.

2. Preparing your footage

The success of the green screen effect depends on how well the footage is shot. Follow these simple tips when filming your footage to ensure the best possible results:

• Make sure the green screen is evenly lit to avoid shadows and hotspots. Uneven lighting can cause problems during the editing process.
• Have the subject stand far enough away from the green screen so that the color doesn't fall on them, as the green color reflects onto the subject.
• Use a good quality camera and take frequent pictures to ensure a crisp and clear image.

3. Importing the clips into Premiere Pro

Open Adobe Premiere Pro and create a new project. Import the video footage you plan to use, including your green screen footage and the background you want to use. To import your files:

• Go to File > Import, or drag and drop your files into the Project panel.

Once imported, drag the footage to start a new sequence when prompted and align your clips on the timeline. Place your background image or video on one layer and your green screen footage on the layer above.

4. Removing the green screen background

To remove the green screen background, follow these steps in Adobe Premiere Pro using the Ultra Key tool:

1. Click the “Effects” tab in the top menu or go to the Effects panel – usually found in the bottom left corner.
2. Type the Ultra key in the Effects panel's search bar.
3. Drag the Ultra Key effect onto your green screen clip.

Now that you've applied Ultra Key to your clip, follow these steps to remove the green screen:

4. Select the green screen clip on the timeline.
5. Go to the Effects Controls panel, usually located in the top left corner.
6. Find the Ultra Key Effect section and click the eye-dropper icon next to “Key Color.”
7. Click on the area of the video in the preview window that has the green screen.

This should eliminate most of the green background. At this point, the background may not be completely clean, and additional changes will be needed.

5. Refining the key

Refining involves cleaning up the edges of your subject and ensuring a smooth transition between the subject and background. Keying is an iterative process, and here's a simple guide to help you:

• Setting the output: Temporarily change the output to “Alpha Channel” from the Effect Control panel. This will help you fine-tune the edges. Adjust the parameters like this:
• Matte Generation: Change the “Transparency”, “Highlights” and “Shadows” settings to get clean mattes.
• Matte Cleanup: Use the "Choke" and "Soften" controls to adjust the depth and sharpness of matte edges.
• Once you've adjusted these settings to refine the key, switch back to "Combined" mode.

6. Color correction

It's also important to color correct your footage to match the new background. Without proper color correction, the subject may look completely different against the background:

Using Premiere's color correction tools, you can:

• Go to the Color Workspace or Color Correction tab.
• Adjust the color of both the foreground and background so that the two look naturally fit together.

7. Exporting the finished video

Once you're satisfied with the results, it's time to export your project. Follow these steps:

• Click File > Export > Media to bring up the export settings panel.
• Choose the export settings you want, which is often set to H.264 for high-quality online video, and set your desired resolution.
• Click Export to start the rendering process.

Conclusion

Using the green screen effect in Adobe Premiere Pro can open up a lot of creative possibilities for your video project. The steps above will help you go from shooting your footage to editing and exporting a polished final product with ease. Whether you're making a fun video for your friends or creating professional content, using a green screen can dramatically increase the quality of your work, allowing you to create alternate realities easily and effectively.

Continue to practice and explore the different options within Premiere Pro to grow your skills over time. Every project is different, and as you take on more complex challenges, your understanding of the software will grow, leading to rewarding creative experiences.

  Share This Article

If you find anything wrong with the article content, you can request an update