Lighjting a greenscreen for a "touchscreen tabletop" from below? / problems...

[M Most]

I certainly did not mean to say that all compositing work is now as easy as 3 mouse clicks with the right software. I'm sorry it came off that way (and also quite sorry if you felt insulted). I realize each professional spends years learning the intricacies of their crafts and there is much more to it than can meet the eye. Compositing and Keying being no exception.

Hey, no apologies necessary. I didn't feel insulted, I just felt compelled to point out the fact that a lot of this stuff isn't nearly as simple as it may seem, regardless of what folks will tell you. The danger in a group like this - which encompasses everything from relative beginners to experienced industry pros - is that when simplicity is implied, it leads to posts like "I got my Red camera, and I went outside and shot stuff, and it doesn't look nearly as good as "Knowing." What am I doing wrong?" Or, in this case, "I shot my computer table top gag and did a luminance key and there are holes in the hands, and it doesn't look anywhere near as real as in Casino Royale." In order to elicit realistic expectations, I feel it's often necessary to point out the finer points of things like this, so that at the very least the original poster can't say he or she wasn't warned.

At the same time, I have also witnessed some incredible software apps in the last couple of years (while extremely expensive) which can work wonders in the hands of a skilled artist with what used to take several compositors days to do. It's just the nature of the industry.

That's true. But it doesn't negate what I said.

 

[Casey Green]

The danger in a group like this - which encompasses everything from relative beginners to experienced industry pros - is that when simplicity is implied, it leads to posts like "I got my Red camera, and I went outside and shot stuff, and it doesn't look nearly as good as "Knowing." What am I doing wrong?" Or, in this case, "I shot my computer table top gag and did a luminance key and there are holes in the hands, and it doesn't look anywhere near as real as in Casino Royale." In order to elicit realistic expectations, I feel it's often necessary to point out the finer points of things like this, so that at the very least the original poster can't say he or she wasn't warned.

Definitely a good point. Sometimes it's all too easy to see only what you are used to dealing with, rather than what others in the community might be. I try to take the same approach whenever possible, but sometimes I also fall victim to forgetting this.

I have a feeling Luis Reggiardo's requirements will fall somewhere in between the high and low end of what has been recommended here so far.

 

[Casey Green]

use a reflecmedia system, OR use a larger LCD, CRT monitor and have that project a green color. unless its very dark i would be able to pull a key from it even if it were not perfectly lit, even with a green piece of paper so long as you have enough exposure on it. use Nukes IBK

I would stay away from Reflectmedia system for the fact that anything off axis or not locked off goes to shit with this system. I would stick to the lighting box table set up .You can make this pretty easy with a local hardware store and Ikea . Also you might want to listen to Casey he has more experience then most of us on this subject.

Interesting, I have used the ReflecMedia system a few times and didn't notice too much difference off axis. Not saying it is necessarily right for this job, but the material is made up of thousands of tiny beads, which reflect light back at the source regardless of the angle projected from due to the convex shape of the beads.

Anyone else use it before in this type of situation? If it's a low light shot, I have a feeling it wouldn't work so well from the spill onto any foreground or surrounding objects.