Chromakey questions

Author: Dennis Lennie

Published 1st April 2008


What does a specialist paint give me that a DIY superstore (matt blue or green emulsion) doesn’t?
VFX Bluescreen Solutions paints are pigment based, as opposed to DIY chains ‘stain’ based. Pigment based paints ensure consistency and intensity of colour, against the stain based paints because they are ‘pure’, instead of being made up of various other colours. This ensures a ‘professional’ finish which is compatible with all formats
Is there is a different paint for indoor or outdoor applications?
VFX Bluescreen Solutions paints can be used both indoors and externally. As with all paints, preparation is the key. Only in extreme weather conditions may be difficult to use outside, for instance low temperatures, or extremely wet conditions,as the paint is water based, but this is the same for all water based paints. Pinewood Studios use our paint externally throughout the winter months.
Green and blue are typical colours for chromakey, what application would call for yellow or red?
Optic Yellow and Optic Red are used for contrast colours where the subject matter being filmed have either blues or greens in costumes or background. For instance an individual wearing a blue and green suit would cause problems in editing.!
What is the difference between deep optic colours and just optic colours?
As with all the colours, both paint and fabric, it really depends on the in-camera compression code. However, to avoid getting into the technical side the basic ‘rule of thumb’ boils down to the natural light source. For instance in productions where there has been an extreme natural light, such as snow scenes or sand scenes, Deep Optic Green, Deep Optic Blue, and Digi Blue colours have been used.
What surface is best to paint on, can you paint on moulded polystyrene?
The paint can be used on virtually any surface, including polystyrene. The substrate should be prepared to allow as smoother surface as possible to avoid shadows. Polystyrene by its nature has an uneven surface. However, painting or spraying a product called ‘Idenden’ from Bristol UK Ltd, onto the surface not only allows the surface to be smoothed but provides a hard protective cover to the polystyrene. Bristol UK Ltd also supply various other water based products that can be added to the paint to allow adhesion to PVC flooring AQUALAK, and AQUAPLUS back drop canvas.
What surfaces will require preparation and what would that entail? 1 coats? 2 coats? Primer? Etc…
All surfaces should be dry, clean, smooth and primed. Recommended coverage per litre of paint is between 8 – 10 square metres. Depending on the size of the area to be covered it may be possible to use only one coat, however this is down to the skill of the painter, larger areas usually require 2 coats to ensure consistency of colour. Optic Green, is the only exclusion, as this colour is based on a fluorescent pigment and requires a primer, Optic Green base coat and Optic Green top coat. Again for larger areas 2 coats may be required of the top coat.
What is the best way to remove creases from fabric screens
VFX Bluescreen Solutions, VFX fabric, by its very nature is more crease resistant than many fabrics on the market. The elasticity that the looped brush nylon surface and foam and scrim backing allow, enable any creases that may have been formed to drop out once tension has been applied when re-hung. However, should there be any stubborn creases, then a wallpaper steamer can be used. This also can refresh a tried screen if stored away for years at a time.
Is fabric machine washable?
Recommended methods of cleaning are either dry cleaning or steaming the VFX Fabric. It should be noted that with all Fire Retardant fabrics this may render the certification invalid, so assistance should always be sought from the Manufacturer.
What is the advantage of lycra over normal material
Both VFX Lycra and VFX Screen Fabric, have their own applications. From experience VFX Lycra is best used for VFX Bodysuits, because of the lightweight nature of the fabric it allows too much light through to use for screens, making lighting difficult. VFX Screen fabric has been developed to be lit form the front, and the foam and screen backing reduce the light going through significantly.
Are body suits designed to be worn over clothing?
The VFX Bodysuits are designed to have minimum clothing underneath, only for the sake of decency. This ensures smooth lines around the individual, allowing clearer editing in post production.
Which is best blue or green screen?
In basic terms either Optic Green or Optic Blue work well. There are several things to consider before deciding the colour to use, ‘in-camera compression code’, the colours of the subjects clothes and lighting. In the past Blue was used as it is not represented in skin tones, unlike the green, which is. However, Optic Green has almost become the industry standard and first choice of many using formats including Film, DV, HD and Video.
What is the advantage over a woven thread fabric (milled) against a “cheaper” dyed screen?
Here at VFX Bluescreen Solutions we believe that it is down to personal choice. As described earlier our VFX Fabric is made up of three layers. Top layer being a dyed looped brush nylon surface with a foam and scrim backing. Many fabrics are dyed, so the comparison is really between types of fabric. For instance muslin versus brushed nylon VFX Fabric. Either works very well, however feedback from our customers tell us that our fabric is more crease resistant, lightweight and the intensity of colour proves more adaptable to different formats.
Is the fabric fire proof?
VFX Bluescreen Solutions, VFX fabric is fully Fire Retardant and complies to the specification for Curtains and Drapes BS 5867 Part 2, Type B 1980.


Bristol UK Ltd’s range of products know as VFX Bluescreen Solutions, have been developed over many years research and development. The combination of colours came together as a result of talking to prospective customers and end users. We believe that results speak for themselves, our business has increased significantly over time with more and more ‘users’ selecting us as their first choice. They range from the keen amateur to large Production companies. All are treated to the same level of service, all are just as important. Chromakey technology over the years has made it ‘accessible to all’, we like to think that we can help with the process.

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