Adobe Green Screen Software

  1. Adobe Green Screen Software For Live Video Production
  2. Adobe Green Screen Software For Live Video Production
  3. Does Adobe Photoshop Have Green Screen Software

The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Avengers film series, and so many other major movies have a lot in common. One of those things is that they were created with the help of green screens. The green screen cinematic technique has helped filmmakers create mind-boggling visual effects (VFX) that are highly realistic. Everything from dragons breathing fire to wizards casting spells are all possible thanks to the magic of chroma key compositing.

With the right equipment, you can start shooting a green screen video even if you’re on a budget. But even with the best equipment, you will fall short of creating believable footage if you lack the proper post-production software tools. Learn more about how to edit green screen photos and video through our guide below.

  • Chroma Key, also called a Green-screen key, is actually the process of replacing background color of a video with another desired background to make videos more appealing. Adobe Premiere Pro platform allows easy editing options for such type of changes with its great tool named as 'Ultra Key'.
  • OpenShot is a free and open-source chroma key/green screen software. It supports FreeBSD, Linux, Mac, and Windows, and it is cross-platform. You can quickly and easily make a green screen video with it. You can combine 3D animation with chroma key effects, which makes your video more stunning.
  • Solution 2: Disable Adobe Genuine Software Integrity in Task Manager. Follow the steps below: Type “Task Manager” in the Search box to open it. In the Processes tab, you will find the Adobe Genuine Integrity service. Right-click it and then click on Open file location. It should open a folder named AdobeGCClient.

14) HitFilm Express. HitFilm Express is a green screen software that allows you to edit the video and add effects with minimal effort. It helps you to trim, make changes in audio, and more. This tool enables you to make color correction of video. Features: Combining 2D and 3D videos is very easy.

Setting up Your Green Screen

If you want to get the best results from your green screen set-up, you’ll need some essential equipment. These include:

Backdrops

You have the option to use paper, fabric, or paint to get that unique shade of green as your backdrop. Paper is the most affordable option, but it’s less durable than using a cloth or paint.

Westcott 9 x 10ft Green Screen Cotton Background ($74.9)

Professional and amateur video creators need a green screen that they can easily adjust to meet the demands of their current project. The Westcott Photo Basics Green Screen Cotton Background is made from wrinkle-resistant fabric and contains a pole pocket and grommets along its four sides. It’s also lightweight and easy-to-use, making it ideal for various film projects.

Photek 10×24′ Background Green Screen ($156.6)

Video content creators who spend most of their time shooting in the studio will benefit from the Photek Background Green Screen. It is specifically designed for studio and location work, and its large size can accommodate projects with a lot of on-screen action.

Rosco Chroma Key Paint, 1 Quart, Green ($28.88)

Once you’ve upgraded to a studio space or have access to a wall you can repaint, roll the green onto your walls with Rosco Chroma green screen paint. Unlike fabric that can wrinkle and perforate over time, paint offers a more affordable, long-term solution.

Lighting

Lighting your green screen backdrop properly has the power to give you better results come editing time. The trick is to make sure that every area of the backdrop the appears in the frame is evenly lit and exposed correctly.

Westcott Green Screen Photo Lighting Kit ($299.9)

Perfect for budding photographers, the Westcott Green Screen Photo Lighting Kit includes a wrinkle-resistant green screen fabric, as well as two compact uLites with stands, photoflood bulbs, and softboxes. It also comes with Photokey chroma key software that instantly removes green screen backgrounds from your photos.

FloLight BladeLight 36″ Green Screen LED Light ($799)

The FloLight BladeLight is one of the most flexible lighting systems available because it functions as a fluorescent panel, Cyc light, Standard Fresnel, and SoftPanel all rolled into one. Production teams trust this lighting system because it outperforms standard LED lights and offers impressive color rendition and output.

Cameras

Shooting green screen footage ideally requires using a 4K camera for the best results. As a general rule of thumb, the higher the video resolution, the better the output. And if you’re shooting in HD, choose a progressive frame over an interlaced one.

Sony Alpha a7S II Mirrorless Digital Camera ()

Video

The a7S II is the perfect choice for green screens because it boasts ultra-high sensitivity, wide dynamic range, internal 4K movie recording, and superior shooting capabilities. It uses XAVC-S 8-bit 4:2:0 at 100Mbps in 4K and 50mbps in Full HD, making it ideal for shooting green screen videos.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7 ()

Looking for a budget-friendly option for green screen tech? The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7’s controls are easy-to-use and it shoots well in low light. It also fires off extensive bursts of image quality at eight frames per second burst. Moreover, it is compatible with most mirror list lenses so you can easily switch between different lenses.

Best Green Screen Editing Software

After recording your green screen footage, you’ll need dedicated software to make the magic happen during post-production. Chroma key green screen effects, rotoscoping, and other advanced compositing techniques can help take your videos to the next level.

Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is one of the gold standards of modern video editing software. Along with myriad tools for color correction, transitions, audio, and more, it has built-in features to simplify editing your green screen footage. It will largely automate the removal of the green screen itself, and you can also easily fine-tune the matte and, for example, reduce how much color spills onto the subject.

Premiere also makes it easy to use different colors, other than green, for even more creative possibilities. When you’re done, you can export in just about any resolution or codec you want.

FXhome Ltd PhotoKey 7 Pro Green Screen Software ()

The PhotoKey 7 Pro software makes green screen editing simple. It analyzes photos and switches out the green screen for a new backdrop. Designed for photographers, it improves image quality; speeds up your workflow; and includes templates with filters, layers, and text to let your imagination run wild.

Westcott Green Screen Photo Software ()

With the Westcott Green Screen Photo Software, you can automatically extract green screen backgrounds and import any of the 200 digital backgrounds included with a simple click. Apart from the available backdrops, you can also import any JPEG file, and the user-friendly interface provides access to the latest videos, updates, and news.

How to Edit Your Green Screen Video

There are two types of chroma keying: color key and ultra key effects.

Color key works by removing pixels that are the same hex code as your color of choice. It works best with graphics with digitally rendered colors that you can remove. Ultra key editing, on the other hand, is the ideal choice for footage with backgrounds of different tones and shades. Using this tool yields impressive results, even for dimly lit backgrounds.

How to Use Chroma Key in Adobe Premiere?

The Adobe Premiere Pro platform allows editing through its Ultra Key tools, which is preferred by most videographers for their green screen footage. The Chroma key effects feature is available in the CS5 and other later versions. Edit your footage using the Ultra key through these steps below:

Adobe Green Screen Software
  1. Drag and drop the footage to your timeline and place the green screen footage on top of it.
  2. Search for Ultra Key in the effects panel and drag it to your clip.
  3. Go to the Effects Control panel, select the color picker, and click on the green backdrop. You’ll notice the change it makes on your photo.
  4. Change the output from Composite to Alpha Channel. The tool will show you the remaining background you’ll need to remove.
  5. Use the Matte Generation tools to adjust the settings until you have removed the background completely. The best way to go about it is through trial and error until your subject and background look the way you want it to.
  6. Lastly, make your foreground look like a seamless part of the background by adding effects such as blurring or color grading. Then, render your timeline so you can see it play back at full speed.

Hone your chrome key editing skills even further by filming and editing on green screens more often. And make it a point to shoot more and more footage — it’s the best way to test how far your editing tools can go.

How to Edit a Green Screen Photos

While different photo editing programs have slightly different ways to edit green screen photos, they’re all similar to how Photoshop does it. The idea is to select the background and erase it.

  • In Photoshop’s Select menu, choose Color Range.
  • Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard to choose all the different shades of your background, in case there are shadows.
  • You can hold down Alt and click on a shade to “add” it back into the part of the image that remains.
  • You can also Undo to deselect, or slide the Fuzziness slider to add or subtract colors adjacent to the ones you’ve selected.
  • In the Select menu, choose Inverse.
  • If you’re happy with your selection, you can now use the Eraser tool to remove the background.
  • Otherwise, in the Select menu, choose Select and Mask to modify the selection.

How to Edit a Green Screen in iMovie on Your iPhone, iPad

Editing out a green screen in iMovie is easy.

  • Add the clip you want in the background.
  • Scroll the playhead (the white line) over the background clip.
  • Press the “+” button and find your green screen clip.
  • Select More (“…”) then “Green/Blue screen.” This will add the clip to the timeline.
  • Select Auto in the viewer, which will remove the green or blue background automatically.
  • Alternately, you can tap the color to remove that specific color instead.

You can now trim or extend the background clip to match the length of your green screen clip.

Want to change the background in your videos? Great idea! Finding the right software to experiment with this might be a challenge. While almost every video editor includes a green screen tool, only a few actually succeed in making the effect look good.

To help you in your search, we’ve picked the best free chroma key software available on the market right now. Enjoy!

Top Picks

ProgramIs it totally free?Supported PlatformsWho’d like itLink
Movavi Video Editor Plus7-day trial + watermarkWindows, macOSamateurs and hobbyists
iMoviefreemacOSbeginners
HitFilm Expressfree + paid add-onsWindows, macOSamateurs and hobbyists
DaVinci ResolvefreeWindows, macOS, Linuxadvanced users
Kapwingfree for videos up to 7 minutes longonline appanyone who’s looking for a fast solution

Movavi Video Editor Plus – recommended

Supported platforms: Windows, macOS

Movavi Video Editor Plus is a semi-professional video editing solution that makes movie creation available to everyone. It offers a comprehensive set of tools and an intuitive interface that makes it easy for anyone to start creating videos. Note that using its free trial you’ll get a watermark on every export.

Using Movavi’s software, you can cut and merge your footage, add dynamic transitions and effects, apply filters, stabilize shaky video, and much more. The Movavi chroma key tool is really fun to use! It lets you change the background of your video in just a few clicks. Hard to believe? Here, check out this article to see for yourself.

Key features:

? advanced video editing

? intuitive interface

? built-in library of effects

Pros:

➕ easy to use

➕ appropriate for both beginners and advanced users

➕ easy-to-apply color grading tools

Best Free Chroma Key Software for Desktops

Lightworks – for advanced users

Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux

Lightworks is a great video editing program that offers you professional tools packaged in a user-friendly interface. This software is appropriate for both professionals and amateurs looking for alternatives to commonly used video editing programs.

This application features many advanced tools, like multi-cam editing, HDR color correction, 4K editing – and, of course, chroma key. The Lightworks chroma-key tool is very easy to apply: just a couple of clicks and the background will change automatically.

Key features:

? basic and advanced video editing tools

Pros:

➕ lightweight, fast software

➕ easy-to-apply chroma key filter

➕ adjustable interface

➕ plugin support

Cons:

➖ non-standard layout: some users may find it difficult to get used to

VSDC Free Video Editor – if you’re looking for a fast solution

Supported platforms: Windows

VSDC is available in two versions – free and paid ($49.99 one-time purchase). Luckily, the chroma key feature is included in the free pack. It’s very easy to apply – even a complete beginner is unlikely to have problems. In addition, the free version features basic video editing tools, like cutting and merging video clips, slow-motion and fast-forward, and an audio editor.

The Pro version of the app offers some more interesting features. For example, it includes a video stabilization tool and audio waveform. While VSDC has some really cool tools that will appeal to hobbyists and amateurs, it’s not a professional video editor.

Key features:

? basic video editing tools

? user-friendly interface

Pros:

➕ all the essentials are available in the free version

➕ update to Pro for a one-time fee

Cons:

➖ heavyweight software that may slow your PC down

➖ available only for Windows users

iMovie – for beginners

Supported platforms: macOS

Another great program that offers easy-to-use chroma-keying for beginners is iMovie. It’s a free video-creation program that comes pre-installed on all Apple computers. There’s a simple, easy-to-use interface, a decent set of basic editing tools, and a nice collection of effects and transitions.

iMovie is intended for beginners and amateurs – even if you’ve never opened a video editor before, you’ll be able to create your first short movie and have fun. That applies to the chroma key feature, too – using iMovie, you can change the background in your video in just four easy steps. To learn more about iMovie, read this article.

Key features:

? basic video editing for beginners

Pros:

➕ user-friendly interface

➕ built-in effects, filters, and transitions

➕ comes pre-installed on Apple computers

Cons:

➖ lacks advanced features

➖ only for Mac users

HitFilm Express – for amateurs

Supported platforms: Windows, macOS

HitFilm is a great professional-grade video editor developed by FXhome. The free version, HitFilm Express, offers a decent set of video editing tools, including a chroma key.

The great thing about this app is that it has support for add-ons and plugins. If it lacks one particular feature that you need, you can install it for $10-$30 instead of buying a full Pro version. This applies to the chroma key, too: there is an advanced background changer that can be installed into this freeware. Find a detailed analysis of HitFilm Express in this article.

Key features:

? basic and advanced video editing

? flexible interface

Pros:

➕ the chroma key tool can be updated

➕ built-in library of effects

➕ built-in tutorials and projects

Cons:

➖ outdated interface

➖ many features are available only as plugins

DaVinci Resolve – for ambitious amateurs

Supported platforms: Windows, Linux, macOS

DaVinci Resolve is freeware from the developer Blackmagic Design. Initially, DaVinci was a program for professional color grading but over time it became a fully-featured video editing app. Hollywood professionals use programs by Blackmagic Design to edit and color grade million-dollar blockbuster movies; Avatar, Prometheus, and X-Men were created using the Pro app, DaVinci Resolve Studio.

Isn’t it great that anyone can freely use the same software that professional filmmakers use in Hollywood? Of course, the free version is limited: it doesn’t have support for 8K, complex effects, 3D tools, or collaboration capabilities. But it does feature exceptional video editing tools and an attractive, intuitive interface. Its chroma key tool is not the easiest to use, but it is very powerful.

To learn more about this software, read our comparison of DaVinci and HitFilm.

Key features:

? advanced video editing

? advanced color grading tools

Pros:

➕ professional-level tools in the free version

➕ intuitive interface

Cons:

➖ may seem too complex for beginners

OBS Studio – for independent hobbyists

Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux

OBS Studio is free open-source software for video editing and screen recording. It’s the perfect choice for gamers and bloggers who stream and/or produce other content with a webcam. OBS features a quick background changer that can even be used during streams.

Key features:

? screen recording and streaming

? AI-based chroma key tool

? preview before going live

Pros:

➕ an extensive set of filters, audio mixing tools, and recording options

➕ plugin support

➕ compatible with most platforms

Cons:

➖ very few actual video-editing tools

➖ complex interface with no guidance

Blender – for 3D animation enthusiasts

Supported platforms: Linux, Mac, Windows

Adobe Green Screen Software

Blender is 3D graphics software that is open source, totally free to download and use. Blender offers a comprehensive selection of tools that enable you to create animated films, motion graphics, visual effects, and even video games! So, if you need software that is more than a regular video editor, something that enables you to create 2D and 3D animations, or if you are looking to create a video game, Blender is a great choice.

However, no software is perfect, and Blender is no exception. While in general, it is a great piece of software, its interface is not so user-friendly. It will take typical users a while to get used to Blender’s comprehensive user interface. However, don’t forget that the software is completely free and works on pretty much any operating system you can think of!

Key features:

? 3D modeling

? chroma key

? particle simulation

? animation

Pros:

➕ completely free and open source

➕ supports GPU rendering

➕ great for animation

Cons:

➖ non-intuitive layer system

➖ not user-friendly

PowerDirector – for experienced users

Supported platforms: Windows

PowerDirector is one of the more advanced video editors on the market. It is a feature-packed app that offers plenty of professional tools. While you may think such an application might be difficult to use and not really appropriate for amateur editors, you’ll be surprised to learn that it actually has a relatively simple interface! So even if you are a beginning video editor, you will probably get the hang of PowerDirector and start creating amazing videos very quickly.

Key features:

? image stabilization

? motion tracking

? full-featured editor

Pros:

➕ plenty of features

➕ fast export times

➕ advanced tools

Cons:

➖ quite technical

➖ only free for 30 days

OpenShot – for amateur filmmakers

Supported platforms: Linux, Mac, Windows

Openshot is a free open-source video editor. Originally written for the Linux operating system, it is now also available for Windows (even older versions like Windows 7), and macOS. OpenShot Video Editor makes it easy to cut elements from your footage to create better transitions. You can also add plenty of transitional effects to nicely merge different scenes. It supports plenty of video file formats, including MOV and MP4. It is also possible to add background music to give your video an additional sense of atmosphere. All in all, it is a very versatile program that you can do a lot with.

Key features:

? unlimited layers

Adobe Green Screen Software For Live Video Production

? 3D animated titles

? audio mixing

? chroma key

Pros:

➕ many built-in effects

➕ support for many video file formats

Cons:

➖ can be buggy at times

➖ outdated interface

VirtualDub – for beginner video creators

Supported platforms: Windows

VirtualDub is another open-source program that comes at zero cost. As freeware, it offers a satisfying set of features for video editing and color correction. Its green screen tool is very easy to use and will be accessible to beginners.

In addition to editing tools, VirtualDub includes a converter and a screen recorder.

Key features:

? basic video editing

? screen recording

? built-in media converter

Pros:

➕ easy to use

➕ powerful noise reduction tool

Cons:

➖ not for professional-grade work

➖ only available for Windows

➖ outdated interface

Adobe After Effects – for ambitious amateurs

Supported platforms: Windows 10 and later, macOS

Adobe After Effects is one of the most powerful post-production solutions on the market. It offers an exceptional set of video editing tools, including plenty for professionals and advanced users.

As always with pro-level software, the chroma key tool is not the easiest to apply in Adobe After Effects. It will take some time to achieve a truly clean look for your footage. On the other hand, this software offers you the most comprehensive set of complementary tools to do so and gives you more creative freedom.

In general, the interface in Adobe products is not the most beginner-friendly. So, if you are going to use After Effects, be prepared to spend some time getting used to it.

Key features:

? professional video editing tools

? VR editing

? customizable effects

Pros:

➕ built-in motion graphics templates

➕ useful user guide on the start screen

Cons:

➖ heavyweight program

➖ complex interface

Adobe Green Screen Software

➖ free for only 7 days

Adobe Green Screen Software For Live Video Production

Best Online Green Screen Editors

Clipchamp – for bloggers and digital marketers

Supported browsers: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge

Clipchamp is a free web-based video editor that enables you to create videos for posting on the internet. Whether it’s a TikTok video, a vlog for YouTube or a Facebook advertisement – you can edit it in this application.

Clipchamp makes video editing easy and fun. It has all the essential features, a built-in library with stock media and templates, and a quick background remover. The latter allows you to apply the green screen effect to your video in 5 simple steps – all online and for free. Sounds perfect!

Does Adobe Photoshop Have Green Screen Software

Key features:

? basic video editing online

? built-in stock media

? built-in effects

? basic color correction tools

Pros:

➕ user-friendly interface

➕ the free version supports unlimited exports

Cons:

➖ the free version supports only 480p (SD) exports

➖ only works with two browsers

Kapwing – if you need a fast solution online

Supported browsers: Google Chrome, Safari, Opera, and others.

Kapwing is a free online video editing app with different individual tools for a range of tasks. For example, if you need to cut and merge video clips, go to the Video Maker; if you want to add subs to your movie, open the Subtitler, and if you need to remove the background from your video, go to Green Screen Editor.

The chroma key tool is very simple: you choose your object, adjust the borders, and apply the effect. It’s that easy! Perfect for those who are looking for green screen software for free.

Key features:

? basic video editing tools

? meme generator

? user-friendly interface

Pros:

➕ simple and fast chroma key feature

➕ no watermarks

Cons:

➖ the free version supports export videos up to 7 minutes long

➖ there’s a 250 MB file upload limit

Moovly – for designers and digital marketers

Supported browsers: Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari

Last but not least, another web-based video editing app on our list is Moovly. It’s a great tool for digital marketers and other creative people who need attractive video content for their social media campaigns. Moovly features all the essential video-editing tools: you can cut and merge clips, add background music, apply a picture-in-picture effect, and, of course, change the background in your footage.

Moovly offers an easy-to-use beginner-friendly interface that will help anyone create colorful videos. Like other online video editors, Moovly can be slow if your internet connection is weak.

Key features:

? basic video editing

Pros:

built-in stock media

➕ huge library of effects, filters, and templates

Cons:

➖ can be slow if your internet connection is weak

➖ requires you to create a profile before trying the editor

➖ the free version supports only limited uploads

How to Choose the Chroma Key App that Will Work Best for You

So, we’ve described the best free green screen software we could find. But how do you know which one will suit you best? Here’s what you should consider.

Consider how much time you are going to spend editing. If you don’t want to spend hours adjusting borders and removing the green glare from your subject, opt for software that is designed for beginners. Sure, the possibilities will be more limited, but they should be enough to satisfy basic needs. Also, even with semi-professional level tools, you can achieve pretty impressive results. Here, see it yourself:

Are you going to use the tool a lot? If yes, then perhaps you should go for something more robust and with more tools. It may be better to work through that learning curve and get a perfect result every time.

Are you willing to pay for the app later? As you may have noticed, some of the programs on our list are not completely free – they only offer a free trial period. Consider that before giving preference to any particular option.

That’s it! We hope this article helps you find the perfect chroma keying software for your needs. Good luck 😉