KEY GREEN SCREEN FACTS IN A NUTSHELL

Chroma keying – separation of the subject and the background. Thanks to modern software, two different image sources can appear as a single image in a video. The example above shows the technique used in plenamedia.tv’s 2020 Christmas card.

Background colour – blue or green are the standard background colours used. Known as blue screen or green screen.

Image replacement – it is very important that the foreground image stands out clearly from the background image. The background image is replaced using modern software. This technique is also used for producing weather forecasts, for example.

Lighting – to achieve these special effects, it is vital that the background is lit without any shadows.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GREEN SCREEN, BLUE SCREEN AND CHROMA KEY?

All three terms describe the same digitally generated process. An object in a product film, for example, or a person being interviewed is “punched out” from a blue or green background – the “chroma keying” process.

In this video, our aim was to produce an atmospheric Christmas film showing a crackling fireplace with snow falling in the background. Although we could theoretically have shot the film in a mountain setting, this would have been costly and time-consuming. It was easier to shoot in front of a green screen using state-of-the-art cameras and lenses.

HOW DOES GREEN SCREEN / BLUE SCREEN TECHNOLOGY WORK?

The film and video-editing program is given the command to remove the colour blue or green from the recording and replace these areas with a new background.

It is important that the object to be replaced is monochromatic (either blue or green) and that the colours blue or green do not appear on the object or person being filmed.

Imagine, for instance, that you want to be interviewed in a dark-blue suit standing in front of a monument by the sea. In this case, the background used for the video recording should be green instead of blue.

This inexpensive technique can be used in the production of videos of any type.

IS IT BETTER TO USE GREEN SCREEN OR BLUE SCREEN TECHNOLOGY WHEN PRODUCING A FILM?

The reason for choosing a blue or green background is simple: these colours contrast most strongly with human skin tones and therefore represent the most suitable background colours. The person in the foreground therefore stands out clearly from the background – provided that the right lighting is in place. By defining the foreground and background, the video editing software makes the background fade away.

Previously, blue was the most common background colour selected. Nowadays, a green screen is favoured as the colour blue generally requires stronger illumination. However, green has one important disadvantage, in that it reflects the light falling on to it more than twice as strongly as a blue screen. If, then, the resulting reflections fall on the subject in the foreground, the software struggles to distinguish the foreground from the background and then blanks out part of the foreground image. It is vital, however, that no foreground colours appear in the background. For this reason, it is important to consider the colour of the subject’s clothing before opting for either green screen or blue screen.

WHY IS THE CORRECT LIGHTING SO IMPORTANT?

For our work, we use chroma key effects in promotional films, product films, commercials, interviews and virtual invitations. Additional realistic effects can also be created using 3D animation techniques. However, these are added on the computer after filming has taken place.

It is best if standard colours are used such as “Chroma Green” or “Chroma Blue”. These colours are standardised and designed to work with the software. Even with sub-optimal lighting, the computer recognises what it has to do.

The background needs to be lit at a constant level of brightness. It is important that any shadows are avoided. LED lamps should be used as light sources.
If the foreground casts shadows on the background or if the background reflects light on the object in the foreground, an unclean image is created. Any resulting colour spots are removed by the software during the chroma keying process. The aim must be to have a uniformly illuminated background when filming. It is therefore important to ensure that sufficient time is taken to set up the lighting.

plenamedia.tv – your professional partner in creatively implementing your ideas, planning and designing high-quality video projects for your company using state-of-the-art cameras of up to 12K resolution and green screen/blue screen technology.

plenamedia.tv: North Rhine-Westphalia, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Bonn, Leverkusen, Mönchengladbach, Aachen, Münster, Bochum, Siegen, Wuppertal, Duisburg, Mönchengladbach, Oberhausen, Gummersbach, Paderborn, Troisdorf, Gelsenkirchen, Recklinghausen, Remscheid, Bielefeld, Germany and Europe.

INTRODUCTION

Thanks to our extensive experience in this field and our use of the appropriate equipment, we offer both 4K livestreaming and full HD services at cinema and TV quality levels. We provide you with a total solution for your event. You simply specify the time and place, with no significant increase in staffing costs for you. We set up our equipment in the location you specify. In principle, any type of event can be broadcast live (such as an interview, training session, conference or meeting). This service is especially suitable for any in-person events you have had to cancel because of the current situation. These can then take place on your company premises (saving money on the costs of location hire).

LIVESTREAMING – AUDIENCE AND OBJECTIVE

Your livestream can be either for the public or exclusively for invited visitors given secure access. The event is broadcast on a channel specified by you. We use state-of-the-art microphones and cameras with resolution levels of up to 12K to stream your event online via high-performance interfaces. You can use the recorded material for subsequently producing a DVD, creating a podcast or event teaser, or for post-production purposes. It can also be used for advertising, marketing, internal corporate communications and as a reminder of particular company events. In addition, of course, the recorded video material can also be used externally at trade fairs, conferences, congresses and so on.

You can also make a live recording available to an audience of your choice later on.

IS LIVESTREAMING IMPORTANT?

Livestreaming is important in the digital world as you can quickly establish an emotional link with your viewers (your customers and prospective customers). You can give customers insight into the “back-stage” aspects of your company’s activities, showing them the areas of your choice.

HOW EXPENSIVE IS IT TO PRODUCE A LIVESTREAM?

Our fixed-price services include the cost of the technology used (lighting, sound technology, number of fixed and mobile cameras) and the cost of the production team (number of camera operators, lighting and sound technicians, time spent on set-up and dismantling, post-production, etc.). You are free to specify the technical equipment and staffing used to produce your livestream – at a fixed price, of course.

Feel free to give us a call or send us an email. Once we have your detailed information, we can provide you with a comprehensive quotation at a fixed price for the level of service discussed. plenamedia.tv: North Rhine-Westphalia, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Bonn, Leverkusen, Mönchengladbach, Aachen, Münster, Bochum, Siegen, Germany and Europe.

INTRODUCTION

A commercial should have a running time of between six and 90 seconds. The aim of a commercial is to give viewers a clear message that influences their buying behaviour after they have seen the film, making them more likely to buy the product or service afterwards. A wide range of stylistic devices can be used in a commercial – the key lies in ensuring that the promotional message can be understood by everyone. The intention is that the message activates, in every viewer, the same parts of the brain responsible for unconscious thought. In other words, the message should be formulated in such a clear yet emotional and targeted way that, in as many viewers as possible, it stimulates the parts of the brain that are not subject to arbitrary influences but that have a positive effect on purchasing behaviour.

The following short example shows just how easy it is to manipulate the brain.

The “Gummy Bear” brain study demonstrated that the quantity of gummy bears eaten in a randomised global study remained the same regardless of the size of the sweets involved. As the gummy bears increased in size, the number of sweets eaten did not decrease, statistically speaking. As a consequence, confectionery manufacturers started making chocolate bars that were smaller but thicker! This meant that, for the same number of chocolate bars, a larger quantity of chocolate was being eaten. A commercial strives to achieve the same effect, in that it can be used in any instance where the goal is to increase sales, enhance the brand image or simply transmit a general message.

REASONS FOR PRODUCING A COMMERCIAL

The viewers should be convinced that they should buy a product and that their decision is the right one. Objective: an increase in sales. Commercials are designed to increase viewers’ awareness of the brand, maintain their attention, and boost awareness of the corporate brand or product brand in the market.

WHAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER AHEAD OF PRODUCTION

Commercials are always short films – with a typical length of six to 60 seconds. It is worth asking yourself the following questions before deciding how the commercial should be produced: what message do I want to convey with the commercial? How can I present the company/product positively to the viewer? How can I arouse the viewer’s interest and thereby enhance the image of the brand? What is the core message? What are the characteristics of my target audience? On which media would I like to run the commercial? What is my budget?

I can use the commercial in targeted ad campaigns, on TV or in cinemas, on websites, on YouTube, Instagram or Facebook, at in-house events, at conferences and on the exhibition stand.

COST OF A COMMERCIAL

An important cost element is made up of the expenditure incurred in preliminary planning, production (filming days, shooting locations, actors, make-up artist, film locations, drone shots, additional 3D animations, etc.) and utilisation costs (i.e. media costs). Media costs will depend on the channel used and the transmission time. They range from four-digit figures for running an ad on regional channels to figures well in excess of 50,000 euros for primetime slots on commercial channels.

Commercials can be used in an almost limitless variety of ways. A professionally produced TV ad can increase awareness of the product, brand or company and make it stand out distinctively from the competition. With a professionally filmed commercial, you can boost the recognition enjoyed by your company or your brand and, by evoking positive emotions, increase viewers’ loyalty to your corporate or product brand as part of an image enhancement campaign.

INTRODUCTION

What are the key elements involved in producing a successful promotional film or video? The film should transmit the brand identity defined within your business (the company brand or product brand) through visual language with the aim of strengthening your brand image with your specified target audience or raising awareness of the brand.

DEFINITIONS

BRAND

A brand arises from a process of anchoring the company, its products and its services in people’s minds on a long-term basis by means of positive experiences and associations. A brand can be meaningful for the company as a corporate brand or for the product as a product brand.

Once a brand has been established, the aim should be to develop the brand in a consistent way. Marketing plays a decisive role in strengthening or establishing brand awareness. As this is a process that takes place predominantly in the person’s mind (or psyche), media that are good at stimulating both an auditory and visual response, such as the moving images found in films and videos, are particularly effective here. In the viewer’s mind, the aim should be to evoke positive associations with the brand, such as reliability, trustworthiness and brand consistency.

BRAND IDENTITY

A brand identity expresses what a brand stands for. It includes the essential and significant characteristics of a brand. Unlike brand image in the sense of an external image in the minds of the audiences being addressed, a brand identity represents the image of the brand from the company’s point of view.

Having a clear definition of your brand identity is a prerequisite for creating a brand image. In addition, it is important to clearly define whether the focus is on a corporate brand or a product brand, as the audiences being addressed will be different. With a product brand, the primary focus consists of the customers as well as employees and intermediaries.

The brand identity represents the way in which the owner of the brand wants its brand – its company or product – to be perceived.

BRAND IMAGE

The brand image incorporates all associations formed in the human mind with the characteristics assigned to the brand by the mind. The brand image refers to the external perception – the image that customers and viewers have of a brand. A positive brand image will result from a continuous process of boosting the awareness and attractiveness of the brand.

Seen in this way, the harmonisation of the defined brand identity (company, brand) and the brand image perceived from the outside (in terms of reliability, trustworthiness and consistency) is of decisive importance if a brand is to enjoy strong awareness levels.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR YOUR PROMOTIONAL FILM?

The promotional film has the aim of transmitting your corporate identity and/or brand identity in visual terms in such a way that the images involved work to positively reinforce the customer’s or viewer’s associations with the brand.

For this to happen, the company will need to explicitly work out this information and share it with us at plenamedia.tv at the start of the discussions for the drawing up of a storyboard. Only when we are familiar with your brand identity can we produce a promotional film for you that enhances the image of your brand and boosts its related positive associations in the sense of increasing the brand awareness and attractiveness.

INTRODUCTION

plenamedia.tv’s director has many years of experience from working at Arte TV in Strasbourg and at WDR in Cologne, as media director for a global corporation, and as a freelancer for ten years. She currently works with more than 1,500 companies, producing promotional films for medical practices, physiotherapists, tax consultants, investment bankers, lawyers, roofing companies, garden design companies and alternative energy producers; promotional films for charities, circuses and childcare facilities; and promotional films for SMEs, large companies and trade fair organisers.

PRELIMINARY PLANNING FOR YOUR PROMO FILM

Before planning the key stage of your promotional film, writing the script or storyboard, and starting to shoot your promotional film, you should think about some basic issues in relation to your promotional film. You should consider carefully which of your aims are actually feasible and what budget you have available. A detailed internal briefing will simplify the writing of your script/storyboard and save on unnecessary costs.

plenamedia.tv will advise you from the very start of the process. plenamedia.tv will draw up your script/storyboard based on your specifications and in consultation with you.

A FACTUAL, REALISTIC PROMOTIONAL FILM

If you would like to have a more product-oriented promotional film, the film should be produced within your company. Interviews should involve you and your employees. You won’t need any foreign-language speakers or a translation into other languages.

Filming will take one day; you can arrange the production so that there are no obstacles to the filming process, the areas being filmed are well lit, all employees being interviewed are present on the day concerned and there is no need for aerial drone recordings or slide cameras. Your promotional film can also be organised cost-effectively using only two camera operators, with no studio hire, no additional lighting, no on-site sound technicians, no fees for actors or foreign-language speakers, no accommodation costs, catering, and so on.

PROMOTIONAL FILMS IN THE STYLE OF A COMMERCIAL

Perhaps you would like to have a promotional film produced that is more similar in style to a commercial. Above, we have listed a number of factors that can influence the price of your promotional film.

COST OF A PROMOTIONAL FILM

The sad fact is that needlessly expensive prices are quoted for many promotional film productions.

plenamedia.tv can produce your promotional film in a cost-effective way with no loss of quality. After an initial discussion with you to establish all of the details, we calculate a fixed-price quotation for your promotional film production, based on the script/storyboard we have drawn up and decided in consultation with you. Any subsequent additional costs or special services not discussed before the start of filming and set down in the script will need to be billed separately. However, we will inform you in writing before providing our services and only carry out filming after gaining your written consent.

A promotional film is like a tailored suit. When you have been measured for your suit, specified the type of suit you want and the fabric and quality of cloth, then the work involved and the price for making your suit can be calculated.

POST-PRODUCTION

The promotional film should be produced in 4K quality so that it can be reused in the future either in its entirety or in part. The image stabilisation and zoom levels, editing, type of dubbing required, integration of animations, effects and the length of the post-production process will determine the costs for your promotional film. plenamedia.tv uses royalty-free music. This means you incur no charges for the music used.

Simply give us a quick call at plenamedia.tv if you would like to start planning your promotional film. We’ll be by your side from the concept stage through to the completion of your film.

TERMINOLOGY

WHAT IS HDTV?

HDTV stands for High Definition television – high-resolution TV. HDTV has greater levels of vertical, horizontal or temporal resolution compared to the Standard Definition television (SDTV).

WHAT IS FULL HD?

Full HD is the version of HDTV with the highest resolution levels. The term HDTV also includes the category of “HD ready”. HD ready supports a minimum resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels; HD 1080p or Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels – resulting in a sharper image. However, the sharpness of the picture on the receiving device will also depend on the diagonal measurement of its screen and its distance from the viewer.

WHAT IS 4K?

The term 4K refers to the resolution involved, which is about 4,000 pixels in width. Most of the time, a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels is used. This resolution is also known as Ultra High Definition (UHD). The term 4K originally comes from the field of cinema, where a resolution of 4,096 x 2,160 pixels is used. At 4K, resolution levels are four times higher than HD ready and two times higher than Full HD 2, making the 4K image appear even sharper.

WHAT IS 4K?

This stands for even higher resolutions and even sharper images. Particularly in promotional, trade fair and product films and especially in 3D animations and 3D visualisations, fine details will still appear blurry at 720p (SDTV) and 1080p (HD) resolutions. However, 8K will give a clean image at a 1:1 scale on a video wall, corresponding to physical viewing with the human eye.

DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO RENDER IN 4K VIDEOS THAT HAVE BEEN PRODUCED IN 12K?

The resolution level is extremely important for displaying the fine details that are unique to our clients’ designs. Many fine details are then clearly recognisable that would not be visible at all at lower resolutions. The problem is that video files of 4K-UHD, 8K and 12K films are larger by a factor of 8, 16 and 24 respectively as compared to full HD films. Because of the size of the files and the resolution involved, it makes sense to render them in 4K or Full HD.

REASONS FOR PRODUCING A VIDEO IN 4K, 8K OR 12K

Again and again, we are asked by our customers why we produce the videos in 4K and not full HD, even though the device can only reproduce full HD quality levels. And the next question: why produce a film using a 12K video camera when it is then rendered down to 4K format?

REASONS FOR PRODUCING A VIDEO, PROMOTIONAL FILM, TRADE FAIR FILM, EVENT FILM OR LIVESTREAM IN 4K

  • High-quality images, greater sharpness, optimum quality for video production
  • Trade fair films, event films and promotional films in 4K quality are ideally suited for reproduction on large screens
  • In 4K format, the higher frame rate results in fluid images for events featuring rapid movement during both live broadcasts and in video productions
  • Videos produced in 4K always contain stills (static images). Thanks to the high film quality and therefore image quality involved, such images can be used at any time for promotional purposes, for printing or on a website
  • 4K quality is also more suitable for archiving purposes, as is 8K
  • Archiving in 4K or 8K represents an investment in the future for your raw video material. Nowadays, 8K and 12K video walls (even if not yet standard) are already in use at events. This means that it will still be possible to use the raw material to produce films that meet current playback standards
  • Production in 4K allows for options in post-production that would otherwise require the use of two cameras
  • Stabilisation of images is accompanied by a decline in quality (loss of resolution). For films produced in 4K, there is so much redundant resolution that images can be stabilised without significant loss.

REASONS FOR PRODUCING A PROMOTIONAL FILM, EVENT FILM, COMMERCIAL OR EVENT FILM USING A 12K CAMERA

  • The human eye is more sensitive to changes in brightness than it is to changes in colour. The process of “downsampling” from 12K to 4K maintains brightness to the detriment of the colours red and blue. In other words, the data compression that takes place does not lead to any noticeable loss of quality in the video
  • Production in 12K represents an investment in the future
  • Downsampling allows for viewing at the current standard quality levels with almost no impact on the high quality of the images
  • Significantly lower image noise
  • Ideal for films made in low-light conditions
  • The quality of the images is a closer match to how an object is perceived by the human eye
  • Small details are reproduced much more sharply – something especially important for product films, trade fair films and green screen turntable recordings
  • Easier post-production
  • Better still images for printing, advertising and websites

WHICH CAMERA MODELS DOES THE PLENAMEDIA.TV FILM TEAM WORK WITH?

Our team produces trade fair films, event films, promotional films and livestreams using the Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro 4.6G2 camera. Lenses are critical to the quality of the video: for your high-quality films, we utilise Sigma Zoom lenses with outstanding T2 light intensity throughout the whole focal length range. The SIGMA high-speed zoom line includes an 18-35mm T2 lens and a 50-100mm T2 lens. The product line is optimised for high-resolution cinematography and is specially designed for 6K-8K recordings. Sigma fixed focal length lenses: these ten fixed focal length lenses cover the range from 14mm to 135mm, each offering a light intensity of between T1.5 and T2. Thanks to their exceptional image quality, they can easily film at fixed focal lengths. In addition, they are compatible with full format and are amazingly compact. With this complete set of ten lenses designed for 6K–8K filming, the FF High Speed Prime line means that no change of lighting is required for different cuts, bringing cinematographic performance to a whole new level.

ZEISS Cinema Zoom lenses are precision engineered within the tightest possible tolerances. This guarantees you excellent image quality with low distortion, high resolution and excellent colour rendition for crisp, striking pictures. High resolution and contrast; ready for 8K and beyond up to 12K. We produce commercials, promotional films, recruitment films and livestreams using the Blackmagic 12K camera and the above-mentioned lenses.

plenamedia.tv and its filming team can produce videos for all occasions, which you can also use again and again for the newest and most topical purposes.

WHICH IS BETTER? VIDEO FILMED ON 4K MOBILE DEVICES OR USING THE BLACKMAGIC 12K CAMERA? AND HOW DO THEY COMPARE WITH A 4K STANDARD VIDEO CAMERA?

Mobile phone videos are, at best, acceptable on the smartphone display and for use in still pictures the size of a postcard. The small image sensors used are hardly suitable for showcasing the subject being filmed, because of their low depth expansion. There is no option to change lenses or obtain detailed images with natural brightness profiles even in low light, and the colours are less faithful. Neither are there any high-quality cine lenses available for smartphone cameras.

With its 80 MP resolution per frame, the Blackmagic 12K, in contrast, can be used in scenarios ranging from film production for large-format projections to studio applications, special effects work, and scenic productions. We currently know of no other cine camera with this resolution potential.

With the Blackmagic camera, the 12K braw files can be accessed on a laptop on a 4K timeline. This is made possible by Blackmagic’s highly effective implementation of the RAW format. In addition, the colour science used is well balanced, enabling seamless matching with footage recorded on the 4.6K Ursa Mini Pro.

While 4K videos can be produced at low cost using smartphone cameras, this results in major shortfalls in quality. The mere fact that lenses can be changed on standard camcorders, combined with their larger sensors and higher luminance levels, make them a superior option. What’s more, they can be bought for a moderate price. But clearly superior – and an investment in the future – are videos shot in 4K to 8K quality using high-resolution, light-intensive cine lenses. These come at a much higher purchase price, of course. These are the reasons why we produce high-quality films using the Blackmagic 12K.

MY EDUCATION AND TRAINING

After studying languages (Germanic and Romance studies) and gaining a degree from the Sorbonne in Paris and San Francisco, I was trained as a journalist at WDR in Cologne. I then worked for several years in radio and TV at ARTE in Strasbourg and at WDR in Cologne as writer and director. As well as editing feature film scripts for a TV station near Munich, I worked as media director for an international aluminium group with a focus on film and video production.

THE FOUNDING OF PLENAMEDIA.TV

In 2012, I set up my own company: plenamedia.tv. Since then, I have worked as director and producer covering the entire production process for more than 1,500 companies around Europe, focusing on promotional films, trade fair films, product and machinery films, commercials, explanatory films and recruitment films.

I gained many years of experience with regard to interviews thanks to my work as a journalist in radio and television, producing news broadcasts and features on current topics. The fact that I spent two years editing scripts for made-for-TV films for a Munich TV station is also of benefit to my current clients. Through this experience, I learned how to write a script, build tension throughout a story, but also to look through the lens for the essentials and emotions of the story – skills I have practised over many years. I was therefore amply prepared for the tasks involved in running my own film and video production company thanks to the opportunities I’ve enjoyed working in such varied media-related areas.

THE PLENAMEDIA.TV TEAM

This background also gives me ongoing access to a pool of experienced camera operators – each of whom are ambitious while offering completely different areas of specialisation. Again, this benefits plenamedia.tv’s clients, as I can bring together a film crew in line with the client’s specific requirements and script, customised to the needs of the storyboard.

FILM PRODUCTION AT PLENAMEDIA.TV

For our customers, I act as the direct contact and plan the film production in cooperation with you – often following an on-site meeting – before creating the storyboard for the film based on the information given by you and your employees. As a director, I am present throughout the shoot. Together with the editor, I start by viewing the raw footage before moving on to produce the preview and the finished film.

Throughout my many long years of experience, I have often been asked questions as a journalist, editor, author and director. Many of these come up again and again. Together with my team, we have developed thematic guidelines that should help you in planning and preparing your video and film production, as well as giving you a general understanding of the organic and technical processes involved.
Feel free to call or email me with any questions you might have.