Green screen backgrounds are used on movie sets to remove the background and add special computer-generated imagery (CGI) effects. The idea is simple. Shoot on a single color backdrop (blue or green is often used) and make that color transparent—replacing it with other video clips, graphics or a still image. This is great for video, but it can be nightmare for photographers. The main reason: some color will “spill” onto the subject, especially around the edges. This can create a thin line around the person, or make areas like their hairline look odd. You may not notice it on an action scene, but it can be obvious on a still image. To fix this problem, shoot on a white background, then use Photoshop’s powerful masking and layer blend modes to add a textured background. It sounds complicated, but here’s how to make it easy.
