Best Green Screen Reviews 2018

The material, size and the type of equipment bundled with your green screen are the determining factors of pricing. Even though what we want is the best product available, the truth still remains that we all can't afford it. So until the world becomes that ideal place, we will have to make compromises. Some green screens are usually bundled with lighting equipment. Those cost anywhere around $250 while the standalone green screen is around $50. You can find it less than that depending on some of the factors mentioned earlier.

There are also the cheap green screens that are made with poor materials that won’t evenly absorb light and will rip easily. These are not the types we recommend and that’s why you won’t find them in our review.

Green screens allow you to add great effects to your pictures and videos. It would’ve been splendid if just any green screen will achieve the kind of spectacular outcomes we know they can provide. As much freedom as green screens have given us, there are things that still need to be put in place. The following are the features you need to consider to get you the best results from your background:

• Type
• Size
• Material
• Care

This list is meant to show you the important features that might influence your decision concerning which particular green screen will suit your needs.

There are a few options to choose from when it comes to the material you want for your green screen. The location and size of your model will influence the material of your choice. The following are highlights of the different materials used:

PAPER: If you’re taking pictures of a large object such as a car, a group of people, or maybe even a cow (who knows what type of contract you will get), then you should be considering a seamless paper for your background as it’s usually available in large sizes. Some 12 feet wide backdrops are even available for this material. That should be big enough to fit even two cows! But you need to be sure that what you’re photographing on your seamless paper is clean. If not, you’re in for a major cleanup after the shoot.

VINYL: These screens give your background a matte finish, so you don't have to worry about those reflections that can ruin your shoot and make post-production processing a living hell. Another great advantage of this material is that it’s washable and reusable. Vinyl green screens are also available in large sizes of up to 10 feet wide.

MUSLIN: These types of green screens are reusable too. One major issue you might have with muslin backgrounds is the tendency to wrinkle, and that’s not what you want on your backdrop as they can cast shadows that will be a pain to get rid of later. The reusability is one factor that will save you a lot of money over time. Cotton, nylon, and polyester are usually categorized under this type.

Another option is to simply paint a wall green. This might serve as a good idea as it’s inexpensive. But the texture of your wall plays a great part in how well it works. Backlighting won't be possible with this idea and that might be a setback depending on your needs.

What type of picture you want to take heavily determines the size of background you'll need. A small screen won't work well for a group of Pep lovers or large objects. Knowing the type of pictures you want to take on a green screen background will help you determine the size you will go for.

Chroma key photography has endless possibilities if you get your background right. Editing and processing could be a breeze if there are no issues with the picture and background. The type of background you use goes a long way in ensuring that the photo shoot and post-production processing isn’t stressful. There are portable and stationary types of backgrounds. The portable backgrounds are usually designed to be collapsible so you can easily carry them around. This type is ideal for outdoor photography that requires green screens. Just make sure you mount it on a firm support like a tripod. A wobbly background won’t serve its purpose at all. The collapsible backgrounds usually come with fasteners on all edges, so you can hang them vertically or horizontally depending on what is required.

The stationary backgrounds are the ones mostly used indoors and are usually large, which can accommodate a group of people or large objects. The backdrops are hung on a background support which keeps the green screens in place and taut so wrinkles won't cast unwanted shadows.

With the exception of seamless paper, most green screens are washable. Some are even machine washable. Seamless papers can be cleaned too, but not with conventional methods. The collapsible ones can be spot cleaned should they get stained. Ironing and steaming are good ways to keep wrinkles off your green screens. If after that you still notice some wrinkles, try hanging them tightly spread to keep them wrinkle-free for your shoot.

If you find out your background is lighter than you need for a shoot, you can enhance it by backing it up with foam. This will make it more opaque and give it a matte-like effect letting it adequately absorb light. However, the foam-backing might be less effective if you require backlighting for your shoot.

Talking about lighting, this is one of the most important factors in chroma key photography. It’s important you get the contrast between your model and the background right, especially if you’re shooting indoors; this will make the finished picture appear more realistic. If you don't already have lights, you can consider buying your green screen bundled with lighting equipment. That might save you some money as some of the brands we featured even bundle black and white backgrounds along with the lighting equipment, including your green screen of course. It’s our hope that this information will help you determine which features are essential to your needs, consequently making it easy for you to decide which particular product is ideal for you.