The best green screen backgrounds used to be the preserve of the movie and TV industry. However, as the technology has become more commonplace, it is no longer exclusive to Hollywood special effects houses.
Indeed, the best green screen backgrounds have become a popular tool not just among photographers and videographers, but especially among streamers and content creators, and increasingly among people who work from home but want to attend video meetings with a professional-looking backdrop.
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The proper name for "green screen" (or "blue screen") background replacement is the chroma key process. It enables you to replace every instance of a certain hue with a completely new image or video (hence why green and blue are the standard colors, as they do not get confused with skintones).
So whether you're streaming, vlogging or shooting stills, it doesn't matter if your background is untidy or unappealing - you can just pop a green screen up and add any background you desire.
When it comes to use in photography, the best green screens are a powerful tool – especially if you create composites. You could take a portrait in a boring office space or a blank wall and make it look like it was taken in the Australian outback or on the moon in just a few simple clicks.
And for streaming or making video calls, once you've chosen the best webcam or best camera for streaming and you've invested in the best microphone, it's a good idea to add a green screen to your list of kit. They come in all shapes and sizes, from collapsible backgrounds that require a frame, to pop-up portables that fold down like reflectors. There are even some that hook onto the back of your office chair, which are great for zoom calls or streaming games. With all that in mind, we've put together a list of our top recommendations.
Best green screen backgrounds
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If portability is ket, this green screen background from Neweer is collapsible so can be taken anywhere with you. It folds down into a small carry case and pops out in a second. It doesn't have a stand but it does come with mounting loops on both edges so it can be attached to a background support kit or hung from a wall. One of the biggest advantages is that it comes with a blue screen on the reverse side which can be useful if your subject is already wearing green. It;s big enough to comfortably fit two people in front of so ideal if you're recording an interview or of two people are co-presenting.
This green screen is ideal for anyone who now works from home and is frequently on conference calls or someone who games a lot. It attaches to the back of your office chair and is big enough to fill the area your webcam can fit in shot. Perhaps you want to transport yourself to a different world or just want your background to look more professional, the Big Shot ensures everything around your head and torse can be easily changed. You'll just have to make sure you don't swivel too enthusiastically as it only works when you're facing the camera.
If you already own a backdrop stand then this is the best green screen option for you – and the cheapest! An affordable but effective option, this muslin backdrop is huge at 6 x 9 feet, making it suitable for full-length filming, presenting and photography. The material is non-reflective, too, meaning that it plays nicely when using flash or other supplemental lighting. In addition, the set comes with four background clips to keep the material nice and taught – so you don't have to worry about wrinkles or draping.
If you're starting from scratch and don't already own lights or stands, this Chroma Key Kit by Emart will provide you a ready-to-go solution. The kit includes a muslin green screen that measures 2.6 x 3m, a backdrop stand with heavy-duty clips and lights with 7-ft light stands and white, shoot-through umbrellas. It also comes with a handy carry case so you can keep everything together and transport it easily.
If you shoot or film regularly, but don't want to leave your green screen up permanently, then this will be an absolute godsend. This collapsible screen pops up super-fast, and packs down just as quickly, which takes a huge amount of fuss out of the process of setting up your green screen each time. As is the case with many backdrops it's taller than it is wide, but because it is free-standing you can easily put two side by side to create a wider area – something that isn't easy to achieve with other large screens that require bulky stands!
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