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Activity Forums Lighting Design green lamps for chroma key lighting

  • green lamps for chroma key lighting

    Posted by Bob Cole on April 17, 2013 at 1:45 am

    I am curious as to why Kino Flo sells green tubes for lighting chroma key screens. Good idea, bad, or neutral?

    I have never used them, but I would think they are a bad idea and wonder what they are good for. They seem unnecessary at best.

    What am I missing?

    Bob C

    Bill Davis replied 13 years, 1 month ago 2 Members · 1 Reply
  • 1 Reply
  • Bill Davis

    April 17, 2013 at 3:03 am

    You aren’t missing anything, Bob.

    They’re a particular tool to solve particular probems.

    With green screen lit traditionally, there might be issues on the keying surface or an inability to generate an even enough light taking field. If so, using green tubes can sometimes solve the issues since you’re generating specific color photons that can “wrap” around imperfections.

    OTOH, if you have limited keying area or nasty geometry – then active green light can be a nightmare, spilling onto the set and causing all sorts of stuff to key poorly.

    I’ve used them successfully, but mostly when there’s a lot of control available and I’m doing greenscreen with ample subject-to-back-wall distance.

    Just an alternate tool.

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