Best Lights To Illuminate Green Screen (not object lights- example pic)

[Craig Alan]

Thanks Todd,

I have students asking about equipment on the cheap all the time.

What did you use to cut off the top of the bolt and drill the hole in the fixture to accomadate it?

Did you file the end of the bolt so it would’t have a sharp edge?

I assume the strip aluminum was needed to support the cheap metal of the shop light?

I was concerned about buzz because my shop lights in the garage buzz light crazy even though I asked for quiet ballast at the time. But that was many years ago and they are still working.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Camcorders: Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV30/40, Sony Z7U, VX2000, PD170; FCP 6 certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Todd Terry]

[Craig Alan] “What did you use to cut off the top of the bolt and drill the hole in the fixture to accomadate it? “

Bolt head was cut off with a metal-cutting blade in a reciprocating saw. The hole was drilled with… (spoiler alert)… a drill bit.

[Craig Alan] “Did you file the end of the bolt so it would’t have a sharp edge?”

Yes I spun the bolt while touching the cut edge to the wheel of a bench grinder to clean up the cut and put a small 45° bevel on it.

[Craig Alan] “I assume the strip aluminum was needed to support the cheap metal of the shop light? “

Exactly.

[Craig Alan] “I was concerned about buzz “

Me too, but turns out mine are perfectly silent, and as I said no flicker. Maybe I got lucky. It’s a gamble, but at least a very low-dollar one.

T2

__________________________________
Todd Terry
Creative Director
Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.
fantasticplastic.com

[Erik Rosenbluh]

Hey Todd, can you make ME a couple of those lights? 🙂

[Todd Terry]

Haaa…. sure.

Their components are so cheap it would probably literally cost more to ship them to you than for you to buy the parts.

T2

__________________________________
Todd Terry
Creative Director
Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.
fantasticplastic.com

[Erik Rosenbluh]

Unfortunately I don’t have a workshop in my apartment.

[Jeff Zinn]

Thanks guys. I’ve been scratching my head over green screen lighting. Started off with soft lights from a kit but they produce hot spots. The Kinos are WAY too expensive. Suspected I could get away with standard issue shop lights but wondered if I should try to match a specific color temp. This info is super helpful. BTW, Greenscreener app for iPhone/Pad is awesome. Gives you a clear read on what your GS lighting is actually doing.

[Isaac Freeman]

Hi Kyle! I am just getting into green screen. I came across your post about lighting the green screen. I clicked on the link you provided to view your results. How did u light your subject; with whats lights/setup? I would like to achieve those results too. Secondly did you try the diy way with the Flo lights?