If you’ve ever wondered how to edit green screen videos, remove backgrounds, add stunning visuals, you’re in the right place.
I’ll provide you with the knowledge and tools needed to master the art of green screen editing to unlock your creativity and easily produce high-quality videos.
In this article, you will learn all about the art of editing green screen videos.
Step-by-Step Guide To Edit Green Screen Video
Here are the step you should follow:
Choose the right software
Start by selecting a free video editing software that supports green screen removal and compositing. Popular options include HitFilm Express, Ultimatte 12, and OpenShot.
Set up your green screen
Find a well-lit area and set up your green screen backdrop. Ensure that the screen is smooth, evenly lit, and free from wrinkles or shadows. This will help achieve better results during the editing process.
Record your footage
Use a camera or smartphone to capture your video in front of the green screen. Make sure the subject is well-lit and positioned appropriately within the frame.
Import footage and background
Launch your chosen video editing software and import both your green screen footage and the desired background. The background can be a static image or another video clip.
Add the green screen video to the timeline
Drag and drop your green screen video onto the timeline or editing workspace of the software. This is where you’ll perform the necessary editing and compositing.
Apply green screen removal
Locate your software’s chroma key or green screen removal feature. It is usually found in the effects or video filters section. Apply the green screen removal effect to your footage.
Adjust settings
Tweak the settings of the green screen removal effect, such as tolerance and spill suppression, to refine the removal process. Experiment with these settings until you achieve a clean separation of your subject from the green background.
Fine-tune the composite
Make any additional adjustments needed to ensure the subject blends seamlessly with the background. This may involve adjusting the green screen footage’s position, scale, or opacity.
Enhance your video
Take advantage of the software’s editing capabilities to enhance your video further. Add transitions, overlays, text, or other effects to make your video visually appealing.
FREE Softwares
Some of the best software to edit your Green Screen videos available free of cost are mentioned below:
OpenShot
Link: Download OpenShot
OpenShot is a robust green screen editing software that empowers you with its impressive features. It allows you to create unlimited layers, add multiple elements to your composition, and preview video transitions in real-time. Exporting your green screen projects is a breeze, with support for various formats such as WebM, AVCHD, HEVC, MP3, and AAC, including options to export in MP4 and AAC formats.
OpenShot goes beyond the basics, offering clip resizing, scaling, trimming, snapping, rotation, and cutting. You can easily share your edited videos on popular social platforms like Facebook and Twitter. With cross-platform compatibility for Windows, Mac, and Linux, OpenShot ensures a seamless editing experience.
Experience advanced features like AI motion tracking, color adjustments, blending modes, audio effects, 3D animation, 4K support, chroma-keying, and time effects to unlock your creativity and produce stunning green screen videos. OpenShot provides customer support via email and phone, while also offering a free trial version for you to explore. Regardless of your skill level, the software’s user-friendly interface and powerful features make it an excellent choice for green screen editing.
Blender
Link: Download Blender
Blender, a versatile Chroma key software, offers animation support with onion skinning and allows users to personalize window layouts and shortcuts. With over 32 slots available for adding videos, it provides ample flexibility for editing. The software offers a live preview of the edited video and provides templates for Operator Menus, Panels, Directory Layout, Properties, and Nodes.
When it comes to exporting green screens, Blender supports JPEG, PNG, TIFF, AVI, MPEG, and SVG formats. Export options include ABC, USD, OBJ, FBX, PLY, and STL. Editing functions such as video cuts, splicing, video masking, and color grading are easily accessible. Blender seamlessly integrates with popular social platforms like YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
OBS Studio
Link: Download OBS
This free green screen editor features intuitive audio and allows you to preview scenes before going live. The OBS offers customizable UI rearrangement and real-time video capture. This software provides templates for Layout, project, Clone, and Podcast, and supports formats like MP4, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and AAC for green screens. The editing functions include Split and Merge, while integration with popular social platforms like Facebook and Twitter simplifies sharing. With filters such as Compressor, Expander, Gain, Invert Polarity, Limiter, Noise Gate, and Noise Suppression, you can enhance your audio.
This green screen software offers a wide range of features, including Audio Capture, Collaboration Tools, File Management, Multi-Screen Recording, On-Demand Recording, Screen Capture, Screen Recording, and Video Capture. It also provides AI Motion Tracking, 3D Design, Color Adjustments, 360/VR Videos, Blending Modes, Audio effects, 3D animation, 4K support, and Chroma Key capabilities. The software is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms.
Ultimatte 12
Link: Download Ultimatte 12
The Ultimatte 12 is a green screen app for Windows that excels in reproducing vibrant colors in photos. With a dual timeline feature, editing clips becomes a breeze. You can effortlessly share your projects with online platforms like YouTube and Vimeo. DaVinci Resolve enables you to create timelines with different frame rates while providing seamless integration with Zendesk, Freshworks, LiveChat, Dixa, and Salesforce.
The app offers animation templates and supports formats such as TGA, TIFF, BMP, PNG, and JPG for green screens. You can export your green screen projects in MP4 format. It offers editing functions like Roll, Ripple, Slip, Slide, and Replace. Supporting social platforms like YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, it ensures easy sharing. With features like incredible edge handling & color separation, amazing color fidelity, and superior spill suppression, the app guarantees impressive results.
DaVinci Resolve also provides AI Motion Tracking, Color Adjustments, Blending Modes, Audio effects, 3D animation, 4K support, and Chroma Key capabilities. Customer support is available via Contact Form and Phone. The app is compatible with both Mac and Windows platforms.
HitFilm Express
Link: Download HitFilm Express
Combining 2D and 3D videos is effortless with HitFilm Express. The software offers over 410 effects, providing ample creative possibilities. It provides unlimited tracks to arrange video clips and includes a track panel for easy 2D tracking control within HitFilm.
HitFilm Express supports formats such as AVI, MOV, MP4, AAC, MPEG-1, MXF, HDV, and WMV for green screens. You can export your green screen projects in PNG, JPG, BMP, and OpenEXR formats. Seamless integration with VEGAS Pro, Modo, Nuke, and Boris FX Optics enhances your editing workflow. The software offers essential editing functions like Cut, Slice, Trim, Split, Crop, and Flip.
With support from popular social platforms like YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, sharing your edited videos becomes hassle-free. HitFilm Express provides advanced audio tools, the ability to add and customize text, color correction and grading options, professional composite shots, and high-quality visual effects. It also offers AI Motion Tracking, 3D Design, Color Adjustments, 360/VR Videos, Blending Modes, Audio effects, and 4K support.
Kapwing
Link: Download Kapwing
You can easily access the video from any browser without any watermarks. The Kapwing software enables effortless video trimming and allows you to select your desired colors. It provides templates for various categories such as Ads & Sales, Green screens, Holidays, Memes, Memorials, Popular, and YouTube.
The software supports formats like AVI, MOV, FLV, 3GP, and MP4 for green screens, and you can export your green screen projects in MP4, PNG, JPG, MP3, and GIF formats. It offers essential editing functions like Cut, Split, Replace, Lock, and Duplicate. Seamless integration with popular social platforms like YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok simplifies sharing. The software includes filters such as Resizer, Background Remover, Trimmer, and Waveforms.
Additional features include auto-subtitling, real-time collaboration, custom fonts, no watermarks, and support for HD resolution. It also provides AI Motion Tracking, Color Adjustments, Audio effects, and Chroma Key capabilities. Customer support is available via email, and the software is supported on both Mac and Windows platforms.
Filmora
Link: Download Filmora
The Filmora software supports a wide range of formats, including WMV, MP4, AVI, MOV, F4V, MKV, TS, 3GP, WEBM, GIF, and MP3 for green screens. Exporting your green screen projects is seamless with options like MP4, WMV, AVI, MOV, F4V, MKV, GIF, and MP3. It integrates smoothly with Vimeo, facilitating convenient sharing. Essential editing functions like Rotate, Trim, Split, and Merge are readily available.
It offers a variety of filters such as Shake, Faux Film, Split Screen, Sepia Tone, Background Blur, and Distortion to enhance your videos. Advanced features include Keyframing, Speed Ramping, Screen Recorder, Instant Mode, Auto Beat Sync, Title Editing, AI Smart Cutout, Audio Ducking, and Silence Detection.
The software includes AI Motion Tracking, Color Adjustments, 360/VR Videos, Blending Modes, Audio effects, 4K support, and Chroma Key capabilities. Customer support is available through chat and contact forms. It is compatible with iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows platforms. A lifetime free basic plan is available for a trial period.
Last Word Of Advise
Even and consistent lighting on the green screen is crucial for a clean key (the process of removing the green background).
However, a lesser-known aspect is to match the lighting on your green screen with the lighting of the background you intend to use.
This means considering the direction, intensity, and color of the light.
If the lighting on your subject matches the lighting in your background footage or image, it creates a more realistic and seamless blend, making the compositing process much more convincing.
Thanks for reading!
I hope this guide helped you learn how to edit green screen videos using free software 🙂
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