How to Remove Green Screen in After Effects | After Effects Tutorial (For Beginners)

Removing green screen in After Effects can seem daunting if you're new to the software, but with this step-by-step guide, you'll be able to seamlessly keep your subject and replace the green screen with your desired background. Follow the instructions below to master this essential skill.

Step-by-Step Guide

Import Your Video and Background
- Import your green screen footage and the background image or video into After Effects.
- Place the green screen video layer above the background layer in the timeline.
Adjust the Scale and Position
- Select the green screen video layer.
- Adjust its scale and position to fit appropriately over the background layer.
Apply Keylight Effect
- Open the “Effects & Presets” panel and search for “Keylight 1.2”.
- Add the “Keylight 1.2” effect to your green screen video layer.
Select Green Color
- In the “Effect Controls” panel, use the eyedropper tool to select the green color from your green screen background.
- This step will make the green areas transparent.
Fine-Tuning (Optional)
- Adjust the "Screen Gain" slightly to remove any remaining green areas.
- To reduce noise around the edges, increase the “Clip Black” value in the Screen Matte settings to about 5 or 10.
Final Adjustments
- Inspect your footage to ensure the green is completely removed, and your subject appears correctly over the background.
- Make any necessary tweaks to achieve a cleaner key.

Summary

By following these simple steps, you can easily remove the green screen from your video in After Effects. Now your video should have the object isolated without the green screen, and you can place it over any desired background.

Thank you for following along with this tutorial. For more tips and tutorials, follow Nolla Film Academy.

Keyword

Green Screen Removal
After Effects
Keylight 1.2
Video Editing
Background Replacement
Effects & Presets
Effect Controls
Screen Gain
Clip Black
Screen Matte Settings

FAQ

Q: What is Keylight 1.2? A: Keylight 1.2 is a plugin in After Effects used to remove green screens or any chroma key backgrounds by making the selected color transparent.

Q: Why is there still some green around the edges after applying Keylight? A: If there are green edges, you may need to adjust the "Screen Gain" or increase the "Clip Black" value in the Screen Matte settings to clean up the edges.

Q: Can I use colors other than green for the background? A: Yes, you can use any color for the chroma key background. However, green or blue are typically used because they are the furthest from human skin tones, reducing the chance of interference.

Q: What should I do if my subject's clothing or props are the same color as the green screen? A: You may need to reshoot with a different background color or change the color of your subject's clothing and props to ensure they don't blend into the background.

Q: How do I handle green screen footage with shadows? A: Shadows can be tricky; you may need to use the “Screen Balance” and other fine-tuning options in Keylight to manage shadows effectively.

Thank you for following along with this tutorial. For more tips and tutorials, follow Nolla Film Academy.