Chroma key in Wirecast removes a selected color, such as a green screen, so the layers underneath show through. Wirecast offers three key types: Chroma Key for green or blue screens, Luma Key for black or white backgrounds, and Color Key for other solid colors. Chroma keying is included in both Wirecast Studio and Wirecast Pro.
How to add a chroma key in Wirecast
- In a layer, select the shot that contains your green screen camera or image.
- In the Shot Editor, select the Video Filters tab.
- Click the plus (+) button to the right of the Video Filters heading and select Chroma Key.
- Choose the key type: Chroma, Luma or Color Key.
- Click the color square to pick the key color, or click the dropper icon and click the background color in your source.
- Move the Key Threshold slider until the background disappears. The farther right you move it, the more variation of the color Wirecast removes.
- Put your background image, video or screen capture underneath the keyed shot.
To key a source everywhere it is used in your document, add the filter on the Source Properties tab instead. A filter on the Video Filters tab applies only to that shot.
Chroma, Luma or Color Key: which one should I use?
- Chroma Key: for a plate shot on a green screen or blue screen.
- Luma Key: keys by brightness. Use it when the background is black or white, such as an icon on a white background.
- Color Key: sets transparency by distance from a chosen color. Use it for logos and images with a solid background that is not black or white.
How do I fix green edges or a patchy key?
- Set Display to the white or black alpha channel view to see exactly what is keyed, then switch back to Result.
- Raise Spill Suppression to remove green reflection along the edges of your subject.
- Use Solidify to fill small holes in the subject. Too much can make hair look blocky.
- Use Edge Coloring to reduce halos around the subject.
- Leave Black Clip and White Clip close to their defaults. For chroma key you rarely need to move them.
Need a moving background? Try clips from the Stock Media Library.