Blue screen vs green screen

[Douglas]

Was wondering if anyone here knows. Was talking about this with a friend. When it comes to making movies and those neat special effects, what is the difference? Use to always see how this was blue screen and that was blue screen.

Then things started to be green screen. But they still at times use blue screens. Is there a difference? I always watch the dvd special features, and have wondered what the difference was. Why one was used versus another.

[maxharvard]

It all falls under the category of chroma key.

[Douglas]

Probably due to the fact my dept had its thanksgiving dinner today (Dont ask me why, I want to know why we had it 3 weeks early too) and im half asleep, I still dont understand.

[Mechoption]

Originally Posted by Douglas

Was wondering if anyone here knows. Was talking about this with a friend. When it comes to making movies and those neat special effects, what is the difference? Use to always see how this was blue screen and that was blue screen.

Then things started to be green screen. But they still at times use blue screens. Is there a difference? I always watch the dvd special features, and have wondered what the difference was. Why one was used versus another.

You can't wear blue clothes in front of a blue screen, or green clothes in front a green screen Hence, Superman can't stand in front of a blue screen else the blue part of his attire will upset the CG, nor can a green elf (for example) work in front of a green screen

[Douglas]

Ok. I remember that from a few years ago. One reason weathermen dont wear blue suits is because they are blue screening.

So its just dependent on what the scene calls for, color wise then? Thats kinda what I thought, but wasnt sure.

[maxharvard]

Yep, Douglas you are right.

Just a chroma key trick to get blues to show up on screen, is use a green screen. same process with a blue screen.

[Douglas]

Cool thanks guys. One of those where the answer was so obvious, I ruled it out. =)

[wedweb]

One thing to remember, blue is worn more commonly than green. All the movie companies use green rooms to film their digital effects.

[Songman45]

That weird chroma-green isn't present in normal human skin tones and isn't as popular in clothing, so when its "knocked-out" it doesn't generally take with it any important elements of the subject. Just about any flat even color could be used as long as it was not part of the color scheme in the subject.

[korman]

You could also try pink screening, in case you need to take pictures of Little Green Aliens and their flying saucer. For humans however, that will yield strange results with their skin.

Korman