Green Screen

Who, What, Why, & How?

​

#AASL17 IdeaLab Session

November 9, 2017

Shared by

Jane Lofton Michelle Luhtala Deb Schiano

This slides at:

bit.ly/aaslgreenscreenslides

​

Introduce Green Screening in Your Library

Your students, teachers, AND you will want to use it.

​

An easy technology to merge a subject on camera with a different background to create a video or still image

Create engaging digital storytelling, transporting the storyteller anywhere in the real world or even to historical or fantasy worlds for project-based learning

Use simple equipment and software on a phone or tablet. Try the DoInk app ($2.99) on a iPhone or iPad and a green tablecloth or fabric. Set up a miniature with a pizza box painted green inside.

​

​

​

Who?

What?

Why?

How?

What makes it work?

Green screening or chroma keying:

The software sets a foreground color - typically green - to transparent, allowing you to insert a separate background image in the scene.

​

Green screens are usually used because it contrasts with skin tones. But, other screen colors, like blue, can be used. DON’T wear the color of your background.

​

​

Try it out today!

Directions in this Google Doc:

bit.ly/aaslgreenscreen

​

Then, copy and adapt these directions to use in your own library

​

A few starter ideas for green screening:

• Market it! Invite students and teachers to the library during lunch and breaks to take fun photos, then display them in the library and online, to “market” green screen availability. Students & teachers will start asking to use it for assignments!
• Literature: Students can create videos in which they dress as the characters and use background images for the settings
• Science: Share images from outer space and be the astronaut, share weather maps and be the climatologist
• Math: Illustrate word problems
• History: Students can share images of historical sites, while they serve as the guides in the foreground
• ESL Students: Have students new to the U.S. create a tour of their home country
• Make your in-house newscasts look like they come from a television studio

​

​

Finding copyright friendly images for backgrounds:

• import into Google Drawing or another app, and add a small credit, like this example:
• Avoid Copyrighted images --- you want to be able to publish your and your students creations!

• Try Pixabay.com for Public Domain images requiring no credits (other sources curated by Joyce Valenza)
• Find Creative Commons images (sources curated by Joyce Valenza),

Equipment/software musts and extras

Musts:

• A camera, or smartphone, iPad, or tablet with a camera. No budget for a library device? Ask for donations of discarded iPhones.
• App with green screen support. We recommend Do Ink’s Green Screen app for iPad/iPhone ($2.99). For Android devices, try Green Screen Pro by Thor Productions (for images) ($2.50) or Kinemaster (for video) (free). Or, use video editing software, such as iMovie, Final Cut, Adobe Premiere, Screenflow, Camtasia, or WeVideo, that supports green screening.
• A green screen. This could be a wall painted green, a green tablecloth or fabric hung on a wall, or a purchased green screen kit set.

​

• Sets can be purchased along with lights, which reduces shadows, for around $100 on Amazon. Kits with stands also eliminate the need for a dedicated wall.

​

Extras:

• Green straws for dangling props
• Green gloves or socks for holding props
• Extra green tablecloths or fabric to drape over “actors” to eliminate unwanted body parts
• Blue fabric for when the foreground contains green
• Lighting to reduce shadows
• Build a miniature green screen with a pizza box or play dough

​

Green paint is a great alternative!

Cautions, tips and tricks

• If you choose to paint your green backdrop, make sure the paint is flat!
• It is ideal if you can have a seamless floor to wall transition
• Have an extra cloth handy for “wrap effect”

• If subject and/or props are green, they will blend into background. If a green subject is necessary, consider a blue screen background.
• Subject should be 1-2 feet in front of green screen, in order to avoid highlight like shadows.
• Green screen should be well and evenly lit.
• Iron your cloth. Wrinkles make image look uneven and bumpy.

Resources for more help, ideas

• Larissa Aradj on Free and Easy Green Screen Editing, plus Pic Forward, a Global Green Screen Challenge by her grade 4 & 5 students for other students around the world
• Todd Burleson’s forthcoming book: The Green Screen Makerspace Project Book. Get a 20 discount with this order information.
• Adventures in Library. “Portable Green Screens in the Library” K-2 whole class green screening learning experience.

​

Some examples for inspiration

Courtesy of Valerie DiLorenzo, Library Media Specialist, Rumsey Hall School, Washington Depot, CT

​

​

Some examples for inspiration

​

​