You might think green screen effects are only used in big movies with lots of special effects, like sci-fi or fantasy films. But actually, many of us have used green screens in everyday life, especially during Zoom meetings in the past few years.
If you’ve ever changed your video call background to hide a messy room, you’ve used a green screen effect! Green screens are also used in weather reports, news shows, and YouTube videos.
With the right software, adding green screen effects to your videos is pretty easy. However, picking the best green screen editor can be tricky, especially if you’re just starting with video editing. Some of the best green screen results come from expensive software that’s hard to learn, while easier software for beginners might not have all the features you need to make your video look great.
This guide will help you understand the best green screen software available for making awesome videos.
Part 1: 3 Best Green Screen Video Editors for YouTube Creators
Here, we have selected the three best green screen video editors for YouTube creators.
Wondershare Filmora
There are many chroma key video editor options out there, but Wondershare Filmora Green Screen Editor is famous because it’s easy to use and great for creating videos with green screen effects. With Wondershare Filmora, putting layers in scenes is simple and can be done in just a few steps. You can download Filmora for free and install it on your computer.
Compatibility: Windows, Mac.
Rating: 4.5/5
Key Features:
Wondershare Filmora offers a robust set of a green screen (chroma key) features that allow you to create stunning visual effects by removing specific colors from your video and replacing them with different backgrounds. Here are some key features:
- Easy Setup: Simply import your green screen footage and background video into the media library, then drag them onto the timeline.
- Chroma Key Tool: Double-click the green screen clip and enable the Chroma Key option. The green color will be removed automatically.
- Color Picker: Use the eyedropper tool to select the green color in your video that you want to make transparent.
- Adjustable Settings: Fine-tune the effect with settings like offset, tolerance, edge thickness, and edge feather to get the perfect look.
- Alpha Channel: Turn on the alpha channel to check for any remaining green color and ensure a clean key.
- Creative Uses: You can place your subject onto various virtual backgrounds, making it look like they are flying through the sky or in any other imaginative setting.
HitFilm Pro
HitFilm Pro is the top choice for adding visual effects to your videos using green screen technology. It is a 2D and 3D compositor that includes various blending methods, keyframe animation, motion tracking, and 3D camera solving. It also offers a large library of effects, perfect for creating exciting motion graphics and VFX shots.
Compatibility: Works on Windows and Mac.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
Key Features:
- Lens flares and lighting effects
- Color grading
- Powerful particle effects
- Neon path effect
Shotcut
After testing several open-source green screen video editors, we found that Shotcut is the best choice for green screen effects. It’s an excellent option for anyone who wants a free, open-source editor that works on multiple platforms.
Compatibility: Works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
Key Features:
- Blending modes
- Effects and filters
- Time remapping
- Audio tools
Part 2: How To Use a Green Screen with Wondershare Filmora
Knowing how to get the best out of your tool is an essenital step to master. Here’s how you can use Filmora as a green-screen video editor:
1. Import the Footage into Filmora
If you already have the green screen video editor Filmora installed, open the program and create a new project. First, import your background video and green screen footage into the media library. Then, drag the background video onto the first track in the timeline. After that, place the green screen video on the track right above it. Double-click the green screen clip to open the Edit panel.
2. Adjust the Green Screen Settings
After the Edit settings window opens, click on the Video tab and scroll down to find the Chroma Key editor (green screen) feature. Make sure to select the green color if you’re using a green screen, and the green screen video editor Filmora will automatically make the green color transparent.
Be sure to select the green color if you’re using a green screen, and Filmora’s green screen editor will automatically make the green transparent. You can fine-tune the background clarity using the Offset, Tolerance, and Alpha Channel settings. To smooth out the edges around your subject, adjust the Edge Thickness and Edge Feather settings. Additionally, you can tweak the transparency, shadows, and borders, and use the flip option to rotate the clip if necessary.
3. Position the Background Clip
Next, position the background video clip on the timeline. This will fill in the transparent areas of the green screen clip, blending both videos into one. You can adjust the size of the green screen clip to better match the background by scaling it down in the Preview window.
Your green screen video is now ready to go!
4. Export the Video
Once you’ve finished all the steps, you can export your video. Click the Export button and choose a format like WMV, MP4, or MOV, or select a video-sharing platform where you want to upload your video. Then, proceed with the export process.
After the video is exported, you can share it with your colleagues or upload it to a video-sharing platform like YouTube or Vimeo!
Conclusion
Green screens are great for adding impressive effects to your videos. HitFilm Pro, and Shotcut offer various features for different needs, from advanced to free options. For a user-friendly choice, Wondershare Filmora is ideal for all users due to its simplicity and remove green screen from the video.
No matter which software you pick, mastering green screen techniques can significantly enhance your video quality. Experiment with these tools to create standout content and capture your audience’s attention.
