How To Use Chromacam To Add Backgrounds To My Obs Greenscreen

Update April 2020: We've created a guide on how to use OBS equally a virtual webcam, learn how to here.

The employ of chroma keying has become quite popular in contempo years, with many applications of this video effect used for live streaming. Chroma keying is used to remove the groundwork of a video scene which is and then composited over another scene or image. The well-nigh obvious utilise of this technique is for weather condition broadcasts, where the presenter is composited over the superlative of a weather radar image. In more recent times we're seeing video game streamers blush keying themselves into their alive streams.

In the days earlier computers, creating this result was an ho-hum process. If yous want to learn how they did chroma keying in the past, then I'd recommend watching this cracking video by Tom Scott.

These days nigh live streaming software packages include blush keying as a feature. In this guide we'll testify you how to achieve this great effect with OBS (Open Broadcaster Software).

Equipment needed:

A solid green background
A webcam or video camera
Lighting
OBS

Every bit with all things in video product, you can hands spend a fortune on equipment. For the purpose of this guide, we've tried to go on things reasonably cheap. For the dark-green background we picked upwardly some green cloth from a local arts and craft store. Alternatively, you can buy green screen paint if you're looking for a more permanent setup.

We're using a Logitech c930e webcam for the video source. If you lot desire to use a better quality camera, such as a DSLR, and so you will need a video capture card. Nosotros often recommend the Magewell HDMI to USB3 dongle for video capture.

Lighting is very of import when it comes to green screens as you want the light-green to be as even every bit possible. In our prepare we've used a single box light. We'll go into more item about lighting beneath.

Stage set-upward:

The first affair to exercise with any live stream is to plan your shoot. Will the photographic camera remain stationary, or will you be moving information technology? Once you've determined the shot, you can calculate roughly how much green screen you demand. It'due south prudent to allow for a bit of extra greenish screen around the subject to avoid having them clipped outside of the chroma keyed area.

I won't delve too deep into the all-time lighting setup, but for professional shoots it'south recommended to have 3 types of lighting. Dorsum lights, key lights and make full lights. To the correct is an image which gives yous an idea of a typical lighting setup. If you lot desire to learn more almost green screen lighting, I recommend checking out this video.

Additionally, consider having a reasonable amount of distance betwixt the subject field and the green screen. The closer the subject is to the screen, the greater the shadow cast.

OBS set-up:

If y'all've correctly set-upwardly the green screen and lighting, the chroma keying should be reasonably simple.

Open upward OBS and add together your video source.
Correct click on the video source and select 'Filter'.
Click the '+' under the 'Furnishings Filters' section, then select 'Chroma Key'.
Enter a name for the effect layer.
When adding a chroma key OBS will automatically generate some baseline settings. In most cases y'all'll demand to fine tune these settings. I'd recommend experimenting with the sliders to run into what they do.

Once y'all're happy with the chroma key settings you should so exercise a quick run through of your shoot. If the discipline is going to remain stationary, you're likely expert to go. If at that place'southward going to be movement, you should double bank check every position the subject field will be in to make sure the chroma cardinal settings are correct for the whole shoot.

Subsequently you've confirmed the blush key settings are correct, you tin can now add your groundwork layer(due south). You will need to brand sure they're below the chroma keyed camera layer in OBS.

Extra Tips:

The process for chroma keying is quite similar in Wirecast.
Live chroma keying tin can exist quite CPU intensive, so make certain your computer is powerful enough.
Make sure the subject doesn't have any green, or reflective material on them. Ofttimes blonde pilus can crusade issues with reflection.
In OBS yous tin can chroma key images, and videos – not only camera feeds.
If you have many shades of green, you tin can chroma key a source multiple times, each fourth dimension specifying a different shade of dark-green.