Chroma key color refers to the color, usually bright blue or green, that is used as a background in some films. The blue or green screen color is replaced with computer generated imagery (CGI) or another shot of film to essentially meld two things together in a movie or television program.
Transparency
Transparency is a way to merge two tracks of video together. Certain colors from one video are made transparent, and the other video is set underneath. When the top track is transparent, parts of the second track can be seen through, and the video appears to be one track.
Chroma Key
Chroma Key is the process of setting selected colors, usually blue and green from a background screen, to transparent. It is a type of transparency video editing technique.
Colors
Chroma Key colors can be either blue or green. They are the colors used in blue screen or green screen techniques--also known as chroma key techniques.
Uses
Chroma Key is often used to include a different background with a subject. For instance, blue or green screen is commonly used for weather reports. The reporter stands in front of a colored screen. The screen is made transparent, and images of weather patterns appear underneath. To the viewer, it looks as though the weather reporter is standing in front of these images.
CGI
Computer Generated Imagery, or CGI, often uses chroma key colors. Editors use CGI to add fantastic effects, characters or backgrounds to films. The animation is created on computers, then placed under the first reel. It appears where the green or blue screen is made transparent.
Tags: blue green, green screen, made transparent, blue green screen, blue screen, screen made