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Green screens are no longer just for big movie studios. Green screen backdrops and chroma-keying software have become cheap.
With a little creativity, everyone can create special effects similar – to some extent at least – to those you see in the movies from the comfort of your living room.
You can also easily remove the messy background in your bedroom for your Twitch gamer streaming or YouTube videos, even if you’re on a budget.
Below are some of the best chroma key green screen backgrounds for different budgets, from DIY solutions to collapsible green screens.
If you’re a beginner, rest assured all these will work with any camera.
Table of Contents
1. Rosco Chroma Key Paint. Best Cheap DIY Green Screen.
If you have a wall that needs redecorating, you might as well give it a nice green color with this chroma key green screen paint from Rosco.
The paint has a matte finish, so you don’t get any shiny highlights, which otherwise would make removing the backdrop in post-production more difficult.
You get coverage of approximately 300 square feet per gallon.
The one you see in the photo is 1 Quart, which will cover approximately 75 square feet.
The Rosco Chroma Key Paint is available in different sizes.
2. Neewer 6×9 feet/1.8×2.8 Meters Photo Studio 100 Percent Pure Muslin Collapsible Backdrop. Best Cheap Muslin Backdrop.
If you don’t fancy painting a wall with chroma key paint, you can hang up a green muslin backdrop from Neewer instead.
This 6×9 feet background is simple, but it does the trick. I’ve used a bigger version of this several times myself.
If you’ve already got a curtain rod, a wire, or something else to attach it to, you can have a green screen set up in no time.
If you don’t, I recommend you buy a cheap set of stands or look at some of the other kits here because attaching a green screen muslin to the wall with gaffer tape and clamps is a real pain (trust me!).
3. Emart 10 x 12 feet Muslin Chromakey Backdrop with Stands. Best Cheap Green Screen with Stands.
If you already have video lights and need a cheap green backdrop with stands, this one from Emart will do the job.
Included in the kit is:
- 1 cotton muslin green screen 10 x 12 feet backdrop
- 2 x support stands (adjustable height between 3 and 8.5 feet)
- 4 x crossbars (adjustable width between 5 and 10 feet)
- 2 x spring clamps for keeping the muslin tight and even
- 1 x carrying bag
This is a nice collapsible backdrop for a quick setup at home. Plus, the background is big enough to cover the floor.
It would have been nice if the set had also come with some sandbags because, in my experience, lightweight stands such as these need to be pinned down not to topple over.
Also, it would be wise to get a set of extra clamps to get the fabric to stretch more evenly. In my experience, two isn’t enough.
If you’re a professional traveling photographer, I would go with stands of better quality because these aren’t built for the road. But pro-grade stands cost way more money.
But this will do the job for home use or places where you need a cheap green screen available at all times.
4. Belle Drape 60×72″ Reversible Chroma Blue & Green Background Kit. Best Cheap Collapsible Pop-Up Backdrop Kit.
If you’re looking for a travel-friendly green screen, e.g., for quick corporate interviews, you should look at this one from Belle Drape.
Included in the kit is:
- 1 x reversible chroma blue and green screen “pop-up” backdrop that measures 60×72″ when unfolded
- 1 x lightweight Flashpoint Nano stand that extends up to 7 feet tall – with standard 1/4″ screw-on 5/8″ stud.
- 1 x Flashpoint adjustable length backdrop and reflector arm that can be used not just for this backdrop but also for hanging reflectors, gobos, and flags, as it extends in sizes between 24″ and 60″
This is a professional-grade kit at an affordable price that can be used for video interviews, photography, streaming, and a lot more on the go.
The muslin backdrop is reversible, with one side being green and one side being blue (the latter is great for nighttime simulation shots).
It instantly pops up and folds neatly into a small round package.
If you haven’t tried folding back one of these backdrops before, here’s a quick guide:
You can hang the backdrop horizontally if you’re filming someone with big arm movements. That’s what I usually do. Depending on the conditions, you might need something to lean again (like a wall) at one end to keep it steady.
The included light stand is made from aircraft-grade aluminum, has good knobs and variable tension for precise adjustments, and comes with rubber-tipped feet to reduce vibration and sliding and folds into a tiny package only 21 inches long.
Even though the legs of the stand spread out nicely, it is so lightweight that you might want to bring a small sandbag – or use your camera backpack or something similar to ensure it doesn’t fall over.
The kit also includes a backdrop and reflector arm that has a nice and easy pinch design system that you can use to hang other backdrops, reflectors, flags, and gobos, which makes this kit more than a one-trick pony.
5. Westcott 9 x 20 Feet Green Screen Backdrop. Best Affordable Wrinkle-Resistant Chroma Key Backdrop.
Note: This Westcott backdrop is also available as a smaller 9 x 10 feet version on Amazon.
If you want a high-quality, no-hassle chroma key green screen backdrop, you should look at this one from Westcott.
The backdrop is made from a heavy-duty fleece material that is wrinkle-resistant and doesn’t reflect the light.
When you pull it out of your bag, hang it up on a stand (there are grommets in the corners and a rod pocket), stretch it out with a couple of clamps/clips, and you’re good to go. No need to iron anything!
The lack of wrinkles and reflections makes keying out the backdrop a breeze.
Cheaper backdrops often need some tweaking with masking, matte chokers, and more in post-production to completely remove the background – even if you have good lighting.
I recommend a good and sturdy set of stands and crossbars like this Photoflex FirstStudio BackDrop Support Kit on Amazon for this backdrop.
With this backdrop, you still need good lighting, of course, but then you can save a lot of time in post.
6. Elgato Green Screen Panel. Best Backdrop for Gamers and YouTubers.
If you need a green screen for streaming and YouTube that is quick to set up, easily collapsible, and can be stoved under your bed, then the chroma key panel from Elgato is the way to go!
The Elgato collapsible panel is the perfect green screen backdrop for creating streaming videos from home. But, of course, you can also use it for other things.
The panel is available in two versions: a collapsible version, where the green screen collapses into the base, and a mountable wall/ceiling version, that rolls down like a shade or blind.
The screen is made from 100% polyester.
The collapsible version of the screen measures 58.27 x 70.87 inches. And when it is retracted into the base, it measures 64.76 x 4.13 x 4.53 inches.
The screen of the mountable version is 74.8 x 78.74 inches and 83.46 x 3.15 x 3.15 inches when retracted into the frame.
You can see a video of how to install it here:
7. Lastolite LL 13 feet Panoramic Green Screen Background. Best for the Small Production Studio and Large Groups.
Lastolite is known for making high-quality backdrops and reflectors. And this chroma key green screen is no different.
If you need to photograph or record videos of a larger group of people, this is an affordable way to go.
The chroma key 13’ Panoramic green screen has a crease-free textile surface that makes it easy to get a good key – even after traveling and setting it up on location.
The 3-panel aluminum frame is easily collapsible and snaps together with the elastic band that runs within the framework’s tubing. When unfolded, the frame acts as a self-supporting structure for the backdrop.
When the frame is unfolded, you simply clip on the green screen backdrop.
You also get a zippered case for the frame for easy portability.
8. LimoStudio Photography Green Chromakey Body Suit. Best for having fun as The Invisible Man.
Okay, I couldn’t resist. I’ve always wanted to try one of these, so I put it here for future reference.
If you’ve ever dreamt of making videos of things magically flying into the air, or if you don’t bother to rotoscope yourself or your crew members out of a VFX scene, you should buy a green screen bodysuit.
I haven’t had a client yet that required one, but I will buy one to have some creative fun soon.
The chroma key bodysuit from LimoStudio is stretchable and one-size.
Get Creative with a Green Screen
It is so cool that green screens and the chroma keying software have become so cheap that anyone can get started.
As an independent filmmaker and a big fan of special FX and CGI, I love creating my own visual effects from my living room.
As the owner of a small video production business, I love being able to quickly pop up a chroma key background when needed for a job for a client.
If you’re new to green screens, I recommend you read these two articles first:
- Introduction To Green Screen, Blue Screen, And Chroma Keying
- Guide: How To Shoot And Key Green Screen Footage
The possibilities with a green screen are endless.
