Green Screen

[Sneak69]

Hi there,

Im a noob when it comes to photo editing, just starting out with Xara, and I have no clue how to edit a green screen in this software. I looked online and could not find anything on this subject.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[gwpriester]

Welcome to TalkGraphics

What are you trying to accomplish?

Xara is basically a vector drawing application with some bitmap editing features. But the method for doing things like dropping out a background is different.

[Sneak69]

Trying to take photos of furniture with green screen then swapping out the background to make the pieces stand out.

[ss-kalm]

Look at the BACKGROUND ERASE video ... HELP > MOVIES > THE PHOTO TOOL > BACKGROUND ERASE. It will work perfectly with green screen photographs.

[Sneak69]

Awesome thank you so much! Just one more question how would I add a backdrop to the photo? (sorry I just bought this software and I am just starting out.)

[gwpriester]

I would use the newer Select Colors to Enhance tool (on the Photo Tool Infobar at the top right area of the screen). This featur is available in Photo & Graphic Designer.

Select the photo, select the Select Colors to Enhance tool and click on the green.

There are sliders for Tolerance and Fade. Each time you move one of these sliders you see a real time preview of what is being effected.

When you are done right click on the red dot and select Make Transparent.

In my example, I have added a gradient background.

[Egg Bramhill]

Just one more question how would I add a backdrop to the photo?

As stated Use select Colour to Enhance (Green) and make transparent.

Select this & create bitmap copy with Alpha

Apply slight feathering to eradicate any remaining green.

Bring in the image you wish to use as the backdrop.

Place your Alpha channel image above it.

Select the lower image & create bitmap copy, NO alpha.

Delete all other images.

[ss-kalm]

Just curious ... why would you use the SELECT COLOURS TO ENHANCE over BACKGROUND ERASE. What are the pro's and cons of each method?

[gwpriester]

Ah, it has been a long time since I did the review of background erase. But I will try Keith.

As I remember, Background Erase, you have to mask the color or colors you want to erase, then click Background Erase. To be honest I never used it that much.

Select Colors to Enhance is a newer feature that was added after Background erase. It is faster, click on a color, especially a solid color, edit the Tolerance and Fade, and then you can edit this selection with the Enhance photo tools or make the background transparent.

I find the need for a small amount of FX > Bitmap Feathering to soften the edges.