How to Work With Adobe Photoshop Chroma Keys

Use Chroma Key to Create Interesting Photo Backgrounds

Chroma Key is a video production technique commonly known as "blue screen" or "green screen." It's used often in movies and television shows. The process involves placing a plain blue screen or green screen behind a subject. The colored screen is then erased and painted with the desired background. Chroma Key is primarily a video technique, but you can get the same effect with Photoshop.

Things You'll Need

• Image with a solid background
• Image to replace the solid background

Instructions

How to Work With Adobe Photoshop Chroma Key

1. Find an image with a solid background. Any color will do. Find an image you would like to use to replace the solid background. Save the images so you can work with them. Choose "file" from the menu and select "open." Open both images in Photoshop.

2. Click the image you want to use as a replacement background. Drag it on top of the image with the solid background. Do this by clicking the replacement background with your mouse. Hold the left mouse button, and drag the image to its location.

   You should have two layers at this point. The image you moved is now on a layer marked "layer 1." The image with the solid background is on a layer marked "background." There is a lock on the layer marked "background." Double-click the lock with your mouse to unlock it. The layer name changes to "layer 0."

3. Click "layer 1" in the layers palette and drag it beneath "layer 0." The image with the solid background is now on top.

4. Select "layer 0" by click it with your mouse. Go to the menu and choose "select" and "color range." When the eyedropper tool appears, click the solid background to get a sample. The "color range" dialogue box opens.

   The part of the image you want to keep is black. The part of the image you want to replace is transparent. Click "ok" and the solid background is selected. Click delete to erase the selected portion of the image. With the solid background deleted, the replacement background on "layer 1" is now in place.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with different backgrounds.

• Make sure your solid background is only one color. That makes the process much easier.

References

• LifeisaPrayer.com: Keying Out Backgrounds in Photoshop