Top Tips for After Effects Green Screen Editing - Boost Your Video Production

Ever wondered how filmmakers bring breathtaking landscapes or daring adventures to life on the big screen? From collapsing buildings to sinking into the depths of the ocean, these awe-inspiring scenes rarely unfold in real life.

The secret lies in an innovative technique known as the green screen, which lets the footage be captured against a green backdrop and later replaced with a digital wonderland during post-production called chroma key.

While various software options exist for working with green screen footage, including Adobe After Effects green screen, one standout recommendation is the CapCut video editor. This tool goes beyond mere green screen removal; it lets creators add effects that lend authenticity to their footage.

In this article, I'll walk you through the process of removing the green screen from your videos using the CapCut video editor in just four simple steps.

What is a green screen?

A green screen, also referred to as a chroma key screen, serves as a dynamic canvas in the world of video and film production. Typically adorned in a vibrant, solid green (although blue is also a viable choice), this background plays a crucial role in the magic of post-production.

The purpose of a green screen is to provide a uniform background that can be easily swapped with another computer-generated image or video during the post-production process. While various colors can be used, green is a popular selection due to its distinctiveness from most human skin tones, facilitating a smooth separation of the subject from the background.

Remember, only a specific shade of green can be used.

The application of the green screen is truly endless. It is used in various forms of media production, including blockbuster movies, TV shows, news broadcasts, promotional reels, and many more. The weatherman is often filmed in front of a green screen.



How to use the chroma key in After Effects?

Now you know what a green screen is and where it is used. In the next step, you have to apply the chroma key after effects, which is a kind of headache, and you have to invest time to give your footage a realistic look.

There are various software programs, but the chroma key in After Effects is the best choice. After Effects is basically a digital visual effects, motion graphics, and composing application developed by Adobe Inc. Look, this is how you can use the After Effects keyer:

1. Import your footage
2. Open After Effects and create a new composition.
3. Import the footage you want to edit by selecting "File" > "Import" > "File" and choosing your video file.
4. Apply the keying effect
5. Drag your footage to the composition timeline.
6. In the Effects & Presets panel, search for the "Keylight" effect.
7. Apply the Keylight effect to your footage layer by dragging it onto the layer or double-clicking.
8. Select the screen color
9. In the Effect Controls panel, click on the eyedropper tool next to the "Screen Color" parameter.
10. Use the eyedropper to select the color you want to key out from the background.
11. Adjust keylight settings
12. Fine-tune the keying effect by adjusting parameters like "Screen Gain" and "Screen Balance" in the Effect Controls panel.
13. You can also use the "View" dropdown in the Composition panel to toggle between different views like Final Result, Screen Matte, and Status.
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No doubt, Adobe After Effects chroma key is admirable, but its steeper learning curve limits its use. That’s why we recommend the CapCut video editor for chroma key because it is easy to use and comes with multiple other editing tools.

The ultimate way to remove the green screen: Use CapCut video editor

CapCut video editor is an advanced video editor that revolutionizes the editing experience. Renowned for its user-friendly interface, CapCut eases complex tasks like chroma keying, making it the ultimate solution for professional video editing.

Before knowing how to nail chroma key after-effects in the CapCut video editor, look at the key features of CapCut.



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  Download for free

  
  
• Remove the background with one click

In promotional videos, the background plays a crucial role. However, not everyone has access to a stunning background for their videos. Don't worry; CapCut video editor has got your back.

CapCut video editor understands that background makes your content more appealing. That's why it entered the market with the ability to remove video backgrounds with just one click. Its AI-powered background removal automatically identifies the subject in your footage and removes the background. This feature lets users add an attractive background and adjust the video to give it a real look.

Further, you can also change the background color by choosing from a color palette that suits your style.

• Effortless video editing

CapCut's effortless video editing features revolutionize the industry, particularly for professionals working on time-sensitive projects. Suppose you're tasked with creating a compelling corporate presentation or a snappy marketing video with a tight deadline.

In this scenario, CapCut stands out as the best choice because it comes with a user-friendly interface and quick access to basic and advanced editing tools. With transitions, a rich library of sound effects and music, and AI-powered features, the CapCut editor makes your content appealing. Moreover, you can make your content available to international users with the use of the subtitle translation feature.

• Free cloud storage

You all capture your loving moments in videos or images and want to keep them safe. However, your hard drive is running out of space, and you need a secure and accessible place to store your memories.

Well, you can enjoy the benefits of CapCut's free cloud storage without spending a penny. This editor not only securely stores your videos but is also readily available whenever and wherever creativity strikes. The best part is that you can access your memories from your browser or phone. Moreover, without downloading, you can share your content directly with your friends or on social media platforms.

• Collaborative team features

What if your team members are from different locations while each contributing to a crucial video project? In such a situation, the collaborative team feature of an video editor is crucial.

CapCut, an video editor, bridges the distance by introducing collaborative team features. You can easily communicate, share feedback with your teammates, and view the real-time editing. CapCut turns remote work challenges into collaboration opportunities, resulting in polished videos that reflect the effort of the team, regardless of team members' locations.

• Abundant media assets

As a content creator striving to make your content the best, you're likely familiar with the hassle of exploring images, videos, and music for your projects on the internet. What if there was a platform where you could find all media assets in a minute? Look no further than the CapCut video editor. This platform features a vast library of music, videos, photos, editing tools, and templates, making it a seamless choice for those wanting to add music to videos or enhance their projects creatively and efficiently. Whether you're looking to add a catchy tune, a stunning visual effect, or a unique transition between scenes, the abundance of media assets in CapCut video editor allows you to elevate your project effortlessly.

• AI-powered video editing tools

Are you faced with the challenge of teaching special students with hearing impairments? Fear not; CapCut video editor has the perfect solution for you.

With the use of the CapCut AI-powered subtitle generator, you can turn spoken words into textual forms that your students will find valuable. Besides this, this editor features an AI-powered transcription-based editing tool that helps make your video available internationally.

It also features a script generator, free voice changer, and video resizer that not only makes your video attractive but also enhances engagement.

How to edit green screen video in CapCut?

Step
1. Download and sign up
2. Visit CapCut’s official and download the CapCut desktop video editor on your device. Sign in after installation, use your TikTok, Facebook, or Google account.
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   Download for free

   
   
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Step
5. Import your media
6. Once you are logged in, click "Create project”, and you will be redirected toward the CapCut editor's main interface. You can upload the media (green screen clip and background image or clip) using the following options: Computer, Google Drive, Dropbox.
7. What's more, users can access CapCut Web directly within Google Drive, ensuring a seamless and efficient video creation process.
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Step
9. Edit the video
10. The real job starts with this step. First, drag and drop the clip/image that you want to use as a background, and then add the green screen clip. Make sure to adjust the length of both video clips appropriately.
11. Select the chroma key option, select the color picker, and click the green screen clip. This will remove the green screen from your video, like magic. Alternatively, you can remove the background with CapCut’s auto-removal option.
12. Once you remove the green screen from your video, it's time to make your video with the new background. To achieve transparency, adjust the intensity and shadows until your creation looks as real as it gets. It does not end here, you can further adjust your video by cutting, trimming, adding transitions, music, sound effects, and multiple professional editing features.
13. In addition, CapCut offers support for AI transcription. This feature allows you to automatically transcribe spoken words in your videos, providing accurate and efficient text representation. CapCut's AI transcription simplifies the process of creating subtitles or transcripts, enhancing accessibility and convenience for content creators.
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15. Export and share

Now that you are done with editing the green screen video, click the export icon. Select the frame rate, resolution, and codec, and then download the video. You can share your content directly from CapCut video editor to social media platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, etc.



Conclusion

Now you know how to edit your after effects green screen (chroma key) footage with the use of the CapCut video editor. With the help of this editor, you can add an attractive background and adjust it. Besides this, CapCut features multiple editing tools, such as video cropping, rotating, resizing, noise removal, and others.

Enjoy CapCut’s free chroma key feature, add a digital background of your choice, and make your reels impressive.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I get rid of green screen noise in After Effects?
2. To reduce green screen noise in After Effects, go to "Effects" click on "Noise Reduction/Restoration", and then hit "Capture Noise Print". In the Editor panel, pick the noise range. Then, choose "Effects", then "Noise Reduction/Restoration" then go to "Noise Reduction", and adjust settings as needed. You can also use the CapCut editor to reduce the noise. All you have to do is select the video and move to the "Basic" option, and you will find the "Noise Reduction" option there.
3. How to use the After Effects chroma key?
4. Chroma key, commonly known as green or blue screen removal, is a technique employed in After Effects to eliminate a specific colored background from the footage. To use the chroma key in After Effects, import your footage, apply the keying effect, select the green color, and remove the background. While After Effects provides native tools for this, using the CapCut editor enhances the process.
5. How do I key out a background in After Effects?

Import your footage into After Effects, apply the keying effect, select the screen color, and fine-tune settings with Keylight for effective background removal.

You can also key out a background from your footage with the help of the CapCut editor. There are two ways to remove the background: either by enabling the auto removal option or using the chroma key feature.