Chroma Key

What is chroma key?

Chroma key is the technique that makes green screen effects possible. The software picks a specific color in the footage, usually green or blue, and makes it transparent, so you can drop in a different background.

How chroma key works

You film a subject against an evenly lit, solid color. In editing, you tell the tool which color to key out, and it removes every pixel of that color. Clean lighting and a wrinkle-free backdrop give sharp edges around the subject.

Why chroma key matters

Chroma key lets you place a subject in any setting, from a virtual studio to a full-screen slide. It is a core tool in film, broadcast, and online video, and it gives creators huge flexibility over what viewers see behind them.

Chroma key and virtual backgrounds

Modern tools can separate a subject from their background without a colored screen at all. If you run webinars, Livestorm's virtual background library gives you a clean, branded backdrop with no chroma key setup required.