How to key a shot with Final Cut Pro X
You’ve seen it in countless Hollywood movies. And it’s easier than ever to do yourself. I’m talking about compositing: the process of combining a foreground subject and a background “plate” to create a single “composite” image. By shooting a subject against a colored background and then using software to remove the color, you can place your subject in any environment you like. This process is called “keying” or “pulling a key.”
These days, anyone can purchase an inexpensive collapsible green or blue screen (or paint a wall or even hang a sheet), set up a few lights, and make someone appear to be relaxing in a Parisian café, hanging from the ledge of a high-rise building, or jumping from an exploding plane.
The quality of the key you can pull depends both on the shot and on how you process it “in post." An evenly lit colored background (usually blue or green) that is well separated from your subject makes for an ideal key. Of course, if you are using a green bedsheet and a couple of hardware-store utility lights in your garage, you may not be able to create a perfectly smooth, evenly lit background. But you may still be able to pull a good key.
If you are editing your video in iMovie, you’ll find that the built-in keyer (available if you have checked Show Advanced Tools in the Preferences) works well if you start with a good shot—but if the initial result isn’t good, you're stuck, because you don’t have any controls for adjusting the key.
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