How to Use Chroma Key (Green Screen)
This guide shows you how to remove a background color from video layers using chroma key (green screen) technology.
Quick Steps
- Select the layer on the scene
- Open the brush (style & effects) dropper in the layer toolbar
- Find the Chroma key row and click its Off button
- Choose green, blue, or pick a custom colour
- The chosen colour becomes transparent
There is no top-level chroma-key icon in the toolbar - the controls live inside the brush dropper, one level down.
Supported Layer Types
Chroma key works with:
- Your own camera (editor), speaker and remote-guest cameras
- Video layers
- Image layers
- Audio layers (the option exists, though it has no visible effect)
It is not offered for screen shares or media shares, and it only exists inside Pro scenes - the Dynamic Scene has no layer toolbar.
Detailed Steps
Step 1: Select the Layer
- Click on a video or camera layer in the scene
- The layer toolbar appears above the selection
Step 2: Open Chroma Key Options
- Click the brush icon (style and effects) in the layer toolbar
- The Chroma key row is inside that dropper, under Transparency and Round corners
- Click the button at the right of the row (it reads Off until a colour is chosen)
Step 3: Choose a Color to Remove
Preset Colors:
| Option | Description | Tooltip |
|---|---|---|
| Green | Remove green background (#0bde0b) | “Remove green color” |
| Blue | Remove blue background (#0072ff) | “Remove blue color” |
Custom Color:
- Click the color picker square (shows picker icon)
- Tooltip: “Pick color from video”
- This activates the eyedropper tool
- Click anywhere on the video to sample that color
- The sampled color becomes the chroma key color
Disable:
- Click the ban icon to turn off chroma key
- Tooltip: “Disable Chromakey”
- Restores the original video
Step 4: Fine-Tune (Optional)
The selected option shows a blue highlight border indicating it’s active. The Intensity slider under the colour buttons sets how much of the colour range is removed: raise it if a fringe of background remains, lower it if parts of you disappear. Back returns to the brush dropper.
If the result isn’t perfect:
- Try a different preset color
- Use the color picker for custom backgrounds
- Adjust lighting on your physical green screen
Color Options Reference
| Button | Color | When Selected |
|---|---|---|
| Eyedropper | Custom sampled | Blue highlight when custom active |
| Green square | #0bde0b | Blue highlight when green active |
| Blue square | #0072ff | Blue highlight when blue active |
| Ban icon | None | Blue highlight when disabled |
Tips
Best Results
- Use an evenly lit green or blue screen
- Avoid wearing colors similar to your background
- Ensure good separation between subject and background
- Standard green (#0bde0b) works for most green screens
Custom Color Picker
- Perfect for non-standard background colors
- Click directly on the background area in your video
- The system calculates the best color range to remove
Performance
- Chroma key processing uses GPU acceleration
- Complex backgrounds may reduce performance
- Simpler, more uniform backgrounds work best
Troubleshooting
Background not fully removed?
- Try the color picker instead of presets
- Ensure even lighting on your green screen
- Check for shadows or wrinkles in the backdrop
Subject appears transparent?
- Avoid clothing matching the background color
- Use custom color picker on a different background area
- Some colors may be too close to subject colors
Chroma key option not available?
- Screen shares and media shares do not offer it
- The scene must be a Pro scene - the Dynamic Scene has no layer toolbar
- Check that the layer is selected and look inside the brush dropper, not the top row
- On some accounts an extra Edge Softness slider appears next to the range - it is part of the newer chroma-key engine and is not shown everywhere