Setting Up a Proper Green Screen Workflow: Exploring Background Removal Options for Webcam Use

As anyone who has ever attempted to create high-quality video content using a webcam can attest, setting up a proper green screen or chroma-keying workflow is a nightmare, especially in small spaces or spaces shared with other purposes. Thankfully, we're finally seeing movement in tech development for background removal options that don't require so much hassle.

In this course episode, we'll be taking a look at the 3 main options for background removal on a webcam: Personify ChromaCam with the Logitech C922 Pro Stream Webcam, TriDef SmartCam, and the Intel RealSense background removal. We'll explore each of these methods in detail, including their pros and cons, to help you make an informed decision about which one is right for your needs.

Intel RealSense Background Removal

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For full disclosure, it's essential that I tell you that me and my channel are sponsored by Intel on a fairly regular basis. In the past, I've made promotional videos about RealSense technology, but this video is not one such video. That being said, I do need to disclose that to you as a viewer.

Intel RealSense utilizes special webcams, such as the Razer Stargazer or this Creative SR300 model I have. These cameras are equipped with a depth-sensing camera and infrared sensor that scan the field of view for the shape of a person and then use the depth-sensing technology, contrast, color difference, and soon, to remove the background. These webcams are designed specifically for Intel Core i7-built PCs.

There are a few other variations on RealSense technology for 3D scanning and other AR and VR applications, but we're focusing on background removal today. The resulting effect is impressive for a technology that only just kind of became publicly available out of nowhere, but it's not perfect. A professionally installed chroma key environment will beat RealSense out every time, but most streamers and content creators can't afford the cost or space required for such a setup.

RealSense does a fantastic job of working within the space you have to separate yourself from your background without a ton of lights, a big green cloth, and 6 feet of wasted space. You will end up with artifacting - it thinks something in the background is you, or cutting off your microphone or headphones, and soon, but it's a nice effect.

To optimize for this, you can still use good lighting required for decent-looking webcam footage anyway, and having a solid colored wall or something as your background. Busy backgrounds are harder to work with. OBS Studio now ships with an option during the installation process to also install the Intel RealSense SDK and driver, and the setup process is fairly straightforward, too.

If you didn't choose this and now want to enable it, just re-install overtop of your existing installation, choose the RealSense checkbox, and you're good to go. Re-installing doesn't wipe your settings or profiles.

Personify ChromaCam

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Right around the time that Intel RealSense cameras were really hitting the market and the streaming community was getting fed up with Logitech for not releasing any new stream-friendly webcams following the C920's 4-year domination of the scene, they popped out the C922 Pro Stream Webcam.

This webcam is more-or-less the same as the C920 but comes with a built-in chroma keying feature that allows you to remove your background in real-time. This is a game-changer for streamers and content creators who want high-quality video without the hassle of setting up a separate green screen.

The Personify ChromaCam is powered by the Logitech C922 Pro Stream Webcam, which provides excellent image quality and a wide range of features that make it perfect for streaming and content creation. With the built-in chroma keying feature, you can remove your background in real-time and achieve professional-looking results without any additional equipment.

TriDef SmartCam

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None of this technology is perfect yet, but it's a great start - and something to really consider given how frustrating and cumbersome a proper green screen setup can be. If you missed it, we actually had a course episode dedicated to setting up a green screen.

The TriDef SmartCam is one of the most exciting new developments in chroma keying technology. This software allows you to blur your background for a "Depth of Field" effect, replace it with different scenes, apply filters to it, or remove it altogether.

This works great for streaming, as well. With the TriDef SmartCam, you can achieve professional-looking results without any additional equipment beyond your webcam and computer. The software is easy to use and provides a wide range of features that make it perfect for streamers and content creators who want high-quality video without the hassle of setting up a separate green screen.

Conclusion

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In conclusion, there are several options available for background removal on a webcam, each with its own pros and cons. The Intel RealSense background removal is a powerful tool that can provide impressive results, but it requires a specialized webcam and a computer with an Intel Core i7 processor. The Personify ChromaCam is a great alternative that provides excellent image quality and a wide range of features that make it perfect for streaming and content creation.

The TriDef SmartCam is another exciting new development in chroma keying technology that allows you to blur your background, replace it with different scenes, apply filters to it, or remove it altogether. This works great for streaming, as well, and provides a wide range of features that make it perfect for streamers and content creators who want high-quality video without the hassle of setting up a separate green screen.

Ultimately, the best option for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences. Whether you're a seasoned streamer or just starting out, there's never been a better time to explore the world of chroma keying technology.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enSetting up a proper green screen or chroma-keyingworkflow is a nightmare, especially in smallspaces or spaces shared for other purposes.Thankfully, we’re finally seeing movementin tech development for background removaloptions that don’t require so much hassle.This is still a very new field, but in thiscourse episode, we’ll be taking a look atthe 3 main options for background removalon a webcam: Personify ChromaCam with theLogitech C922 Pro Stream Webcam, TriDef SmartCam- which aims to work with any webcam, andthe Intel RealSense background removal.Like I said, we’re tackling 3 very differentmethods of background removal in this video,two of which require specific hardware.I’ll have timestamps in the video descriptionif you wish to jump to a specific topic.We’re going to start with Intel RealSense.Intel RealSenseFor full disclosure, it’s important thatI tell you that me and my channel are sponsoredby Intel on a fairly regular basis.I’ve made promotional videos about RealSensetechnology in the past.This is not one such video, and that’s goodsince I have some critical things to say aboutit, but I do need to disclose that to youas a viewer.Intel RealSense utilizes special webcams,such as the Razer Stargazer or this CreativeSR300 model I have.These are cameras equipped with a depth-sensingcamera and infrared sensor which scan thefield of view for the shape of a person andthen uses the depth-sensing technology, aswell as contrast, color difference, and soon, to remove the background.These are designed specifically for IntelCore i7-built PCs.There are a few other variations on RealSensetech for 3D scanning and other AR and VR applications,as well, but we’re focusing on backgroundremoval today.The resulting effect is…Impressive for a technology that only justkind of became publicly available out of nowhere- but it’s not perfect.A professionally-installed chroma key environmentwill beat RealSense out every time, but moststreamers and content creators can’t affordthe cost or space required for such a setup.RealSense does a fantastic job of workingwithin the space you have to separate youfrom your background without a ton of lights,a big green cloth, and 6 feet of wasted space.You will end up with artifacting - it thinkingsomething in the background is you, or cuttingoff your microphone or headphones, and soon, but it’s a nice effect.I can’t wait to see what future iterationsof this technology bring to the table.You can optimize for this by still using goodlighting - required for decent-looking webcamfootage, anyway - and having a solid coloredwall or something as your background.Busy backgrounds are harder to work with.OBS Studio now ships with an option duringthe installation process to also install theIntel RealSense SDK and driver, and the setupprocess is fairly straightforward, too.If you didn’t choose this and now want toenable it, just re-install overtop your existinginstallation, choose the RealSense checkbox,and you’re good to go.Re-installing doesn’t wipe your settingsor profiles.Personify ChromaCamRight around the time that Intel RealSensecameras were really hitting the market andthe streaming community was getting fed upwith Logitech for not releasing any new stream-friendlywebcams following the C920’s 4-year dominationof the scene, they popped out the C922 ProStream Webcam.This webcam is more-or-less the same as theC920, but comes with a little tripod, canoutput 60 FPS at 720p - though the image looksHORRIBLE and is more likely just an interpolated360p at the same framerate - and has a bettermic.But most relevant to this video, the webcamcomes with a special little program for backgroundremoval: Personify ChromaCam.This program is a software approach.There’s no fancy sensors in the C922 likethe RealSense cameras, but it does requirethe C922, specifically.ChromaCam attempts to remove your backgroundfrom your webcam shot - giving you the optionto also replace it with some pre-made backgrounds,your own image, and do all this within video-chattingapps like Skype, as well.In OBS Studio, you actually add the webcamas a normal video source, and then use thePersonify ChromaCam app - downloadable fromLogitech’s support page for the webcam,linked in the video description - to customizethe background.Then, reposition your webcam how you likein OBS and you’re good to go!TriDef SmartCamA third option, one that should work withany decent webcam, is “SmartCam” fromTriDef.This is a paid, third-party solution witha 7-day trial, but doesn’t have specifichardware requirements and has some prettynice features of its own.The nice people over at TriDef were kind enoughto provide a key for me to review, but areNOT sponsoring this content in any way orseeing it before it gets posted.SmartCam lets you blur your background fora foe “Depth of Field” effect, replaceit with different scenes, apply filters toit, or remove it altogether.This works great for streaming, as well.StuffNone of this technology is perfect yet, butit’s a great start - and something to reallyconsider given how frustrating and cumbersomea proper green screen setup can be.If you missed it, we actually had a courseepisode dedicated to setting up a green screen.As always, links to the aforementioned hardwareand programs will be in the video description.I hope this episode of my OBS Studio tutorialcourse has been helpful for you.If it was, drop-kick that like button andsubscribe for awesome tech videos.If you like game streaming, come follow meon Twitch and drop a message in chat.Until next time, I’m EposVox, Happy Streaming!Thanks for watching this episode of my OBSStudio tutorial course.More videos like this and a full master classare linked in the playlist in the video description.Click to learn more.Also consider joining us on Patreon to helpkeep tech education free.Go to Patreon.com/eposvox to sign up.\n"